Dramatically speaking. director Satish Kaushik gets all modest when you talk to him about his film-making career. He says he's thankful that he's been given a second chance despite the fact that his earlier efforts (Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Prem) tanked at the box-office.With his last film, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, Kaushik says he was able to inject a little of himself into his craft. "I discovered that I was drawn towards human films, and that I guess comes from the fact that I've been associated with drama from my days at the National School of Drama (NSD)," he explains. He says the equation of drama between the characters in a film is a very important consideration. "The dramatic configuration of Anil Kapoor and Kajol in Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain was novel," he says pointing to the theme of the film, which discussed the issue of contract marriages. His latest film, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, he reveals, is also high in its dramatic content. "It's the story of a responsible citizen (played by Anil Kapoor) and how he rehabilitates a rape victim (Aishwarya Rai)." By developing a screenplay which is intended to play on the audience's emotions, Kaushik says he is able to create a firm dramatic base.Of directing and acting, he says directing is more tiring because it involves the streamlining of various departments and people. "Acting is certainly more relaxing," he believes. Directing himself, he says, is difficult. "I've decided not to act in films that I direct because most of the parts I play are comic ones, and I don't want my team to see the lighter side of me on my set. I'd much rather they saw me as a stern disciplinarian," he reveals.Extending his gratitude to Anil and Boney Kapoor for investing faith in him when he most needed the support, Kaushik talks excitedly about the new production company he has launched with Anil Kapoor. The company's first film, Badhai Ho Badhai, which was announced recently, will be directed by Kaushik himself, and will star Anil Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor and Amisha Patel in pivotal parts. "I think the time has come when all the departments of movie-making should be in one's own hands," he says, explaining the reason why he decided to jump into film production. "Also, we have the backing of a veteran film-maker like Subhash Ghai, so we know we're in safe and responsible hands," he adds. The movie, Kaushik reveals, is yet another family drama "with a lot of emotional depth."
