Producer Siddharth P. Malhotra who has been known as the face of Cinevistaas for many years now, has made a strong and confident new beginning. He has branched out of the acclaimed production house to form his own company, Alchemy Films Pvt. Ltd.
According to him, personal growth is what he is achieving for, in this new journey of his. Ably supported by his wife Sapna Malhotra who has joined him as the Co-Producer, Siddharth Malhotra embarks on his new journey to make shows and say stories with a difference.
Here is Siddharth P. Malhotra in an exclusive talk with Tellychakkar.com. He talks about his big move of moving out of Cinevistaas, about his new company and the vision he has seen.
Excerpts:
A new beginning in the industry... How does it feel?
Yes, it feels really good. And trust me, I am starting from scratch all over again.
How did the thought of starting a new company arise?
See, we wanted to say different stories, and do things little differently. So I spoke to my seniors in Cinevistaas that I would want to branch out. Cinevistaas will always be part of my life. It is afterall my father’s company. I spoke to my uncle that I wanted to do things I believe in on my own, and also make those financial decisions too. So it was an amicable decision, and I am happy to have moved forward in life.
Tell us about Alchemy Films Pvt. Ltd.?
The vision of Alchemy is to do fewer shows but as many good shows as possible. We will not have more than three-four shows at any given point of time in a year. We are not hungry to take up more. Alchemy’s first show Ichhapyaari Naagin launches on 27 September on SAB TV. We also have our second show lined up for Star Plus, the pilot of which has been shot. We are awaiting confirmations from the channel right now. We are blessed with various other networks open to working with us.
So how do you look at expanding work at Alchemy?
Our concentration will be predominantly on television right now. I will want to branch off into theatre and look forward to that phase for sure. We will of course get into the feature films too later. With many networks showing interest in the concepts that I have pitched, things are looking good for me.
How much of a difference does it make for you to have something of your own?
Oh, it makes hell lot of a difference for me!! When I was starting in Cinevistaas, I started with everything. And now when I am starting on my own, I am starting with nothing. When I mean nothing, I mean financially nothing. I don’t have any infrastructure or anything, besides the good will that I have hopefully earned for myself over the years. Also, I have my little brain that hopefully will take me forward (smiles). So for me and my wife Sapna, who is the Co-Producer of Alchemy, we are back again starting life pretty much from ground zero. And when you start anything from ground zero, you value every single thing. Actually this is the phase where you get to realize how to manage things on your own financially. You tend to realize who’s yours and who’s not!!
What’s the thought that comes to your mind often these days?
Well, the one thought that arises is – What do we have to do to make it again? Everyday is a learning curve as we have started the new company. There is lot of work to do and nothing comes easy. However, the best part is that we love our work. Also, the positive aspect is that the channels are letting me to say the stories I want to say. Let me tell you, I am not a saas-bahu genre person at all. Any of my shows that I am doing does not come into that genre. It is my disability, and let me be honest about it. I can’t deliver soap dramas that people are so used to watching. I can’t see myself making shows like Saathiya or Diya Aur Baati Hum. Hats off to these people for making these shows. I can only think about Ichchapyaari Naagin, a Dill Mill Gayye, a Ek Hasina Thi, a Ek Hazaaron Mein. Even the love stories that I am planning for other channels will be different. Yes, it will have all the masala and will be filmy. But it will not have elements of the ‘ek bahu hai aur ek saas hai’... Fortunately, channels are allowing me in and I am happy about it.
How did you derive the name of your company to be Alchemy?
A very close friend of mine, in fact a college friend proposed it to me when we were having dinner long back. We were talking about what my company should be named, if at all I decide to do something on my own. Well, this was in the year 2013 when I had not even dreamt of taking this path. Alchemy is a chemical process of turning dust into gold. And I was bowled over by the name, and I registered it and kept it for myself the same year. However, I had always thought to use it for my feature films. Never did the thought arise of working on TV under this banner.
Now that you have moved on and your efforts have started to bear fruits, how does your team at Cinevistaas feel?
See, I am happy that I have moved. I really do not know what they will be feeling at Cinevistaas. But everyone has to grow in life. It’s all about personal growth, and that is what I explained to them. Cinevistaas are stalwarts; they have always been there and they will always be there. For me, it was about making my own identity. You tend to reach a point in life wherein you have to do something more. One needs to grow, afterall it is one life. See, the line we are into comes with an array of problems and disappointments. You have to take them in your stride and motivate yourself for the next goals ahead. I have the passion to be creative. So my goal now is to say stories, in my own way.
What are the major changes you see in TV right now?
Well, TV is the same. Yes, there are talks of major changes. But only when they are put into action, will you know how it looks. I know that Star is now aiming at better quality, and is ready to spend their money to gain that. Otherwise, TV has the same stuff. Everyone is trying every genre possible and experimenting. One of us as Producers, need to go and make that change happen. Change will surely happen. It is all about that one show that will make the difference.
Ekta Kapoor has dared to do that!! Take her show Naagin as example. She broke the myth and told everyone that a show at the weekend slot can get a 4 or a 5 rating. Due credit to her!! I think the only person who has set foot to change the future of TV is Ekta Kapoor right now. We have got to learn from her and up our ante as well. We have to come up with products which are conventional, at the same time, unconventional as well.
I hope that my company Alchemy stands out in terms of delivering different content. I want people to look at our shows as the ones which will provide ‘wholesome entertainment and fun’. Whatever stories we are working on right now, are very different from what has been shown in the TV space. TV is a writer’s medium, and we have very good writers and directors on our shows.
How it is to manage the finances?
Aww, it is very tough. But that’s completely my wife Sapna’s department. I am very bad at managing what I have in my own pocket. I am able to run my own company, because of Sapna’s presence in my life. Though she has been a designer for all of her life, she has been made for such a job. Her calling is of a proper producer’s. She manages the finances so effectively, and this has relieved me of a huge pressure. Nobody has managed me and my finances the way she has been doing. This is called ‘Woman Power’. She has allowed me to work peacefully on my creative aspects. Trust me, she has never done all this before. She has never been to a set before. Now she musters all the courage to talk to everyone. Life puts everybody to a point where you are thrown into a surprise. From then on, will start the journey of whether the new challenges will make or break you.
Wish you all the very best, Siddharth Malhotra!!
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