BizAsia talks to ‘Talaash’ director Reema Kagti

Reema Kagti is no stranger to the Bollywood industry and handling the movie critics is child�۪s play to her. Unconventional films come naturally and her debut as director with critics’ favourite ��Honeymoon Travel Pvt. Ltd.�۪ (2007) had the industry talking. As assistant director, Kagti has worked on the sets of ��Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India�۪ (2001), ��Dil Chahta Hai�۪ (2001) and ��Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara�۪ (2011) to name but a few, all of which became talked about films in their own right. With her impending release of ��Talaash�۪ starring Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji, BizAsia were given the unique opportunity to interview Kagti and find out just what makes her a great director.

Tell us about how you got into filmmaking.

It had to a lot to do with me being a film buff and writing came to me compulsively so somewhere in my teens, the two things combined and became my desire to make films. It was a bit strange for my family as they are not connected to films at all. I am from the north east of India, my dad had a farm and so they were taken aback. I got into college and I joined a couple of film clubs and that only strengthened my resolve to make films. I then got out of college and just started working with film directors. I worked as an assistant director for eight years and then I wrote and directed my first film.

How did you find the transition from assistant director to director?

It is a hard transition and financially it was a bizarre time. Being an assistant director is a lucrative profession and when you switch to being a director, especially the way I did where I was trying to tell a script that I had written and direct it myself, you find yourself in a precarious position. Apart from that having been an assistant director, it becomes all about what people know of you and that could go either way. In another way you know people in the business and if you are going to become a director, it is important that people know you.

Having been both, a director and assistant director, has this changed your view of the Bollywood industry?

I remember reading in a book that directors who come up from production have a different perspective of actors. I don�۪t know if that is true with me. It just makes you more aware of the scene and it is the precursor to directing in many ways in terms of when you are sitting down organising the shoot.

Could you tell me about ��Talaash�۪?

I can�۪t tell you everything; it is a suspense drama so I would like to keep the element of surprise going. I can�۪t tell you too much in terms of content but it does have so much suspense in the film that it does tend to get put down as a thriller. I think ��Talaash�۪ is very emotional therefore we are saying suspense drama. It is set against the backdrop of a police investigation in Mumbai and it is story about loss.

You have worked on films like ��Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.�۪ and ��Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara�۪ which have a feel good factor. How does it feel to work on a film like ��Talaash�۪?

I think part of the attraction of ��Talaash�۪ to me was the fact it dealt with darker emotions. As writers we do feel that darker emotions do make for cinema that is as engaging as any other kind of feel good film. That was the challenge, to take something like loss and pain and sadness and turn that into a very engaging and gripping story.

How would you like audiences to take the film?

What they should expect is an engaging story that is being propelled forward by cracking performances from the cast.

Aamir Khan is known as the man with the Midas touch. Do you think this is something ��Talaash�۪ will have to rely on?

I hope not. What made Aamir come onto this project in the first place was the story and the script. I am hoping that is what will ultimately touch people so I think Aamir provides a great platform for us to do this.

It is well known that Aamir Khan is very involved in all of his films. Did he get into your vision as a director?

No he didn�۪t. He does get very involved and I honestly enjoy that and encouraged not just him but my entire cast and crew to come up with ideas and bring them to the table. People like me, Zoya Akhtar and Farhaan Akhtar have a very democratic approach to ideas and I love it that people are involved. People have asked me this about Aamir many times but personally I love it. I think he has been superb, he is very cool and chilled out on set. ��I find him to be very respectful of my vision and of the fact that I am the director. As assistant director, I have done two films with Aamir so he has known me since 10 to 12 years and for him it must have been a shift but he has always been wonderful to me. I have had the best time working with him.

What was it like working with Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji?

Both of them have very different processes. Rani loves to prep and do her homework, she is the proverbial front bencher and Kareena is the exact opposite to her, she is the proverbial back bencher. ��Kareena doesn�۪t do any homework, and as a director I adopt myself to whatever process suits my actors. Kareena has a more instinctive approach and doesn�۪t like to prep too much. Even though both of them have very different processes, what they have both been able to do very successfully is despite being who they are, they have been able to put their personas aside. When you see them in the film, you don�۪t see Rani or Kareena, you see the characters that they are.

How important do you think social media is to market films like ��Talaash�۪?

Nowadays social media is crucial to any kind of film. It has become a part of how we communicate within the larger community. I partially feel that films like ��Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara�۪ got a huge boost from social media because initially the critics had panned the film and what really helped that film pick up was social media. It can really play a crucial role.

What is going to be your next big project?

Currently I am writing something with Zoya, we are developing two scripts, one for herself to direct and one for me. Hopefully in a couple of months we will have these scripts in hand and then we could speak about them.

Whatever you want to say about Kagti, it is clear to see that she is one determined and hard-working director and we, at BizAsia, are looking forward to seeing ��Talaash�۪ release in the next couple of weeks.