Filmmaker Hansal Mehta spoke about the many ups and downs in his career, which pushed him into roles as diverse as a wedding videographer, food show creator, and Bollywood big-shot. In an interview, he recalled turning to television to make ends meet during a particularly difficult phase, but said that he was fired from the project by Balaji Telefilms chief Ekta Kapoor. Years later, Ekta launched his streaming career with the show Bose: Dead or Alive. Chatting with Mid-day, Hansal said that filmmaker Sanjay Gupta 'saved' his life by offering him the opportunity to direct the film Woodstock Villa, a launch vehicle for Kirron Kher's son Sikandar. He expressed gratitude to Sanjay for giving him 'a job and a steady income', because he had 'reached a point where (he) could not survive'. He said, "I tried to do an Ekta Kapoor show, K Street Pali Hill. It was a daily soap; I went in to direct that. I was sacked in 15 days." Also read - Smriti Irani says Balaji called her to work hours after miscarriage, recalls showing proof to Ekta Kapoor: ‘Would’ve shown you the foetus as well…’ Hansal said that contrary to popular belief about Ekta, she was very polite. "Ekta told me, 'Sir, it's too much like a film'. This was 2005. I was sacked very politely. Unlike what people have heard. Very politely she called me and said, 'Sir, it's too much like a film. Our shows don't work because of this. We have a format, we follow that, and I don't want you to do it. So please leave'." Hansal said that he then did a show for a different channel, a gangster drama in which 'Dara Singh played Don Corleone'. Years later, however, it was Ekta who launched his career in the streaming industry with the AltBalaji show Bose: Dead or Alive. He said, "Funnily enough, she has to be credited for my entry in long-form. I was showrunnner on Bose: Dead or Alive. It was a prestige show, it had Rajkummar." Hansal went on to gain further prominence with the blockbuster SonyLIV series Scam 1993: The Harshad Mehta Story, and Netflix's Scoop. He is now directing a show about Mahatma Gandhi, and will return to direct the third season of Scam.
