Turning the tide

Despite being one of the filmmakers known to have brought back the trend of low-budget and indie cinema with acclaimed films like Raghu Romeo and Mithya,life hasn’t become easier. Yet,he chooses to play it down. “This isn’t so bad. The fact that it took 10 years before I could make my first feature film was worse,” he sighs.

The FTII graduate says that the period from the late ’80s to 2005 was probably the worst phase for indie cinema. “National Film Development Corporation withdrew support and an entire generation stopped going to the theatres.”

During that period,the 49-year-old made two documentary films Tarana and Hypothesis,both of which fetched him National Awards. But his first feature Private Detective,starring Naseeruddin Shah,never had a release. He then wrote Raghu Romeo in the ’90s,which didn’t find takers. Thankfully,he says,by the late ‘90s,his acting career took off with Monsoon Wedding and Dil Chahta Hai. Raghu Romeo released soon after in 2003 when he decided to co-produce it. The film travelled to various festivals but bombed at the box-office.

His next directorial venture Mixed Doubles,three years later,received a lukewarm response but Mithya became his first box-office success in 2008. However,by now,with roles in acclaimed films like Bheja Fry,Kapoor had come to be associated with low-budget cinema.

Credited with working with character actors in lead roles,Kapoor says that he would love to work with big stars. “Like anyone in India,I too am in awe of the Khans. But to work with them,I’ll have to make films that will have to be played at a certain pitch. I don’t make those films because they are full of lies,” he candidly remarks.

He is often accused of working with his clique — Shorey,Vinay Pathak and Saurabh Shukla — but he refutes it. “Ranvir has been the lead in my last three films and I often work with Vinay too. But I have never repeated lead actresses,be it Sadia Sidiqqui,Konkana Sen Sharma or Gul Panag,” he pauses,“The people I work with don’t mind putting on 15 kilos for a role and are not conscious if they don’t look their best on screen. I’m not sure the big stars are usually ready for that.”

The filmmaker admits that the market for low-budget films has shrunk since last year. “The audience’s expectations are high; they expect a Bheja Fry or Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! every time.

But the truth is we aren’t making good cinema,” he says. The only films which impressed him last year were Dev.D and Harishchandrachi Factory.

While he considers acting “the easiest job in the world where I can be stress free”,theatre remains close to his heart. In fact,Atul Kumar’s acclaimed play The Blue Mug,which features him,has been revived and is scheduled to tour six

Indian cities. Talking about theatre finally brings a smile to his face. “Being on a stage gives a different high. But then cinema is an evergreen medium. You live in the hope that someone somewhere will be watching your film even after you’re gone.”