There have been some who’ve waited years for their first film to hit the theatres but film-maker Shakun Batra has been lucky ever since he moved to Mumbai from Delhi in 2005.It started off with assisting Farhan Akhtar and Abbas Tyrewala on Rock on! and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na respectively that led him directing his debut film for Dharma Productions, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, which hit the theatres on February 10.
“Everything fell in place miraculously and working with Farhan and Abbas has been a dream. I think I was in the right place at the right time. When I was in film school, I always wanted to become a cinematographer but wishes change over time and as I spent more time on the sets, I knew I wanted to direct my own film some day,” reminisces Shakun. And that’s how Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu was born. Now, in spite of all the anxiety of the last few weeks, Shakun confesses to a strange feeling. “I’m content — the film looks good,” he states.
Quiz him on the cast — Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor — and Shakun honestly quips, “It was always them. Even when I was penning the script I had only them in mind. It’s rare to get the actors you’ve visualised in a particular role or even the crew you’ve wanted but Karan (Johar) made it possible.” Imran, of course, has been a friend for a long time (they worked together in Jaane Tu…) but it’s Kareena who has bowled over the director. “She’s such a delight to work with — someone who believes in doing her work perfectly and heading home after wrap,” he says.
But if there’s one person the debutant director can’t stop gushing about, it’s Karan Johar. “He’s a generous and non-interfering producer. He believes in sharp feedback rather than suggestions because he doesn’t want our films to carry his trademark style — Karan respects individuality. And it’s this attitude of his that makes us answerable to him,” explains Shakun.
