सुहृता दास की फिल्म से महेश भट्ट का कमबैक: डायरेक्टर बोलीं- सड़क 2 प्रोपगैंडा का शिकार हुई, फिल्म विवादों से नहीं सच्चाई से बनती है

Mahesh Bhatt is in the discussion of the new film “Tu Meri Poori Kahani”, but this time the reason is not just a well -known face, but a new voice is director Suhrita Das. The name which has been a part of the controversial film like “Sadak 2”, has now come out with her own film. In this interview, Suhrita spoke to Babaki from the beginning of her career to her experiences with Mahesh Bhatt. He told how the entire team was broken due to the flop of “Road 2”, and how that film was made a victim of social media trial and propaganda …

The film’s directory Suhrita Das, the creator Mahesh Bhatt and writer Shrveya Bothra

Have you ever thought that one day you will work with a legendary director like Mahesh Bhatt and how did you manage this dream?

Suhrita Das- To be honest, my parents also often ask me whether I had ever dreamed that which has come true today. But all this did not happen suddenly, it was slowly formed with each step. I always wanted to become a writer. When Mahesh Bhatt met Sir for the first time in Kolkata, I told him that direction writing is the next level and somewhere it has been a part of my manifestation.

What is the story of your film “Tu Meri Poor Kahani” and what message do you want to give to the audience through this film?

Suhrita Das- “You my whole story” is not just a love story, but it is a spiritual journey of a girl. Even though we say in the society that the boy and the girl are walking shoulder to shoulder, but this is an incomplete truth. Anita, the main character of our film, comes from a disturbed background. She wants to become a very big star, she wants the whole country to know her by her name but she falls in love in this journey. Then the question comes in front of him? This is the internal struggle where the voice of the heart wins. The name of this film was “Tu Meri Puri Kahani” and Shweta Bothra decided after many discussions and research.

Shweta is a poetess and said that the name of the film should be such that it touches the heart like poetry and also shows the message of our film. I think this name completely incorporates the feeling that we have tried to put on the screen.

Arhan Patel, the lead hero of the film with Mahesh Bhatt,

What was the process about casting of the film? You have given a chance to new faces, how did you take this decision?

Suhrita Das- I not only worked with Mahesh Bhatt sir in the last ten years but got and learned from many artists and technicians. Meanwhile, I was also introduced to the film’s lead actors Arhan and Hiranya. Arhan, who plays Rohan in the film, is from Sihor, a small village in Madhya Pradesh. He used to do marketing work and people often told him why you don’t come in films.

At the same time, Hiranya, who is a female lead, was with me in workshops. He was recommended by an experienced instructor and when I saw him on the screen, I was convinced that the sensitivity in the script can play both of them. The third character is by Shammi Duhan, who is playing an important role of ‘Raj’ in the film. He had come to audition for some other role in our production house, but from there I felt that these people are right for our film. In this way casting is associated with the land, with true and hardworking artists.

How was this experience working with veteran director like Mahesh Bhatt and sitting in the director’s chair for the first time?

Suhrita Das- The first time I reached the set as a director and Mahesh Bhatt was with me, that moment was both very scary and exciting for me. I assisted him in ‘Road 2’, in that film I worked with him from beginning to end. But even then it was not easy to say that I want to direct myself one day. When he came to know this, he started giving me space.

Pooja Bhatt also told Bhatt Saheb that the way I worked in “Road 2”, now I should be doubled hard as a director. On the set, we used to go to complete preparation, where the character has come from, what is his emotional journey, what will be dialogues, everything would have been decided. Then Bhatt Saheb would come, rehearses and give his opinion. The first scene we shot was senior actors like Tigmanshu Dhulia, Juhi Babbar and also like Hiranya. Bhatt Saheb always says that the first scene should be the most difficult shoot, as he sets the benchmark. We did not impose our opinion on each other, but worked with coordination. Where I felt that Ri should shoot, did it.

People like Mahesh Bhatt can sometimes be strict, did they ever scold you? If yes, how did you take it?

Suhrita Das- Yes, it is absolutely scolded and that scolding has been like a boon for me. When you are a director, you are the most responsible. If someone scolds you in front of everyone, then it is just so that you learn and become strong. I am not among those who retreat. Once, there was a tussle with the choreographer, but then we took David sir onboard, whose work Bhatt Saheb also liked. I had opportunities to learn all these circumstances and I take them in the same way.

Annu Malik sang heart touching song in the film ‘Tu Meri Pahani Kahani’

Annu Malik is returning to the music of your film, who was earlier accused of Me Too. Is this their return or the strategy to promote the film?

Suhrita Das– This decision was of Vikram Bhatt. He said that if there is a new director, new actress and new actor in the film, then why not give a unique experience to the music director. I was definitely a little scared to hear the name of Annu Malik Sir, because he works in a particular type of projects. But when I saw that he gave a song for a show by Bhatt Saheb and also did a great job in Bengal director Shreejit Mukherjee’s film ‘Begum Jaan’, I became confident on him.

Annu Malik sir became like a Guru for us. He recorded 4-5 hours with every singer, also gave feedback and taught himself. While working with him, he never felt that we are working with a legend, they became a part of our team.

After the Sushant Singh Rajput case, ‘Road 2’ faced a lot of controversy and criticism. How much did you affect him and this time you feel a risk?

Suhrita Das- I was also associated with the film at that time. ‘Road 2’ was like a root for me. When she was a victim of the film troll and propaganda, I also suffered that storm in private. But that experience did not break me, but strengthened me. Our film “Tu Meri Poori Kahani” is an intimate cinema with brilliant music and new actors. This is Mahesh Bhatt’s cinema school, which I have been taught and I follow the same. Cinema is made by truth, not by controversies.

Finally, what is the biggest learning you have achieved after working with this entire journey and Mahesh Bhatt?

Suhrita Das- People in the industry often become more crazy than success, not from failure. When people reach a point, they are unable to maintain it. Lack of discipline, and take wrong decisions in the words of ten people, this is the reason for failure. My biggest learning has been to stay connected with your roots. Do not forget your reality, no matter how much height you get. Only when you are connected to the ground, you can fly high.