'Anil, Rani are not stars. They are good actors'

The media has labelled him with many tags, he says.

Known for his middle-of-the-road sensibilities, director Sudhir Mishra also admits that commercial film producers once refused to trust him, fearing he would not make commercially viable films.

Now, the man behind Dharavi and Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin has taken a turn for the commercial with Calcutta Mail.

The film, starring Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Manisha Koirala, Sayaji Shinde and Satish Kaushik, hits the theatres on September 5.

Mishra tells Chief Correspondent Syed Firdaus Ashraf he wants to make serious films in a lighthearted manner:

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Why the name Calcutta Mail?

Because Kolkata is a great city. It is the only city where a book fair will be full. There have been great Bengalis like Satyajit Ray and Rabindranath Tagore.

We have shot on the Howrah Bridge, in the trams, and many other places in Kolkata. We have captured the spirit of Calcutta.

What is the film about?

It is an emotional thriller. The main character, played by Anil, is from Bihar. He comes to Kolkata. As he steps out of his train, he realises that people in Kolkata do not want him alive. You come to know why as the film proceeds. The turning point of the film is when he steps out of the train.

The film is intriguing, like a rollercoaster ride. That is its USP.

Is Calcutta Mail a remake of the Telugu film Choodalani Vundi?

Only the central idea is from the Telugu film [starring Chiranjeevi, Anjala Zhaveri and Soundarya, and directed by Guna Sekhar]. 

Anil Kapoor showed me the Telugu film and asked me to direct it. I told him I would not be able to. He insisted and told me to think differently. So I made one on my terms and conditions.

Would it be correct to say that it depicts the clash between the Bihari and Bengali cultures?

No, this is about a character from Bihar who disappears in Kolkata.

What about Rani Mukerji?

She is the best actress we have today. She has talent and potential. We needed a heroine who could pretend to be someone else. She did it effortlessly.

Why does Manisha Koirala not feature in the film's promos?

Because I don't want the audience thinking this is a love triangle. If I show her in the promos, the audience will call it a love triangle.

You've shot the film with Bollywood stars.

Don't call them 'stars'. Call them good actors. I have taken good actors for my film like Anil, Rani, Manisha, Saurabh Shukla, Satish Kaushik and Sayaji Shinde. Any of these artistes can play any character with ease.

How many songs are there in the film?

Three. They help move the film ahead. I did not include too many songs because I wanted to retain the [paciness of the] thriller format.

Why this shift to mainstream films?

The media has labelled me with tags [like art director]. Commercial film producers did not want to touch people like me. They do not trust people like me. They say, 'Isko haath nahin lagao [Don't touch him]. He will not have songs in his film nor will he make women strip.'

But things are changing now. People are accepting new kinds of films, so it is good for the industry.

My film Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin was made ahead of its times. Had it been made now, it would have done well at the box office. Though it did do well in Delhi and Kolkata.

So is this a complete switch to commercial films?

Every director wants to see his film running to full houses. My earlier films were meant for a limited audience. They were emotional dramas for certain kinds of people. Now, I want to tell a story in a lighter way. It is more difficult to make entertaining films compared to serious ones.

How difficult is it to make an art film today?

I think you can make all kinds of films because nobody knows which film will work.

Would you say the days of art films are over?

No. That kind of distinction is over. Cinema has become more open. Today, you can make a good film if you control your budget and make a film for a niche audience.

Five years ago, nobody asked me to make a film. Now, in 15 days, people have approached me with money, saying they want to make a film [with me].

Are you doing any other films?

I am doing Hazaron Khwaishen Aisi, a film for Pritish Nandy Communications. It is a political film, based on the times of [the late prime minister] Indira Gandhi.

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