Exclusive | Vikram Bhatt on Haunted 3D earning more than Main Vaapas Aaunga: Learnt to not take success for granted

Vikram Bhattrsquos Haunted 3D Echoes Of The Past has earned over Rs 10 crores at the box office Mimoh Chakraborty and Chetna Pandersquos film stood the test of time in front on several Bollywood biggies In an exclusive chat with midday Vikram Bhatt reflects on this success his friendships in the industry tumultuous jail term and much moreVikram Bhatt on Haunted 3D box officeThe film released alongside biggies like Imtiaz Alirsquos Main Vaapas Aaunga Obsession Manoj Bajpayeestarrer Governor and Kangana Ranautrsquos Bharat Bhhagya ViddhaataldquoIm happy that Ive been given the permission to make more films by God I am grateful that I live to fight another day I hope this film sustains its momentum and that audiences remain engaged with it Ive learnt not to take success for granted Ive made a hit today but that doesnt mean I wont make a flop tomorrowrdquo said VikramAsked whether it was a conscious decision to release the film during a crowded period at the box office Vikram Bhatt said ldquoThis was not a risk for me it was a compulsion I felt we could not come up against Cocktail 2 After that there was Welcome to the Jungle and then another big release A small film like ours keeps getting pushed from one Friday to the next like a football We were helplessrdquoSpeaking about his biggest learning in life Vikram Bhatt said ldquoWhatever you do you will eventually be forgotten At the end of it all we become just a picture on the wall Ive stopped chasing greatness and instead focus on doing my work with honestyrdquoVikram Bhatt on working with outsidersThe filmmaker has worried with actors like Aamir Khan Bobby Deol and Pooja Bhatt to outsiders like Avika Gor and Chetna Pande Speaking about working with stars and outsiders Vikram Bhatt said ldquoIf I get the opportunity to make a film with a star why wouldnt I do it A starled film gets a better opening and its chances of success are naturally higher All those factors make a differenceHe added ldquoAt the same time I am a storyteller and I need to keep telling stories Im not that young anymore and I have only so many years left Im not going to spend them waiting outside someones makeup van If someone wants to work with me I would be more than happy But if not I still have to move forward and make a liferdquoVikram Bhatt on working again with Aamir Khan Bobby DeolWhen asked whether he had ever approached friends like Aamir Khan or Bobby Deol to work in his films Vikram Bhatt said ldquoI dont ask them to do my films because I dont want to embarrass them In a friendship the moment you ask someone to be a part of your project you put them in a difficult position So if they want to work with me they can simply call meReflecting on how the concept of stardom has evolved over the years the director of Raaz Vikram Bhatt said ldquoI think Shahid Kapoor Aftab Shivdasani and Hrithik Roshan were among the last generation of stars I worked withrdquoVikram on scrutiny around personal lifeOver the years Vikram Bhatt has been candid about his personal life including his relationships with Sushmita Sen and Ameesha Patel as well as his battle with depression When asked about the scrutiny that has accompanied such openness he said ldquoThat has always been an ongoing problem But even then I refuse to live a life where I am not open about who I am and what I am doingrdquoHe continued ldquoI refuse to live in the closet I refuse to be the kind of person who does everything behind closed doors and then portrays himself as squeaky clean I am what I am Like me or lump me it doesnt matterrdquoVikram on jail termReflecting on the difficult period when he was in jail and the challenges surrounding the release of Haunted Vikram Bhatt said ldquoI am not religious in the ritualistic sense but I have immense faith in my God I remember telling Him lsquoWhen everything else fails give me a miraclersquo And He did My sisterinlaw my brotherinlaw and my daughter who was pregnant at the time and had an FIR against her were running from pillar to post Despite everything she singlehandedly handled the postproduction of Haunted and fought relentlessly to protect my name and ensure the film was completedrdquoVikram on Raaz franchiseAsked about the future of the Raaz franchise Vikram Bhatt said with a laugh ldquoRaaz and I are over Weve broken uprdquoOn the possibility of reuniting with Mahesh Bhatt for a film he added ldquoI dont think it crosses either his mind or mine We are happy just being close to each other outside of filmmakingrdquoWhen asked whether he feels proud of Mahesh Bhattrsquos children Alia Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt and their achievements Vikram said ldquoOf course Im proud In fact Im proud of everyone who is doing well in this industry Its a tough place to survive and anyone who succeeds here has my full respectrdquo