Thursday, 26 April 2012

Film awards are a sham: Ajay Devgn

By Hindustan Times

Ajay Devgn’s list of award nominations is also long, but he has received only five awards in his career of over 20 years. And that, says the 43-year-old actor, is because award functions ‘are a sham’ and the winners’ names are changed on the last moment, dependent on which actor has come to wait the ceremony.

“I don’t believe in film awards. I'VE always made it some extent to never take those awards,” said Degvn, whose last trophy was a countrywide Award for the most efficient Actor, which he won in 2003 for The Legend of Bhagat Singh. “They (the organisers of personal awards) need maximum choice of stars to wait their ceremony, in order that they call you up and inform you that if you happen to attend their event, they are going to come up with an award. So what's the point of having an award provided that you are going to attend the show? And if you're unable to make it on the last minute … the chit with the name of the winner changes and another actor gets the trophy. I'VE lost faith in such ceremonies,” he says.

Many within the industry agree that award functions became mere promotional events. “Jo unka event attend karega, jo dance karega… usko trophy mil jayegi… that is their logic. 10-12 type ke award shows hai, usme bhi best actor trophy ki sub categories hai … popular choice, critic choice etc. All of them are fake,” says filmmaker Anil Sharma.

Atul Agnihotri, who produced last year’s blockbuster hit Bodyguard says, “Unfortunately, award functions became like one big TV production, in order that they design them dependent on the supply of stars. Box office reward is the one true award.” Filmmaker Ramesh Taurani however, feels that there are some shows which might be indeed authentic. “Audience reaction is of extreme importance and awards are like an advantage. Not all awards are rigged … there are some which can be credible.” While most award organisers chose to not comment, one organiser on condition of anonymity said, “It is arbitrary to generalise. Our process is transparent as we elect our winners at the basis of online voting.”

They, too, never attend award shows
Abhay Deol: “I don’t attend award functions as they're all a sham. They're all made up.”
Aamir Khan: “I don’t see any value in any of those award ceremonies I see around me nowadays.”
Emraan Hashmi: “See any award ceremony, they're just out to delight everyone.”
Suneil Shetty: “Awards are given out to delight. IT'S NOT THAT I AM a part of any award jury or a channel owner.”