"Ranbir Kapoor has earned his place; it’s not my place to comment on someone......": Kussh Sinha

Kussh Sinha, son of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha and brother of Sonakshi Sinha, steps into the director’s chair with his debut film, a psychological horror layered with spiritual, emotional, and social textures. In an exclusive conversation, Kussh opens up about why he chose such a dark-toned genre for his first film, the process of collaborating with Sonakshi, and how filmmaking in India has evolved.

Q: Your debut film carries heavy themes like psychological, spiritual, horror, even anger. Was there any personal darkness you channeled while writing it?

Kussh Sinha: Not darkness exactly. In fact, I’ve always been very sensitive to horror, I couldn’t even watch pure horror films earlier. But that sensitivity helped me become a better writer while rewriting this film. The original story is by Pawan Kriplani (Phobia, Ragini MMS, etc.), and I collaborated with Neel Mohanty and Ankur Takrani on the script. I realized I didn’t need to tap into some personal darkness, just my fears. If you understand what fear feels like, it becomes easier to translate that onto the screen.

Q: What made you choose this story for your debut?

Kussh Sinha: I wanted to do something unique, something fresh. Hindi cinema traditionally focuses on single-genre films: family drama, comedy, horror. But I’ve always been attracted to mixed-genre storytelling. It wasn't just about making a debut, it was about offering something different to the audience. When you watch the trailer which I really hope you do, you’ll see that the film doesn’t follow a typical genre template.

Q: You studied filmmaking. From then to now, how do you feel the industry has evolved? Are Indian filmmakers adapting well to new methods and technologies?

Kussh Sinha: Definitely. There's far more professionalism today. People value each other’s time crews are punctual, dedicated. Earlier, sets sometimes revolved around egos, with meetings happening endlessly while people waited. That’s changed. On the technical side, we’re now using virtual sets, heavy VFX but the heart of a good film still lies in a good story. No technology can substitute soul.

Q: You assisted on Saawariya. How has Ranbir Kapoor’s journey looked to you, from his debut to now?

Kussh Sinha: It’s not my place to comment on someone else’s journey, but I’ve seen him at various stages. On Saawariya, he was a newcomer. Later, I worked on Besharam with him when he was already a star. He’s earned his place, and I’ve heard he’s extremely professional on set, which I really respect.

Q: Let’s talk about casting. Did you just know instinctively who was right for which role? Did that instinct prove correct during filming?

Kussh Sinha: Absolutely. You’ll see it when you watch the film. Every single actor, even the supporting cast fit perfectly. My father made me take acting classes so I could understand how actors think and how to communicate with them. That helped immensely. Senior actors rarely audition, but when I met Arjun sir, he said yes after just one meeting. Paresh sir took two meetings. Kallirroi, two meetings. Suhail Nayyar, one and he got it immediately.

Q: How was the conversation with Sonakshi? Was it an easy yes for her?

Kussh Sinha: Not at all! People assume I just handed her a script and she said yes. That wasn’t the case. She’s turned down projects I suggested before. But I knew this one would interest her. The character of Nikita Roy is incredibly strong and layered, there’s emotional pain, physical pain, fear, horror, even heroism. I knew she could do justice to it. That’s why I approached her.

Q: Female-led films are finding more ground now. What was it like watching Sonakshi step into such a powerful, complex role?

Kussh Sinha: She was fantastic. Again, not trying to be diplomatic, but every actor brought their A-game. There’s a scene where her character suffers a serious injury. Normally, actors need time to prepare for intense emotional scenes like that. But Sonakshi just went for it and nailed it in the first take. That’s experience and instinct combined.

Q: Beyond creative decisions, were you involved in planning the marketing and promotions?

Kussh Sinha: Not directly. That’s more the producers' domain. They plan everything and then share it with us and with the actors for feedback and availability. Sonakshi wasn’t involved daily in that, but she gave her inputs when required. We all collaborated when needed, especially to fine-tune things.

Q: What would you say to Sonakshi after watching her performance as Nikita Roy?

Kussh Sinha: I’d say, “You did it. You carried this complex character with strength and sensitivity.” But honestly, I’d say that to all the actors. They all understood the soul of their roles. That made directing them an incredibly fulfilling experience.

The film 'Nikita Roy' is all set to hit the screens o 18th of July.