Source: IANS. Image Source: Santabanta
Mumbai, Mar 22: Veteran actor Dev Anand is unhappy with the current trend of revisiting old classics in Bollywood and says no one can remake his "Guide".
"I was a little touchy when I heard about it... because our film 'Guide' touched the spiritual heights, which weren't there even in the novel... They are such intelligent people. They don't need to fall back on remakes," the evergreen Dev Anand told IANS in an interview about reports that Rituparno Ghosh and Pritish Nandy were planning to remake the film.
The 1965 film, which was based on R.K. Narayan's novel, starred the legendary actor and Waheeda Rehman and is considered one of the most remarkable films of Indian cinema.
The actor feels it is more challenging to find a new idea than to take inspiration from old movies. "I personally feel it's a great challenge to find a new idea and venture into the unknown. If the idea works it stays alive for at least 50 years."
Dev saab, I believe you are very upset about "Guide" being remade?
But that's cleared now. The director Rituparno Ghosh has clearly stated he is not remaking "Guide". So the matter is closed. No one can remake "Guide".
"Guide" is R.K. Narayan's "Guide", "Guide" is Dev Anand's and Vijay Anand's "Guide". You are free to get inspired from any source. That's the creative mind's prerogative. But you can't claim to remake "Guide". I was a little touchy when I heard about it... because our film "Guide" touched the spiritual heights, which weren't there even in the novel.
The book doesn't have that spiritual feel of our film. Pritish Nandy is a good friend of mine. I fired off a letter asking why he was doing "Guide". They are such intelligent people. They don't need to fall back on remakes. My reaction was quite natural.
I remember Rituparno had come to me in Delhi when I had won the Dadasaheb Phalke award, asking me for the remake rights of "Guide". I had advised him against remaking "Guide".
Ritu thinks it is an inviolable classic
He is a wonderful man. I admire him for what he says. I feel flattered when people credit so much sanctity to "Guide". I hold this film and many of my old films close to my heart. Why should anyone have the right to borrow my films?