‘I am primarily a storyteller’

What made you choose 3 Mistakes of My Life for adaptation?

Nearly three months after Rock On!!’s release,Chetan Bhagat told me about the book. When I read it,I believed that as a director and writer,I could add value to it. I took what I wanted from the book and added new material to it. Nearly 50 per cent of the book is in the movie. The characters are the same,so are the dynamics [of their relationships.

The Gujarat riots and the earthquake are taken from the book. We have added more flesh to the inter-personal relationship. Most of the scenes in the second half are not from the book.

How confident were you of Kai Po Che’s success?

We were sure of what we were doing while developing the script. The box office and the audience reaction have validated that. The best response,however,came from my 12-year-old nephew. I had organised a private screening for my family. He came out of the theatre sobbing.

As a director,what is your nightmare?

Sitting with a film after conceiving it but not being able to nurture it. The year-and-a-half wait for Kai Po Che to go on the floors was painful. The script took two-and-a-half years to be ready. I was initially waiting for Excel Entertainment (which had produced Rock On!!) to produce it. Once UTV came on board,we proceeded really fast. The waiting period can be frustrating,especially when you are raring to go.

You are a writer and a director. Do these roles overlap?

I am primarily a storyteller who uses the camera to share the story. I want to connect with people. I am not a very indulgent director. When I take up a movie,I try to get into a new space and learn something new. I work with talented,creative people and work on enriching myself. I work with a lot of humility.

Why do you feel you are not an indul­­gent filmmaker?

I had nearly 20 drafts of Kai Po Che before we started shooting. The first cut was 2 hours 20 minutes and the final cut was only 13 minutes shorter. I am very economical while writing the script,I revise it many times cutting out the flab.

How much importance did you give to the landscape of Gujarat while shooting?

We shot in real locations. But the intention was never to make the story about Gujarat; rather it was of the characters. Since the characters are from Ahmedabad,the film had to be shot there. Our choice of locations was dictated by the script. We shot there for 72 days in 50 degrees heat. Unflinchingly,everyone gave their best.

Do you now feel those troubles have paid off?

I don’t know how to react. I am quiet numb. I had a good experience. As a filmmaker that is the most important. I made Rock On!! four years ago. People have not forgotten that movie. They were moved by it. People are now moved by Kai Po Che. I put that much time into it so that I could have that kind of reaction from people.

In both these movies,a death occurs near the climax. Why?

It is a coincidence. But I do believe that death changes everything. If we are more aware of our mortality in our day-to-day life,we will be different persons. And our ambitions will undergo a change.

How did you discover the boy who plays the role of Ali the young cricketer?

We needed a boy who could play cricket and whose acting could be controlled instead of going for a boy who could act but not play cricket. As this boy progressively learns to play better cricket in the movie,I wanted him to appear convincing.

Does that make you obsessive with the process?

I am. But then,movie-making is an obsessive affair. You can’t take it lightly.

How has the experience of acting helped you while directing movies?

More than acting,life has taught me how to direct. My relationship with people has also played a key role here. Making movies is about managing people and artists. The director has a group of talented people on the sets,his task is to channelise the crew and the team effectively.

So,did your acting experience come handy while dealing with the actors?

I don’t make films the way my directors made them. I acted nearly 15 years ago. It was another lifetime. So many things have changed since then. I have learnt about movie making along the way. I don’t know how I have learnt it. Maybe,my love for movies has been a driving force.

After going through the hectic promotion and release schedules,what are you planning next?

I want to take a break once I wrap up all this post-release work. After that I will start working on a movie that UTV is going to produce. I have some scripts in mind,but I have not zeroed in on any yet.

Is it going to be another film about young people?

Whenever I feel I am developing a forte,I try to move away from it. It’s nice to get into a space where you don’t know anything so that you can learn something new.

While making your earlier movies,you have faced several hurdles. Are you in a better position now?

I would like to believe that.