Sudhir Mishra’s interview

Sudhir Mishra’s unconventional looks often define the films that he makes. The director who has made films such as Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi, Chameli, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisiand Khoya Khoya Chand now has two films releasing in quick succession - Tera Kya Hoga Johny and Yeh Saali Zindagi. We caught up with the director par excellence and probed him on his films.

The much delayed Tera Kya Hoga Johny is finally releasing after a long wait. Please tell us what is it all about?

I have always loved Mumbai city. I love the nights and often go out on walks at night. In my walks I meet a lot of coffee boys who hope that something good will happen in their life. The film is about hope of how if someone becomes successful some good will trickle down to another too. The film is story of a coffee seller Johnny who latches on to Parvez (Neil Nitin Mukesh’s character) hoping that both of them would be successful.

How has the city changed since you first set foot on it?

A lot has changed in fact. It was spacious, not only area wise but the hearts of people were big too. But one thing about Mumbai has remained constant. If you are new to the city, first you enter and then city enters you. If you can stay in Mumbai now, you can stay anywhere in the world!

TKHJ was to be Neil’s second film. What made you sign him with just one film under his belt?

It is instinct which has grown over the years, dare I say I have an eye for talent! When people walk into your office, when you meet them on the road in circumstances which are not professional, it says a lot about the person. Neil has got vulnerability, a brooding personality and when he smiles the face lights up. He is a very interesting actor who is on the cusp of entering big time.

In most of your films a person is never content in his life...

It is not just my films. People themselves are not satisfied with their situations! Life is a complicated and unexpected journey. At times when you think that things are turning out to be really bad, it might just flip and turn into gold. When I started out in life, people whom I least expected did so well. One should never underestimate or predict about someone. You might never know where does life take them. So many times I tried my best to get something but it dint work out. And at times you casually do something and people call you genius! Like Hazaaron was shot in worst possible scenario, budgets were low, actors were new and it was a huge unit! New actors became the biggest asset. Shiney, Chitrangada and Kay Kay were excellent in the film. The film turned out to be my best work and saved my career!

Talking about Yeh Saali Zindagi, it is apparently based on the theme that one will do anything for a person he loves. Tell us more.

It is about two people who go to the edge for people they love. Love makes you vulnerable and you start thinking of other person more than yourself.

Is it possible for someone to not notice or ignore a person who loves him or her?

Many people do that! Love is also about looking at things through other person’s point of view. If you are lost only in yourself then you will be very incomplete, many people do that to their unhappiness. If you ignore that person sure enough when you need that person, you will be all lonely. Love and relationships change you as a person. My relationship with a lady called Renu Saluja was very crucial to the person I’m today, I was lucky to find a women who was that unique and loved me and had no wish to control me. It has been 10 years since she is gone but I still miss her. Renu was an excellent editor; she changed my films into something different!