‘Filmmaking is a way of living life vicariously’

Menon was also very keen on casting a strong female character, which has manifested as Radha Menon, essayed by Padmapriya Janakira- man. She plays Khan’s ex-wife in the film. “I had always wanted to create a character of a woman who is fiercely independent, not bothered about society – doesn’t care about marriage or divorce and lives life on her own,” adds Menon, who has also included dialogues heavily influenced by pop culture, with Tinder and DNA tests making an appearance. “We wanted to keep it that way, and make comedy that is relatable and real. Like how, maybe, colleagues talk at a workplace. These are not one liners that you have to work hard towards. And this is Saif in a ‘throwback to Dil Chahta Hai’ mode,” says Menon.

Saif Ali Khan with Padmapriya Janakiraman in a still from Chef

Menon has brought Chef from Los Angeles and Miami and based it in Delhi and Kerala, the latter being Menon’s homeground. “It was an organic choice. A film will tell you where it should be set. But it did help, for knowing the location like the back of your hand can do wonders. I am a Malayali, Suresh Nair, who wrote the film, is a Malayali, and Ritesh Shah, the writer, has spent so much time there that we have given him an honorary membership of the state,” says Menon, whose last successful outing was Airlift with Akshay Kumar in the lead role.

Menon’s earlier films have been a mixed bag, where he has brushed the territory of commercial and indie cinema. He made his debut with the urbane and slick Bas Yun Hi (2003), which was followed by Barah Aana (2009). With Airlift (2016), Menon churned out a big hit. “One has to keep pushing the envelope. With a film like Barah Aana, I did too much too early. I don’t think the audience was ready for it. But with an Akshay in Airlift, I went about using the star as an actor, which worked for me. We didn’t use his strengths as a star. There was no action, or comedy. But the star power definitely helps, people sit up and notice your film. It’s a simple choice — which side of the toast do you want to butter up?” says Menon, for whom filmmaking was a matter of chance. “I was all geared up to be a bike mechanic,” says Menon, who has had back-to-back screenings, the last one being one where Kareena Kapoor Khan was in attendance and who, in his words, “loved the film.”

It’s difficult to place a finger on the cinematic sensibilities of Menon. They are a bit all over the place. “Trust me, I am equally confused. Somebody used the phrase genre-agnostic, and I think that describes me very well. But I maintain a conscious choice that I am not making an Airlift 3. For me, filmmaking is a way of living life vicariously. For the last year, I was living the life of a chef. The year before that, it was me learning the workings of a military tank and how people lived in refugee camps. As long as I am not doing the same thing, I shall keep making films,” says Menon, who is now all set to don another hat, that of a producer, “which is the scary one.”