'I've been surrounded by strong women'

Unconventional Take

Choosing the road less taken has almost become the signature style of director Shashant Shah. Whether it is in terms of opting for an unconventional hero in Dasvidaniya or choosing a senior actress like Dolly Ahluwalia for his current movie Bajatey Raho, he has always broken norms. The director was here in the City to promote his film Bajatey Raho and Metrolife caught up with him.

 The first thing one notices after looking at the poster of his latest movie is that Dolly Ahluwalia is the lead character in it.

Ask him why he decided to make such a bold move and he says that he has always taken calculated risks. “I have been fortunate to be surrounded by strong women. My grandmother lived her life the way she wanted to. At around 60, when people generally go on pilgrimage, she used to have her wine and her meat. So I was very inspired by the way she lived and I too lived the way I wanted to. My mother and wife are also equally intelligent and smart. These women have influenced my life to a great extent,” he explains.

“I was very clear about the poster and the concept of the film. We could have had a different poster, but I preferred this because we don’t talk about the superwoman that everyone has in our homes. I did not want to compromise on the script and the look of the movie. In fact, I had written the script for four men. But when I saw Dollyji’s performance in ‘Vicky Donor’, I changed the script. I felt that many would not even think of a concept like this — it is a risky decision, one that can go wrong. But I have decided to take this step and hence, Mummyji is the protagonist and she is supported by these men against Ravi Kissen in the film.”

His first film, Dasvidaniya, was another bold move for a debutant director as he chose an unconventional lead (Vinay Pathak) for the film. “Many people tried to dissuade me from naming my first film Dasvidaniya, but I did not want to change it. People still mispronounce the name. I chose the topic and made it as realistic as possible,” he notes.

The director asserts that he shows reality and says that he wants to present the true picture to the audience. The item number in his upcoming movie has added a commercial touch to it. However, he says that it is an integral part of the film. “The item number in my film has been shown very realistically. There is nothing cheap about the song shown in the film. Moreover, dance numbers are a part of a typical North Indian wedding. People look for a reason to dance. The song has been woven into the story,” he states.

He is quite multifaceted for a director who is just a couple of  films old and has even written the script of the movie. “Not many know that I have written the script of the movie. I have not taken any credits for that and hope that it clicks with the audience,” he signs off.