I want to make a movie, says Samir Nair

"I came to STAR when I was 29 years old. I'm 42 now. So it's been more than a decade. It's time to carry my vision forward. It's time for an unfettered creative expression with a sense of ownership and purpose," Nair told IANS in an interview.

"I want to do other things in life... I want to make a movie. In fact, that's been a dream since 1999. I used to make ad films. But my experience at STAR has been great fun. It has taught me everything I know. And I'd think I've given a lot back to the channel. Yup, I've had a good time," he added.

Of the many things that Nair did at STAR, the quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC) was one of his best ventures.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: Why the change of heart?

A: I had been thinking about it for a long time. Finally, I decided I needed to do something new, and in an independent manner. I was getting restless. I need to have a sense of equity in the company that I proceed to next.

Q: Both you and Peter Mukherjee seem to be moving out simultaneously?

A: No, his departure was on the anvil for quite a while, though obviously I didn't ask him the details. As for me, I came to STAR when I was 29 years old. Now I'm 42. I feel it's time to carry my vision forward. It's time for an unfettered creative expression with a sense of ownership and purpose.

Q: Would you say you've peaked at STAR?

A: No, I wouldn't say that.

Q: I believe there's a lot of bad blood against you at STAR?

A: (Evasively) My father always taught me one thing: "Turn the page. Never dwell in the past." Yes, there were differences about the management style until it came to a point where I said, "Just forget it." In life you can't choose parents and bosses.

I want to do other things in life... I want to make a movie. In fact, that's been a dream since 1999. I used to make ad films. But my experience at STAR has been great fun. It has taught me everything I know. And I'd think I've given a lot back to the channel. Yup, I've had a good time.

Q: If you had a choice to do things your way would you stay on at STAR?

A: Let's not ponder on the imponderable.

Q: The buzz is that a lot of STAR's staff is leaving with you?

A: I've had a meeting with them and told them that the channel needs them, work needs to be done and serials need to be made. I'm sure we'll work together again. This isn't a ride off into the sunset for me. But I need to start afresh. I needed this change. I don't feel rudderless. I've met the heads of all the departments at STAR and advised them to let the show go on.

Q: Your highlights at STAR?

A: Well, in 1994 one of the first interviews I did for STAR Movies was with Naseeruddin Shah. I asked him what he thought of Shah Rukh. Naseer said Shah Rukh reminded him of the early Rajesh Khanna. The next big thing for me was when I got to handle Amitabh's comeback movie "Mrityudaata". That was a big event for me because I was such a big Amitabh fan.

Then came the great movie acquisition when I managed to change the five-year embargo on new films shown on TV. I reduced the time between theatres to satellite to five months. Then I became programming head and along came KBC with Amitabh Bachchan and all the Balaji soaps. It was followed by the launch of channels like STAR One.

In 2006 I got promoted and I got married and I got Shah Rukh on KBC. Now in 2007 I've quit my job at STAR. Now it's the future - here I come.

Q: Balaji might decide to leave STAR with you.

A: I hope to work with everyone I've worked with.