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EXCLUSIVE: Prernaa Arora: Akshay Kumar's Toilet: Ek Prem Katha isn't preachy
Producer Prernaa Arora gets candid about her upcoming releases - Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Pari and Fanney Khan.
It was just a year back that KriArj Entertainment headed by Prernaa Arora and Arjun N Kapoor ventured into the production scene with the Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom. Since then there has been no looking back for them. Prernaa and Arjun's plate is full with some amazing films that include - Akshay Kumar's Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Anushka Sharma's Pari, Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer Fanney Khan, the Abhinav Bindra biopic starring Harshvardhan Kapoor among others.
Ahead of the release of their big ticket films, both Prernaa and Arjun settle down for a candid chat with Pinkvilla where they talk about their journey, their association with Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma and more.
Excerpts:
You made your mark as a producer with the Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom which was a super hit at the box office. Tell us about the whole experience of pre and post production?
Arjun: It was phenomenal and great. Prernaa took her gut call. Since then we followed it up with our dedication and hard work. It was Akshay Kumar, Neeraj Pandey, Shital Bhatia and it couldn't get better than that. We believed in the movie. We did what we did and God did what he had to and that is where we are today, almost after a year. And to top it all, Akshay Kumar got his first National Award for Rustom. We have been fortunate. God couldn't give us more with our first foray. Everything came with it - recognition, success, admiration and awards.
Prernaa: I was very sure about it since day one. It was my instinct. The moment I knew the story is on Nanavati, I knew it would work and it would get Akshay sir the prestige. I was praying that he should win the award and he did. I had a lot of belief in the movie. It created a huge impact on the audience and we are very proud of Rustom.
You are working with Akshay again in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha! Is it by accident or because Akshay is now lucky for you?
Prernaa: When Rustom was happening, we had signed Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and yet another Akshay sir film that we will announce soon. It is going to be a long collaboration with him and his company. He is absolutely lucky for us!
Why take a risk and produce an unconventional film like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha?
Prerna: It's not a risk at all. It is a great subject.It talks about hygiene and it is extremely relevant. It will reach out to all and it will change their lives. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha isn't preachy. This is a masala film.
Arjun: We are very confident. What happens on Friday is different. But with Toilet, we are very confident. It is on a serious topic that our country faces. That being said, it depends on how the movie is said. It is said in a true Akshay Kumar way where he won't preach but convey the important message. It is an entertaining film. Rustom, Hindi Medium, Talvar aren't masala films. But they are entertaining. And hence the movie isn't risky at all.
You have also ventured into a multi-film association with Anushka & Karnesh Sharma's Clean Slate Films. How did that association come about?
Prernaa: Again we became very lucky. I have been a huge Anushka fan since Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. I always felt she would be the biggest superstar our country would have. I always wanted to work with her. She is a good producer and that we all knew when we saw NH 10. We decided to collaborate and Pari is our first movie. It is a multiple film deal.
Arjun: The kind of films Anushka chooses to make aren't conventional masala movies but they are entertaining. Karnesh is very creative and it is fun working with them. Pari went on-floors already and it may release early next year.
Apart from the world of movies, you have also made an impressionable mark in the world of fashion. Tell us something about your personal style?
Prernaa: For me, I have always been very very Dior. I like dressing up. For me, it is about doing it for myself. I always indulge into fashion. Gucci is my brand too. Arjun is more fashionable and I am learning from him.
Arjun: She is being very very kind. I cannot deny. But I like being dressed up. I enjoy wearing Gucci. You should take care of yourself - wear good clothes, look good and you would do better because you will feel better.
We hear you are the first Indian entrepreneur to grace Christian Dior's Fall-Winter collection in Paris of 2017. Tell us about that experience?
Prernaa: It was amazing. I met Maria Grazia Chiuri and she came onboard for Christian Dior. I have made two visits. It was really great.
Do you both ever have creative differences?
Arjun: I give in (laughs)! We have our creative and strategic differences. But eventually, we believe in each other. The leap of faith in each other is what makes the things move forward. If we both hold our forts then things will never move forward. The idea is to agree to disagree. We have to stand by each other.
Prernaa: We have creative differences and we both are extremely aggressive and are conscious of what we have to do. While choosing films, I go with my gut and Arjun goes logically. For me, the math doesn't work. But we do fight! And we are very clear on how to go about with the work. We know whom we want to work with. We have an association with Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Anushka Sharma, Vishal Bhardwaj, Neeraj Pandey, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra etc. We have padded ourselves very well.
Who is your role model? Who inspires you the most?
Prernaa: Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor. Akshay Kumar too. The amount of hardwork he puts in will leave you ashamed!
Arjun: Akshay Kumar! He has become a bigger role model since the time we have worked with him. He inspires us.
So what is next for KriArj Entertainment?
Prerna: We have finished three films. We have one more movie which is done but the official announcement will happen. Then we have Pokhran with John Abraham, Fanney Khan and then the Abhinav Bindra biopic. We have another big film with Akshay sir too in the making.
You'll also announced Fanney Khan with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan...
Prernaa: We as producers are very excited for Fanney Khan. It is a beautiful film. Anil Kapoor is such a talented actor. And then there is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in it too. We are fortunate to have them on board for the movie.
How do you juggle between so many films as a producer?
Prernaa: We split. He visits the sets. I go for meetings. We shuffle and manage it.
Arjun: If you enjoy what you do then it isn't work for you.
Where do you see yourself and your business in the next 7 years?
Arjun: We see ourselves in the top doing great work. We even see ourselves going down the Hollywood route.
Prernaa: Sky is our limit.
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