I am not talented enough to direct Alia: Mahesh Bhatt

Mumbai: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is proud of his daughter Alia’s cinematic achievements but feels he is not equipped enough to direct her. “I am very proud of Alia and her achievements. She has miles to go… She is very sane that way.. she is not in awe of her own achievements,” Bhatt told PTI in an interview in the city. [caption id=“attachment_2272964” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Mahesh Bhatt with daughter Aliaa[/caption] “She is successful. At the age of 22 she has achieved so much success which I did not achieve till I was 50. So, it is a generation that is more intelligent, more courageous. By doing everything on her own she has proved me right.. what more can a father ask for,” he said. Bhatt is happy with the success Alia has achieved in a short span of time. “Why would I in any way try to jeopardise her journey because of my stupid ideas. There is nothing as of now. If there is a story we will talk to her then she will decide. We don’t make films for stars,” he said on directing his daughter. “I don’t think I am equipped to direct her. I am not talented enough to direct Alia Bhatt,” he added. Bhatt reveals his daughter Alia does give him suggestions and advice over films he is involved in. “When ‘Mr X’ flopped, I asked Alia what is it that I should be doing that I am not doing. She said the emotional depth, unique way of thinking about life is what makes a film click. So if that is not there then people will be cheated,” he said. After the release of “Zakhm” Bhatt quit direction thinking his era is over of making films. “The time of Mahesh Bhatt is over after ‘Zakhm’ in 1998. I realised every filmmaker has his era where he or she can say things through the medium of cinema. I made films and I was content. With time new people come they have a way of saying stories. Now I do write, produce films,” he said. He doesn’t miss the phase of directing films and is happy just seeing different kinds of movies that are being made today. When asked to comment on some senseless films that are being made today, he said, “No I think, even I have made senseless films. It would not be right to say that others are making bad films and I am only making good films. No one deliberately makes senseless films. We all want people to like our films… the film should do well.” PTI