Samir Nair, the former CEO of STAR Entertainment India
who took the channel to new heights in a decade and is joining NDTV's
soon-to-be-launched entertainment wing, wants to direct films.
"I came to STAR when I was 29 years old. I'm 42 now. So it's been
more than a decade. It's time to carry my vision forward. It's time
for an unfettered creative expression with a sense of ownership and
purpose," Nair told IANS in an interview.
"I want to do other things in life... I want to make a movie.
In fact, that's been a dream since 1999. I used to make ad films. But
my experience at STAR has been great fun. It has taught me everything
I know. And I'd think I've given a lot back to the channel. Yup, I've
had a good time," he added.
Of the many things that Nair did at STAR, the quiz show "Kaun
Banega Crorepati" (KBC) was one of his best ventures.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: Why the change of heart?
A: I had been thinking about it for a long time. Finally, I decided
I needed to do something new, and in an independent manner. I was getting
restless. I need to have a sense of equity in the company that I proceed
to next.
Q: Both you and Peter Mukherjee seem to be moving out simultaneously?
A: No, his departure was on the anvil for quite a while, though obviously
I didn't ask him the details. As for me, I came to STAR when I was 29
years old. Now I'm 42. I feel it's time to carry my vision forward.
It's time for an unfettered creative expression with a sense of ownership
and purpose.
Q: Would you say you've peaked at STAR?
A: No, I wouldn't say that.
Q: I believe there's a lot of bad blood against you at STAR?
A: (Evasively) My father always taught me one thing: "Turn the
page. Never dwell in the past." Yes, there were differences about
the management style until it came to a point where I said, "Just
forget it." In life you can't choose parents and bosses.
I want to do other things in life... I want to make a movie. In fact,
that's been a dream since 1999. I used to make ad films. But my experience
at STAR has been great fun. It has taught me everything I know. And
I'd think I've given a lot back to the channel. Yup, I've had a good
time.
Q: If you had a choice to do things your way would you stay
on at STAR?
A: Let's not ponder on the imponderable.
Q: The buzz is that a lot of STAR's staff is leaving with you?
A: I've had a meeting with them and told them that the channel needs
them, work needs to be done and serials need to be made. I'm sure we'll
work together again. This isn't a ride off into the sunset for me. But
I need to start afresh. I needed this change. I don't feel rudderless.
I've met the heads of all the departments at STAR and advised them to
let the show go on.
Q: Your highlights at STAR?
A: Well, in 1994 one of the first interviews I did for STAR Movies
was with Naseeruddin Shah. I asked him what he thought of Shah Rukh.
Naseer said Shah Rukh reminded him of the early Rajesh Khanna. The next
big thing for me was when I got to handle Amitabh's comeback movie "Mrityudaata".
That was a big event for me because I was such a big Amitabh fan.
Then came the great movie acquisition when I managed to change the
five-year embargo on new films shown on TV. I reduced the time between
theatres to satellite to five months. Then I became programming head
and along came KBC with Amitabh Bachchan and all the Balaji soaps. It
was followed by the launch of channels like STAR One.
In 2006 I got promoted and I got married and I got Shah Rukh on KBC.
Now in 2007 I've quit my job at STAR. Now it's the future - here I come.
Q: Balaji might decide to leave STAR with you.
A: I hope to work with everyone I've worked with.
