No point in aping Hollywood horror films: Vikram Bhatt

Mumbai, Aug 30 (PTI) Director Vikram Bhatt feelsBollywood filmmakers would benefit more if they focus onmaking original content rather than copying Hollywood movies. The filmmaker admitted he failed with his 2014directorial outing "Creature" because he tried imitating thestuff made in the West and hence, believes if an Indiandirector goes on aping a Hollywood horror film it will onlyresult into a movie with sub-standard quality. "Our horror films have always been the romanticizingof horror. We always had love stories, emotions, music.Whether it is ‘Mahal’, ‘Kohra’, ‘Bees Saal Baad’…That is theculture of our films. ‘Raaz’ belongs to the culture of Indianhorror films. If we are to make ‘Conjuring’, then people say,’Oh this is Conjuring’," he said. "Anybody who tries to ape Hollywood now is going tobecome a lesser cousin of Hollywood. I’ve learnt that lessonmyself in a film called ‘Creature’," Vikram told reporters ata promotional event for "Raaz Reboot" last evening. The director is geared up for the release of EmraanHashmi-starrer "Raaz Reboot", which is the fourth film in thehorror film franchise "Raaz". Vikram said Hindi film industry doesn’t have the rightbudget to compete with horror films made in the west. "When they are making films, which have hot aliens init, we cannot compare. We don’t have the budgets. When youbecome a poor cousin of ‘Conjuring’, they (audience) have’Conjuring’ to watch. Why will they watch your films?" Horror genre has largely remained untapped in Hindicinema and fans have often complained of its "amateurish"depiction of on screen by the filmmakers here. Vikram, however, is certain he wouldn’t change his wayof making such movies to please audience. "We have to stick to the art form that we are. We arethe romanticizing art form. If the ‘Conjuring’ audiencedoesn’t want to see it, then too bad. But we are not going tochange for it," he said. Also starring Gaurav Arora and Kriti Kharbanda, "RaazReboot" is set to release on September 16 in a box-officeclash with megastar Amitabh Bachchan-led thriller "Pink". PTIJUR ARSSHDJMF