Celebrated film-maker Shekhar Kapur was in Mumbai, recently.
TWF correspondent Vickey Lalwani caught up with him for a free-wheeling
chat.
What brings you to Mumbai?
Nothing special. I just wanted to take a break before moving
on with the challenges in life. I had also to sort out some
legal matters here. So it's a business cum pleasure trip.
What have you been busy with, lately?
Not just busy. I have been obsessed with the making of my
next film which I just completed few days back. It is a sequel
to my last film 'Elizabeth'.
Are there any Oscar aspirations for the sequel to Elizabeth?
Is there pressure to replicate that kind of critical acclaim?
I don't like the pressure of Oscars. Or anything else. No
film is an end game in itself. It is a continuing process
of exploration of that which most reverberates in yourself.
And the assumption is that what reverberates in you is fundamentally
what is going on the subconscious of your audience as well.
For that reason it is really important for me, as a communicator,
to be continually sensitive to everything around myself. To
be open to all stimuli. To not protect yourself at all, but
to be sensitive to everything around you, whatever the emotional
cost of that might be.
What is 'Golden Age' about?
It is the search for the Divine. It is our struggle between
our mortal, human, earthed self, and the need to break that
tie and experience interconnectedness as the Elizabethans
put it, or Formlessness as the Buddhists put it. It is also
about the struggle between fundamentalism and tolerance.
How did you go about making the film?
Well, I had a bound script. So, half the battle was won. I
then assembled the cast and crew and shot from start to finish
in 65 days. People in the business were surprised. From here,
I will go to Bangalore and then Malaysia for few days. After
that, I will start with the post-production work.
We heard, you are branching out into another area of entertainment?
I have formed a comic book company. I have always been fascinated
by unbelievable and fictional characters. I thought that the
best way to create them was through comics, which enjoy high
readership in India.
When will we see you directing a Hindi film now?
I am aware of my origins in Hindi films. I have kept in touch
with Hindi films, courtesy DVDs.
Any film you saw recently?
I saw 'Dhoom 2' and was swayed by the technical finesse that
Hindi films have come up with. They are almost on par with
international standards. The only thing I find lacking in
them is, the lack of good and original subjects. And mark
my words, India has an international star in Hrithik Roshan.
When did you last meet your uncle, Dev Anand?
Six months ago. But I keep a track of all his work. I wish
him the very best. He still has the excitement and enthusiasm
that a newcomer director would exude.
How do you see 2007 for the world of films?
I see it as a bright year, with rapid strides being made in
every aspect of film-making. And I hope to be a part of all
the surprises that are in store (laughs).
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