'Udta Punjab' is a story of four different people merged together. There are four different stories and four different perspectives.
'Udta Punjab' has a brilliant script.
I generally respond to any story very organically.
The most important thing in a love story for me is the intensity and passion that my lead actors bring into playing their characters.
Trapped' is the story of a guy stuck in an apartment with no food, no water and no electricity, and of his survival based on his primal instincts.
Nothing should be banned. I think it is just not good.
Phantom Films is an established production house and it will help to spread awareness about the documentary film 'Katiyabaaz' among the audience. I saw this film and I loved it. Then we decided to support this film.
I would love to direct a documentary film if any good subject comes my way.
You want your film to be seen by the largest audience and stars help in facilitating that. Star-power does work.
Box office does matter. One cannot ignore it.
Everyone wants their film to do well and I am no different from them.
Making realistic films is basically about the style.
Harshvardhan Kapoor is very sincere, somebody who wears his heart on his sleeve.
I read pretty much every graphic novel I could lay my hands on. Not only 'Batman' or 'Daredevil,' but random ones like 'Black AF' and '100 Bullets.'
It is okay to put as much money as you want in a story, as long as it is justified.
Give me a story which I connect with and then I am going to do it.
I am open to doing comedies, romantic stories, and commercial cinema, but it has to work for me so that I can give a year of my life in making it.
I try not to read all reviews, but its just that after a point there is nothing much that you can do about it. You can learn and take forward things and use it in your next film. As long as reviews translate into bums on the seat, I think there isn't much I can do.
What I loved about the 1950s is that there is an aesthetic to even the average film. The way the camera is placed, the way characters move, the way you dressed the sets, the respect for craft and actors, I do miss that in today's films.
I am not afraid of slowing down moments - if you have the right emotion in the right place at the right time, you can have any length of film you want.
I take criticism very positively if it's genuine.
If you don't take a risk then what's the point. We can't keep making films in the same space.
I think because of social media and YouTube things are changing. Today people have a judgement about films.
It's always a challenge to adapt a novel for screen, a visual medium.
When you are working on a movie, you have to ensure that the journey of characters ends in two hours.
I relate to all kinds of film.
Most films have a relationship or lack of it. They are about human beings.
Personally, the films I love include 'Black Friday,' 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai,' 'Love Sex Aur Dhoka,' and 'Zindagi Na Milege Dobara' because they work at the box office and are complete packages.
I like to make something different and interesting.
I prefer directing to producing as it is far more satisfying.
I want to direct more often. The job of a producer brings its own benefit as you start to see the simplicity of film making. But yes there is a constant battle between the director and producer in me.
I hope I never get complacent and continue to give my 100% to every film I make.
You can assist another director and learn the ropes of the craft over the years, but becoming a director is about finding your own voice, so you've got to experiment.
I lock myself up in the apartment when I am writing a script. There's no phone, no Wi-Fi, no distractions whatsoever.
I knew exactly what I wanted out of my actors - the film stars Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha in lead roles - and how each shot should look. A large part of 'Lootera' has been shot under tough conditions.
When I look back I either feel I did this mistake while shooting or writing. Eventually you try and make sure you do not repeat the same mistake with your next film. I always feel I could have made the film better.
Indian audience has a mindset that a movie which does well at film festivals will necessarily be slow and boring.
Multiplex cinema culture has created a level-playing field for directors where small budget movies are able to break even, even make profit.
I'm happy Lootera has sparked off a discussion.
In India, it's tough to shoot a period film outdoors. You cannot find mud roads without wires, signage and billboards with ads of mobile phones even in rural areas.
A filmmaker has to have faith in talent.
I don't think 'Lootera' is slow paced; it's finely paced for its setting and story.
My earliest childhood memories are just of me falling and getting injuries.
I had problems my entire life trying to make films. Problems come but you have to find a solution.
Problems just make me more determined.
Hard-hitting films are remembered for a long time.
In this industry, you are as good as your last hit.
My defining moment was when I finally went to Cannes and saw my name along with international filmmakers.