Vikram Bhatt and father Pravin share a moment during a shoot abroad

Bollywood runs in their blood. And cinematographer Pravin Bhatt and his son, director Vikram Bhatt share personal as well as professional space. The father and son work together, but on the sets Vikram is a director and his 68-year-old father Pravin is his cameraman. Vikram quit studies when he was in the first year of college to pursue his passion and dream of becoming a director. He started his career as an assistant director and his first movie as a director was Jaanam. Vikram’s interest lies in story telling to the audience. Over the years, Vikram has emerged as a successful director with movies like Ghulam, Raaz, Kasoor and Aetbaar.

Pravin’s father and Vikram’s grandfather, Vijay Bhatt was also a director and producer. He created memorable classics such as Ram Rajya and Baiju Bawara. Pravin shot his first film in 1964, which was called Himalaya Ki God Mein. He has been the man behind the camera for a number of Bollywood flicks and doesn’t intend to retire yet. Pravin has seen his son go through upheaval and turmoil in life but has always stood by him as a father, friend and guide.

Vikram:

I share a special bond with my father. He is someone who has always understood me and my needs. He is more like a friend than a father. Isn’t it strange? As a son, I respect him and know my limits, but I always share my problems with him like one friend does with another. I have never answered him back or been rude to him. Similarly he has never raised his hand on me, though I was not a naughty child but moody, yes! I grew up in a joint family. My father didn’t get along with his brother and I was not close to any of my cousins. What I appreciate about my father is that he let me make my own decisions. When I told him about my interest in directing movies he not only supported me but also spent all his money on buying me a camera. Perhaps all fathers do that for their sons but all I know is that my father has never let me down. Though there was a phase in my life after my failed marriage and relationship, when we drifted apart, I always held him in great esteem and he continued to be a good friend. He was always there to hear me out and offer advice without dictating. I remember when I first told my father I didn’t want to study any further and wanted to become a director. He laughed and approved of the idea because he knew that films were where my interest lay. I’d been assisting different directors for five years by that time. On the contrary, my mother wanted me to finish my graduation. She cried but my father supported my decision.

My father was a workaholic. I was a kid then and remember whenever he went for an outdoor shoot, he took mom and me along on his expense. Be it visiting Hong Kong or London ? whatever he earned, he spent it on holidays with us. Even now thanks to our profession, we get to spend time together. He is the cameraperson for my films and what I love about him is that he is never overpowering when we are on the sets. There, I’m the director and he is my cameraman. As a father, he has never encroached on my space. I remember we were shooting a film together and I used to smoke a lot, so every time I would see him, I would go out for a smoke. Finally he asked me to smoke inside since it was wasting a lot of time. I quit smoking after that incident.

My father is 68 years old and very health-conscious. He goes for a swim everyday and walks for an hour. On the other hand, I’m lazy and not bothered about fitness at all. In fact I love junk food. What I admire about my father is that he is very meticulous and persevering ? I’m not half as meticulous as him.

Pravin:

Vikram was always a good child and he is still one. He is a very intelligent and understanding person. When he was a kid I used to take him to outdoor shootings because I wanted to show him what the film industry was all about. Most parents don’t want their children to be associated with films, but I didn’t want to discourage him. I also wanted him to see what his father was doing and to have the right impression about the nature of my job in this industry. My father, Vijay Bhatt was a director too but he didn’t want me to join films. He was very angry with me when I joined the industry.

In Vikram’s case, I knew he had a passion for films and filmmaking. When he was in Class 12, he took commerce and when he was in his first year of college, I asked him what he wanted to do professionally? He said he wanted to become a director. That was when I suggested that he should quit college and start off as an assistant director. I got him to work with Shekhar Kapoor, then Mukul Anand and Mahesh Bhatt. I always told him this profession requires specialisation and a precious three to four years of your life initially. Now we work together but on the sets, he is my director and I’m his cameraperson. I never interfere in his work, I just focus on mine. Initially, I didn’t shoot for his films because I wanted him to prove himself so that people do not say ‘Oh his father has done a good job for him’. Now he tells me that it is time I should retire but I feel it will create a vaccum in my life. So Vikram has asked me to work only for his films.

At times people around me feel I’m too lenient as a father and have given Vikram a lot of freedom. On the contrary, I feel that everyone has the right to happiness and the same goes for my son. He is a normal guy who’s caring and giving and deserves his share of happiness. We spend a lot of time together as we work together and also live in the same house. I advise him whenever he needs it but do not interfere in his personal life. He’s always been a well-behaved son and has never raised his voice. I’m thankful to God for giving me a child who is not only a great son but a good human being too.