Gippi: India’s #Awkward?

Director Sonam Nair may shy away from making fantasy films about vampires, but she is willing to experiment with teen angst, a territory that has never been fully explored in Bollywood.

“A movie about vampires stands a serious chance of becoming a silly joke. We don’t really have the technology to create that make-believe world. I wanted to stick to things that I knew I was familiar with,” said Nair in an interview with tabloid!.

In her first venture, Gippi, funded by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, Nair explores the tumultuous world of teenagers grappling with body issues, boy problems and more.

The awkward teenager is played by Delhi girl Riya Vij who was discovered after auditions in Delhi and Mumbai, while the hunk is played by Dubai’s own Taaha Shah. It’s Shah’s second film after Luv Ka The End and it’s Vij’s first shot in front of the camera.

“It’s a coming-of-age story. Everything that happens during your teens is heightened and I wanted to explore that,” said Nair. Excerpts from the interview with Nair, who assisted director Ayan Mukherjee in Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Wake Up Si.

Q: What should we know about Gippi?

A: Gippi is a tale of a girl going through puberty. She’s overweight, awkward and doesn’t really like herself in the beginning. The film traces her life and how she begins to love herself and sees her own strengths.

Q: Teenage angst has never been tapped into by Bollywood films, known for its love stories and musicals. Were you aware that you are taking a risk?

A: I wanted to explore things that I went through in my life and I wanted to make a story around it because I thought it will be more honest. I have always believed in “write what you know”. So I sat down and started writing about how I was fat and realised that I was at my fattest during my puberty. Then it all fell into place.

Q: How difficult was it to direct a child actor?

A: I had not one but several kids. None of them knew a thing about acting or being on a set. It required a lot of patience because they had to be told what a scene is, how a light will be placed and where they need to stand. That was slightly difficult because they were unfamiliar with it all. But making them act wasn’t tough because I didn’t want them to act. I had chosen characters that close to the characters in the film. So all they had to do was to say their lines.

Q: How did you choose these actors?

A: We had rigorous auditions in Delhi and Mumbai. The hunt started in schools and our brief was that we were looking for children who could play 14-year-olds convincingly. We went through 30,000 faces first and shortlisted a few. We then took them out and conducted workshops to see if they could act a bit. I didn’t expect them to be great actors.

Q: How did you find the main lead?

A: The school that she studied in was a strict convent school. They didn’t allow us to go in for auditions. But when we were holding auditions in neighbouring schools we asked the kids whether they knew anybody who could fit into the part of Gippi. That’s when Riya Vij walked in.

Q: Did you sign her on for the lead role instantly?

A: No, we met her many times. Her look was perfect but in real life she was shy and withdrawn. But most kids behave like that in a strange environment. They won’t suddenly start acting. I was in Delhi for a month and I met her five times. Each week we worked quite a bit with her. By the time I was leaving Delhi, I was sure she was my Gippi. I put her on top of my list and showed Karan the pictures. His response: “I don’t know about her acting but something about her face says I can watch it for two hours.”

Q: How did you convince Bollywood’s A-list director Karan Johar to back this film?

A: I didn’t go to Karan with an idea, I went with a bound script. After reading my script he said that he was trying to diversify his Dharma Productions and this script has come up at a right time. These days – all production houses whether they are big or small – are experimenting with small-budget films. If a new filmmakers says he or she wants to make a big-budget film with big stars, the chances of us getting millions to fund our venture is slim. Nowadays, smaller films have an audience now. Also, Karan gave me full rein on making this film because he trusted my vision. He didn’t ask me to raise the age of Gippi [so] there can be some hotness to the film or a space for cameo from a big star.

Q: You have signed on actor Taaha Shah who grew up in Dubai. What made you choose him?

He fit the part perfectly. He plays the quintessential dreamboat. He’s the bad, brooding boy that mums warn their daughters about. He has his own Jeep, wears a leather jacket and is the kind of guy that every teenage girl fantasises about. Gippi finds her first love in him.