JOIN USShe has worked with actors like Akshay Kumar, Bobby Doel and Amitabh Bachchan in the film Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo. She even has some small budget films like Dal – The Gang and few pop albums to her credit. But Divya Khosla Kumar is more recognised as the wife of T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar. Though keeping a low profile post-marriage, Divya is now ready with her directorial debut Yaariyaan, scheduled to be released this month.
“Yaariyaan is a proper, commercial, youth-centric film that revolves around the lives of five college kids. I have tried to narrate the beauty of this age where we go through a series of changes – emotionally and physically. How we react to certain experiences which have been never felt before and other emotional moments that leave us feeling nostalgic throughout our lives forms the film’s core,” says Divya, who will be introducing five new faces in the film.
“I never wanted to make 30-plus actor look like a college-goer. It wouldn’t have justified the characters in the film. That’s why I had to choose some new talent within the age group of 19-20 and they are not from the industry,”she says.
However, before trying her luck with direction, Divya had shot some music videos and took formal training in direction from a film institute. “I did a filmmaking course in Mumbai where I learnt about editing, cinematography and direction. I applied this knowledge practically in music videos before putting my hands on a bigger project,” says Divya.
Preferring direction over acting, Divya confidently says, “I was creative and enterprising since my childhood and felt that I had some creativity in me. I was never sure about acting but I believed that I had the potential of utilising my creativity in direction.”
Divya credits Bhushan for capitalising on her talent and being an extremely supportive husband. “He is the producer of the film,” says Divya (laughs). “He has been very co-operative – right from music recording to shooting. But at the same time he never interfered in my work,” she says.
Since Divya has entered the league of female directors, which are still less in number, she feels that participation of female directors should be encouraged in the industry.
According to her female directors are more controlled and dignified when they direct a film. “Generally, filmmakers abuse people working under them. Even women are capable of doing that but I don’t think they ever go to that extreme. Somehow, their dignity is reflected in the kind of the work they show to the audiences.”