I didn’t get any good roles, I was jobless and my career was in the dumps! So I had no choice, but to quit, says film director Abhishek Kapoor...
After starting your career with acting, what made you move to direction?
I didn’t get any good roles, I was jobless and my career was in the dumps! So I had no choice, but to quit. Also, the film Industry was not like what it is today. The 80s was the worst time for the film industry and I happened to make my debut at that time. Instead of doing more mediocre roles, I decided to step back, take some time off and then write and make movies.
How did you get into filmmaking?
I started to write a story and then I felt so excited about it that I thought it should be made into a movie. Then I felt that I would be the best guy to make it. I didn’t really go to any film school or assist anyone. I just found my way through it.
What inspired you to make a movie on rock bands, a concept yet not very well known to Indians?
The movie was never about rock music or bands. It was about people. It was about friendship, relationships – boyfriend-girlfriend or husband and wife. The rock band or music concept was just a backdrop. Similarly, even Kai Po Che! has all these things, but Gujarat is the backdrop and it has cricket and politics and the earthquake and all of that. But the film is about friendship and relationships. For me, as a director, there is nothing more challenging than to be versatile. If I do something completely new and I go through the process where I can learn something; that’s exciting for me. If I do something that I have already done before or do what 20 other directors are already doing, then what is so good about what I am doing?
Why did you choose to make a film on the book, The 3 Mistakes of my Life?
Chetan had offered me 2 States as well, but I felt that this book (The 3 Mistakes of My Life) had a lot of cinematic potential. It’s a big story which is very simply told in a book and is a little bit filmy. I felt that as a filmmaker, I could add a lot of things to the story. I found the characters very exciting too. Ishan, Omi and Govind are fabulous and that’s what really got me to do it.
How was it working with a fresh cast?
I think I have got a great cast. As an audience, when you see new people you wouldn’t see what I see. But when the film is out these people are going to be very busy. These people are exceptionally talented. They are as good as the best actors of the country today and I am very proud of them.
How did you come up with the title - Kai Po Che?
Kai Po Che means to cut from a kite and it’s a victory call. I went to Ahmedabad for Makar Sakranti and if you go and have a look at it, all the terraces during that time are filled with so many people flying kites. It’s a big celebration and that’s what the film is about. It’s about the celebration of life and at the same time it is a victory call. So, metaphorically, the title suits the kind of story I want to tell. It has got this energy and an element of freshness.
After Rock On!! which was completely your idea, did you feel restricted with the script of this film since it is already a book?
You have read the book so you have your own vision of the book. But that’s the fun. Now, with this, I am engaging the audience on another level. Now that you’ve read it, you have to see how I have visualised it and how I show it. That will be my personal exchange with the audience… like, this is how I see Ishan, Govind and Omi and this is how I see the drama played out. The book goes in many different directions, but I had to choose one trajectory. We’ve made about 50 per cent changes in it. There are a lot of things which I have taken out and a lot of things that I have added. However, despite new characterisations, twists etc it is still the book. If you’ve read the book and when you see the film, you’ll know what kind of adaptation it is. So it’ll be interesting for someone who’s read the book to see it.
You seem to be very close with Farhan Akhtar…
It’s a great relationship. We have been good friends for a long time and worked on Rock On!! together.
After starting your career with acting, what made you move to direction?
I didn’t get any good roles, I was jobless and my career was in the dumps! So I had no choice, but to quit. Also, the film Industry was not like what it is today. The 80s was the worst time for the film industry and I happened to make my debut at that time. Instead of doing more mediocre roles, I decided to step back, take some time off and then write and make movies.
How did you get into filmmaking?
I started to write a story and then I felt so excited about it that I thought it should be made into a movie. Then I felt that I would be the best guy to make it. I didn’t really go to any film school or assist anyone. I just found my way through it.
What inspired you to make a movie on rock bands, a concept yet not very well known to Indians?
The movie was never about rock music or bands. It was about people. It was about friendship, relationships – boyfriend-girlfriend or husband and wife. The rock band or music concept was just a backdrop. Similarly, even Kai Po Che! has all these things, but Gujarat is the backdrop and it has cricket and politics and the earthquake and all of that. But the film is about friendship and relationships. For me, as a director, there is nothing more challenging than to be versatile. If I do something completely new and I go through the process where I can learn something; that’s exciting for me. If I do something that I have already done before or do what 20 other directors are already doing, then what is so good about what I am doing?
Why did you choose to make a film on the book, The 3 Mistakes of my Life?
Chetan had offered me 2 States as well, but I felt that this book (The 3 Mistakes of My Life) had a lot of cinematic potential. It’s a big story which is very simply told in a book and is a little bit filmy. I felt that as a filmmaker, I could add a lot of things to the story. I found the characters very exciting too. Ishan, Omi and Govind are fabulous and that’s what really got me to do it.
How was it working with a fresh cast?
I think I have got a great cast. As an audience, when you see new people you wouldn’t see what I see. But when the film is out these people are going to be very busy. These people are exceptionally talented. They are as good as the best actors of the country today and I am very proud of them.
How did you come up with the title - Kai Po Che?
Kai Po Che means to cut from a kite and it’s a victory call. I went to Ahmedabad for Makar Sakranti and if you go and have a look at it, all the terraces during that time are filled with so many people flying kites. It’s a big celebration and that’s what the film is about. It’s about the celebration of life and at the same time it is a victory call. So, metaphorically, the title suits the kind of story I want to tell. It has got this energy and an element of freshness.
After Rock On!! which was completely your idea, did you feel restricted with the script of this film since it is already a book?
You have read the book so you have your own vision of the book. But that’s the fun. Now, with this, I am engaging the audience on another level. Now that you’ve read it, you have to see how I have visualised it and how I show it. That will be my personal exchange with the audience… like, this is how I see Ishan, Govind and Omi and this is how I see the drama played out. The book goes in many different directions, but I had to choose one trajectory. We’ve made about 50 per cent changes in it. There are a lot of things which I have taken out and a lot of things that I have added. However, despite new characterisations, twists etc it is still the book. If you’ve read the book and when you see the film, you’ll know what kind of adaptation it is. So it’ll be interesting for someone who’s read the book to see it.
You seem to be very close with Farhan Akhtar…
It’s a great relationship. We have been good friends for a long time and worked on Rock On!! together.
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