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Old for his yearsIn two months, Apurva Asrani will turn 22. But the young man has already won two prestigious awards including the Mahara...

Old for his years

In two months, Apurva Asrani will turn 22. But the young man has already won two prestigious awards including the Maharashtra State Award for his able editing job, on Ramgopal Varma8217;s highly acclaimed film, Satya. Apurva, who has been working in the television medium for the last five years, says he recently wrapped direction responsibilities on an ad-film for a Bangalore-based pen company, Classic. This, incidentally, is his second ad-film, the first being one for a saree brand.

Apurva, who is now based in Lokhandwala, when in Mumbai, says he will also serve as editor and associate director on producer Tahir Hussain8217;s forthcoming film, Deewanapan, which will be directed by Gopal Malhotra, and will be shot entirely in New York. Among his independent directorial ventures includes a musical romance titled Kuch Na Kaho, and one to be produced by music director Vishal Dadlani. Both, he insists, are likely to go on the floors soon.

Operating within the Hindifilm industry at such a young age, Apurva says, is often a disadvantage. quot;People tend to think they can push you around a lot just because you8217;re younger than them,quot; he says. quot;Also, they seem to believe that talent comes with age, which is not necessarily true,quot; he adds. Mentioning an experience he had with a well-known film financier recently, Apurva recalls how the hot-shot Mr Moneybags called him over after reading his script. quot;Once he found out how old I was, suddenly he didn8217;t seem as eager about the project,quot; reveals Apurva. quot;He thought there was no hurry for me to get into film. He kept saying I was so young8230; that I had all the time in the world before I could get into filmmaking.quot;

But little deters him. quot;I8217;ve been functioning in this business since my early teenage years, and I know that nothing8217;s going to stop me from realising my own dreams,quot; he says. quot;Absolutely nothing,quot; he adds with finality.

8212; RM