Dibakar Banerjee burst into the Bollywood scene with a bang. His debut feature, Khosla Ka Ghosla, about a middle-class family in Delhi caught up in a land-grabbing racket, struck all the right chords with its engaging storytelling techniques. His second feature, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, didn’t disappoint either.
While the critics lauded his work, the viewers enjoyed the sweet comedy. Now his latest film, Shanghai, opens the IIFA on Thursday.
tabloid! caught up with Banerjee prior to his green-carpet call
Q. Why should we watch Shanghai?
Shanghai is about India and whoever is interested in India should go watch it. It’s a political thriller that goes to show that the times are changing and that India is changing. In such a scenario, there are lots of people who are either changing with the times or trying to fight the change. It’s an interesting hook. Secondly, I don’t think in the history of Hindi films we have actors like Abhay Deol, Emraan Hashmi, Kalki Koechlin, Prosenjit Chatterjee from Calcutta, Supriya Pathak and Farooq Shaikh sharing the same frame.
Q. Tell us more about your unusual casting decisions?
I have always enjoyed going against convention. Defining a person into a slot and not allowing them to climb over that slot is equivalent to being opaque. Hashmi has always impressed me although a certain section of the media looks down upon him. I knew that if he is cast in a film like this and his performance works out, it will shut some wagging tongues.
Q. Most Bollywood films vilify politicians. Have you been tempted?
Absolutely not. It’s a thriller and none of my films have an overt message. From Khosla Ka Ghosla to Love Sex Dhoka, I never want my films to become extremely boring or preachy. Also, I firmly believe that you deserve the politicians that you get. We select and elect our leaders. In a democracy like India, we have the power to bring down the politicians that we don’t want. Whatever is happening in India, everyone is responsible. Shanghai is not pointing the finger at anyone. In the backdrop of a political scenario, it’s a tale of three characters who get entwined in a murder mystery, It’s an unholy triangle.
Q. You have kept away from big stars. Have they eluded you or is it the other way around?
A bit of both. Star power carries immense clout especially in a country like India. Lot of us like to put our ideals and visions on someone else’s shoulders and therefore stars work in India. But stars are few and everybody wants their time. So people are willing to wait for them. The only thing I don’t ever do is wait.
Q. Shanghai has been chosen to premiere at the 13th edition of IIFAs in Singapore. Your thoughts.
I am extremely happy. It will have the eyes of the Bollywood-watching Indians abroad.
