Rizwan Sajan, the chief architect and billionaire UAE businessman behind this year’s biggest Bollywood extravaganza — Filmfare Middle East (FFME) Achievers Night 2021 — recalls how his lasting love affair with Hindi cinema began with this charismatic superstar.
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Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
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#UAEnews #Dubai #India
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00:00Please, please, you don't ask me free pass because I have to cover a huge expenses to bring this 60-70 Bollywood stars under one roof and trust me, it's not easy.
00:11We had sponsored one of the Filmfare event which was being managed by another company.
00:16They were my friends and at that time Shah Rukh Khan was coming with Kajol and Dilwale movie.
00:23They wanted to do some promotion for that.
00:26So, the Filmfare team came and they said, okay Rizwan, would you be interested in sponsoring?
00:30My property launch was actually coinciding with the same time.
00:33I said, this is a good opportunity, I'll probably talk about my property launch and I'll get my ROI back.
00:37So, we negotiated a deal and it went off very well.
00:43The best thing was Samira, my wife, she's very fond of Shah Rukh Khan.
00:47So, to sit with Shah Rukh Khan on the same table, it was a dream come true for her.
00:54And it went off well and everything was okay.
00:58We forgot about the whole thing.
01:00And then after one year, I get a call from Manju.
01:05Rizwan, I want to see you.
01:07Manju, the editor of Filmfare.
01:09And she said, Rizwan, I want to see you.
01:11I said, what happened?
01:12She said, I'll come and personally see you.
01:14He said, this company has gone and some problem they had and I don't want to get into that.
01:20So, he said, would you be interested in Filmfare?
01:23I said, me?
01:24What will I do with Filmfare?
01:26And at that time, there was one more active magazine of Bollywood which was there.
01:32I said, how will we compete with them?
01:34Because they're a weekly magazine and I'm going to do a monthly.
01:37And then we met the CEO.
01:39CEO came to me.
01:40I said, I have no time for all this film and all that.
01:43If you're able to find me one guy who can manage this Filmfare for me, I'm on.
01:51Okay, he gave me some fellow but it was not that suitable.
01:55But I told Manju, you're there with me, so we'll start the thing.
01:58And the whole idea of starting this Filmfare was number one, bringing the Bollywood to the Arab world.
02:08That means people, you know, normally if we talk about Filmfare, we have to go to India.
02:13And it's not easy to get access to the Filmfare magazine, Filmfare event and all that.
02:17So I said, this is the thing which we are getting on a platter.
02:19And we can do it on our own.
02:22We have that capability where we can manage to do that.
02:25And we signed that deal.
02:26And we did the first deal almost before the pandemic in 2018, if I remember.
02:322018, we did, yeah.
02:34And at that time, we had only invite basis.
02:38We did in the Bollywood parks.
02:41And it was a very super-duper hit.
02:44Deepika Padukone was the showstopper.
02:46She did all the cover, Who Indian Well, and a lot of other stars, almost 50-year-old stars.
02:50Then I said, okay, why only do it in Dubai?
02:53Let me take it to other GCC countries.
02:55So the next year, we took it to Oman.
02:56I was there too.
02:57You were there.
02:586,000 people attended that event.
03:00It was a massive event.
03:02And then I said, okay, let's now come back to Dubai again.
03:05When did you first get attracted to Bollywood?
03:07And, you know, I know you share your birthday with Salman Khan.
03:10Yeah.
03:11I think Manju told me that.
03:14I don't do such deep research.
03:17So, yes, I do share my birthday with Salman Khan.
03:20And some Bollywood stars do attend during my birthday bash, which I have every year.
03:25And some people ask me why Salman Khan is not there.
03:28His birthday is also there.
03:29He's partying.
03:30Why will he come to my party?
03:31But actually, I don't know him.
03:32So I didn't want to invite him.
03:33What was the intent behind bringing this awards night into Dubai?
03:41The Bollywood passion is there for everybody in whoever is from India.
03:46Okay, especially from the North India, I would say.
03:48Like you have no idea how crazy we are going.
03:52Of course, arranging the Bollywood event is one thing.
03:56But refusing the people, we cannot give you free pass.
04:00You need to buy the free pass.
04:01Everybody and anybody wants free pass.
04:06Now, how do I give free pass to everybody?
04:08The problem with me, you know, as a Danube, we are connected in Danube home.
04:12Danube properties, Danube building material, Filmfare, Milano, Hospitality.
04:18So, bankers, auditors, everybody.
04:20Rizwan sir, I know you.
04:21So, I'm sure you will not forget me.
04:24Yeah, that becomes difficult.
04:26That becomes very difficult.
04:27But it's very official.
04:28You can't give away free pass.
04:29No, we can't give.
04:30It's very official and I'm putting in my social media also.
04:32Please, please, you don't ask me free pass.
04:34Because I have to cover a huge expenses to bring these 60-70 Bollywood stars under one roof.
04:39And trust me, it's not easy.
04:41What do you think has been the most challenging?
04:44Convincing stars to not straddle after the pandemic?
04:47Or is there like a resistance from them?
04:49No, resistance is definitely there.
04:51Of course, they also want to make sure that the safety is there enough.
04:56Like for example, Jitendra is a good friend of mine.
04:58We wanted to felicitate him as the Lifetime Achievement Award.
05:03And I was talking to him.
05:05I said, Rizwan, I haven't stepped out of the house for 1.5 years.
05:09Okay.
05:10So, how do you expect me to come?
05:12So, then I told him, your friend Ranjeet is coming.
05:14Your friend Prem Chopra is coming.
05:17So, why can't you come?
05:18So, he's still thinking.
05:19So, this morning also I sent a message to Ranjeet.
05:22I said, talk to Jitu Bhai.
05:24Bring him here.
05:25He said, I'll bring him.
05:26Of course, I'm keeping my finger crossed that he comes.
05:28But yes, the challenges are there.
05:30Because not everybody is ready to come.
05:32But yes, there are many youngsters.
05:34They don't mind coming in.
05:36But the biggest challenge what we have is not the pandemic now.
05:39The biggest challenge is happening because 1.5 years the industry was closed.
05:43That means there was no work done.
05:45Now, all of a sudden, everything's opened.
05:48So, all the dates are jammed.
05:52All the producers or directors who had signed with them.
05:54They want to complete their movie as fast as possible.
05:57So, we are not able to get as many people as we want.
06:00But yes, still, I would say that our editors have done a wonderful job.
06:04By getting more than 60 already confirmed.
06:07Another 5 times in the pipeline.
06:09So, we are talking about 70 to 75 Bollywood stars will be under one roof.
06:14Attending this event.
06:15Many would be performing.
06:17And that's going to be a huge event.
06:18Yeah, I know that.
06:19And Ayushman Khurana, Shepali Shah.
06:21This is a very good mix also.
06:22Absolutely.
06:23Nawazuddin.
06:24It's not just about the comfortable stars.
06:26Yeah.
06:27Like Khan's alone or the big stars alone.
06:28Yeah.
06:29It's also about content.
06:30We were very very specific about that.
06:31It shouldn't be just big stars.
06:33And talented ones.
06:34And you know, the other best thing about it is other than the Bollywood stars.
06:38Yeah.
06:39We are talking about all the Pakistani stars.
06:41So, we are talking big names.
06:43Like, you know, Humayun Sayyed, Mahira Khan.
06:45And lot of other stars are there.
06:49I will send you the names of that.
06:51Now, they, like yesterday I was in a party.
06:54I am looking for this Azal to come in.
06:56You know, I want to meet her.
06:57And Mahira, I want to come and see her.
06:59Now, much more attraction I have.
07:02We have one more star confirmed.
07:03It's Mohammed Ramadan.
07:04Now, he is a craze in the Arab world.
07:06Massive craze in the Arab world.
07:08Versace baby.
07:09Versace baby.
07:10He is dancing with Burwashi.
07:11Ritola, Versace baby.
07:12So, when you do a Bollywood event over here or a filmfare event here.
07:16You are not only talking about Bollywood.
07:17You are talking about Arab world, Pakistani and Bollywood together.
07:21Now, that makes it more attraction.
07:23Because, you know, all of them perform together and come under one roof.
07:26It's going to be…
07:27So, it will reflect the spirit of Dubai as well.
07:29Spirit of Dubai.
07:30Because, we go to like, you know, we are Pakistani fans, Arab fans.
07:33So, it really works, right?
07:35Your awards night would reflect that?
07:38Absolutely.
07:39We are going to have that.
07:40I mean, we have more enquiries for sponsorships and tickets from Pakistanis than Indian people.
07:47Indian people would love to definitely come.
07:49But, they get to see Bollywood more often.
07:53Compared to the Pakistanis, they don't get to see often.
07:55So, the interest there is much, much more.
07:58Brilliant.
07:59Brilliant.
08:00Who is your dream person that you want for the life but you are not able to yet get?
08:04Of course, Shah Rukh Khan.
08:09Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan.
08:10Of course, all the Khans, I would be very happy if they come.
08:13One day, they will come.
08:14It's a question of, yes, we are doing it 2-3 times the event and they will definitely feel…
08:19But, we have not given up the hope.
08:21Manju is every day still pinning that.
08:23But, now, of course, with what has happened with his son, I am not too sure if Shah Rukh will make it.
08:28But, yes, Salman, we are still trying to see whether he can come.
08:31And, if he comes, it's a bumper like.
08:32Right.
08:33What about the women?
08:34A woman, if you ask me, my favourite is Priyanka Chopra.
08:36Oh, yes.
08:37She is like, I adore her.
08:39She is filming for Citadel now.
08:40Yeah.
08:41She is a bit far away.
08:42So, do you try reaching out to her?
08:45Yeah, of course.
08:46Editors are trying.
08:47But, still not confirmed.
08:48But, yes, we have some good names under consideration.
08:50I can't reveal until they are confirmed.
08:52But, if they confirm, it's going to be much more bigger.
08:55Right.
08:56And, are the tickets priced competitively as well so that everybody can?
08:59It should be a very inclusive event.
09:00It is.
09:01We are starting at Rs. 175 only.
09:03So, anybody can.
09:04Anybody can.
09:05And, Rs. 175, then Rs. 250, then Rs. 500.
09:08So, there are various prices.
09:10Various prices.
09:11And, we are doing it in Maidan.
09:12You know, Maidan is a very easily accessible place.
09:15It's not that difficult.
09:16We had some couple of awards earlier also.
09:19It was not Filmfare.
09:20But, I think it was Toifa was there.
09:22I think we had Toifa over there.
09:23And, that was also fully packed.
09:25So, I am sure this is after the pandemic, everybody is looking for a Filmfare function like this happening in Dubai.
09:34And, Manisha, what I want to tell you, the most important thing, the amount of marketing which we have done for this event with the bloggers.
09:44And, bus stops, hoardings, and radios, and TV, and ARY, and Zee, and ARN, lot of other channels.
09:54Covered a lot.
09:55Covered a lot.
09:56Across every single Asian knows that there is a Filmfare happening.
10:02And, they are looking for that 28th October where they want to come.