Edited by – Robin Bhuyan (Editor-in-Chief)
Written by – Reetika Choudhury
Interviewed by – Shashi Salwani
Tushar Hiranandani is a prominent film writer and director in the Hindi film industry, who has written popular films such as Masti, Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge, F.A.L.T.U. ,Double Dhamaal, Grand Masti, Ek Villain, Dishoom, etc. His directorial debut began with Saand ki Aankh, after which he directed the web series Scam 2003, and the recently released film Srikanth. Join us in a conversation with the filmmaker as we learn more about his vision and his insights.
What inspired you to make the movie Srikanth?
My father, who ran a Talent Contest for specially abled children for about 40 years, was one of my inspirations. Whenever I watched these children, I thought about how we often take our abilities for granted, while they, despite their different abilities, performed exceptionally well. I felt that they were truly remarkable. This was one reason for making the film. When I met Srikanth along with my wife Nidhi, who is the producer of this film, he depicted me his story, and I knew I should make a film about it.
Who was your first choice for the role of Srikanth?
My first and only choice for the role of Srikanth was Rajkumar Rao and similarly with Jyothika Saravanan, Sharad Kelkar, Alaya F and Jameel Khan.
How was your experience working with them?
I have never had such an incredible team in my life. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we didn’t even notice when the shooting of the film started and ended. Hats off to the production team led by Nidhi- they gave their best. Ajit, the production controller, and Gaurav, along with the entire team, were fantastic. For a director, the main component is the team, and when the team is good, everything runs smoothly. Special thanks to Pratham, our cameraman, and my writing team, Jagdip and Sumit Purohit. My assistants, Kunal and Shivraj, and Tanvi, who managed everyone’s costumes, also did an outstanding job. I was truly blessed with such a dedicated team. I also want to give special credit to my wife, Nidhi, who handled the team so well.
Do you have any memorable behind-the-scene moment from the set?
Every day on set was memorable. Rajkumar, in particular, stood out; he would put on his lenses and clothes and fully embody the character of Srikanth until the day’s end. The rest of the cast and crew were also great fun. Sharad and Jyothika have become close friends of mine, and we still chat regularly. They are wonderful people to work with. Remarkably, Sharad agreed to do this film for just Rs. 101. He read the script and took on the role not for me, but because he liked the script, which is quite extraordinary= Like who does that nowadays! I am really grateful for them.
All the movies/shows you directed are based on real events. So is there any special reason for that?
I really enjoy making biopics because there are so many compelling stories and dramas that are closely connected to our country. I just need to adjust the scenes so that it entertains the viewers, and they don’t look like a documentary. I really enjoy doing this.
You have written a film “FALTU” which was really a brilliant take on the education system. Why do you think the film didn’t gain the popularity it deserved?
This film marked my comeback to the industry. I feel it did gain significant popularity and can be considered one of my best films.
What are the challenges that you face, as a filmmaker?
One of the biggest challenges is writing the script, and once it’s done, everything becomes alright. Then you get the team, and everything falls into place. Getting the right script is the toughest challenge.
Out of all your movies as a writer and director, do you have any personal favorite?
Every film I have worked in is my favorite. Masti was my first film, so it will always be my favourite and when I changed my genre with films such as ABCD, Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge, Ek Villain, these were some of the life changing films in my career.
Is there any genre that you want to explore in the near future?
I am currently working on biopics, but I don’t limit myself to any specific genre. I will work on any script that I find exciting. Even as a scriptwriter, I don’t stick to a single genre. One genre may be popular now, another might trend in a year, and by the time a film is ready for release, yet another genre could be in vogue. So, I basically focus on the quality of the script.
What are your views on the recent film Animal, which has gained a lot of appreciation?
I personally loved the film, and it was one of the best films of the year. I feel Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Bhushan Kumar did a great job.
Any upcoming projects of yours?
We are working on it. Whenever we get ready, our production team will announce it!
