There was an extraordinary buzz on Tuesday among the foreign delegates, guests and filmmakers at the 54th International Film Festival of India. And, why? They were eager to hear what Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas had to share at his masterclass -- Is It Time For One World Cinema?
And Douglas did not disappoint after the heart-warming introduction set the stage for an engaging 45-minute session moderated by Sunburn creator and producer Shailendra Singh.
But first Douglas fondly reminisced about his time in Goa and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm hospitality he and his family received. "It has been more than 36 hours since we arrived in Goa. My wife, Catherine, our son Dylan, and I are deeply touched by the Goan friendship and the overwhelming enthusiasm for films. We are having an absolutely wonderful time," he said.
UNDER THE SHADOW OF HIS FATHER
Douglas delved deep into his journey as a producer, recounting how he inherited the production rights to the iconic film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) from his legendary father, Kirk Douglas.
However, after five seasons of over 100 hours, Douglas decided to step out of his father's shadow and pursue his own path. "My father was a man of great stature, and reaching his calibre was no easy task. People called me crazy for doing this, but I knew I was making the right decision," he recalled.
DON’T DO BOTH
When asked to choose between acting and producing, Douglas expressed his preference for one of the two. He explained that he prioritises the quality of the film over his individual role. "As an actor, I'm not concerned about the size of my part; I care about the material. I want to be in good movies, even if it means having a smaller role," he stated.
STAGE FRIGHT FOR REAL
Douglas's candid admission about his stage fright resonated with the audience, revealing a vulnerability that humanised the Hollywood icon. He recalled the early days of his career when he would throw up into a bucket after each performance. To conquer this fear, he embarked on a challenging journey to become an actor, determined to overcome his stage fright.
The China Syndrome (1979), Romancing the Stone (1984), Fatal Attraction (1987), and Wall Street (1987, Academy Award) were films that he produced and acted. Basic Instinct (1992), Traffic (2000), Wonder Boys (2000), Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), Behind the Candelabra and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) were some of the other hits that he worked on.
TOUGH TIMES DON’T END SOON
The Hollywood star opened up about one of the most difficult experiences he faced in his life. He recounted the time when his son was in prison. “My son spent seven years in prison for his involvement in drug dealing, as he was also struggling with addiction himself. This was the toughest part for me as a father. To make matters worse, I was diagnosed with cancer in the same year,” he shared.
23 YEARS OF TOGETHERNESS
For Douglas, his wife is undoubtedly the key to his happiness. He shared several anecdotes from their love life, reminiscing about their first encounter and discovering her shared love for golf and older men. “I had read somewhere that she had interest in older men, and we also shared a passion for golf. Coincidentally, our birthdays fell on the same day,” he fondly recalled. That was the point that made him realise that she was the one for him, he happily said, “We’ve been 23 together”.
DADDY MAKES PANCAKES
When asked by Singh why would his children have a notion that he made only pancakes, Douglas said, “My children knew that daddy made pancakes and mum was the actor, I didn’t have films to show my children.” He jokingly questioned, “What would I say to my son? Hey son, do you want to see my film, Basic Instinct?”
The 45-minute long session ended with Michael Douglas grooving to the Hindi rendition of the Oscar-winning song, Naatu Naatu, leaving the IFFI audience spellbound and awestruck.
