This week, Meghna Gulzar starts shooting her second feature film Honeymoon, for Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC). She has already recorded two songs with composer Pritam for the film.
To be shot outdoors
In a hurry to complete her pre-production work, Meghna took time off to talk about her long-delayed second film.
"The way we looked at cast, locations and songs proved that PNC and I think alike. That makes my job much easier. The project came together suddenly. And we had barely a month to go. To add to my stress, 80 per cent of Honeymoon is to be shot outdoors. Fortunately Pritish uncle and PNC are a great team. They haven't made me feel the heat."
All-India appeal
Says Nandy, "Meghna Gulzar is very gifted and has the skills required to make a fine film. Her screenplay is charming, and it's about- time PNC made a film that touches audiences all over India. Honeymoon is capable of doing that very easily. It's a simple, happy, unpretentious film."
Meghna sighs with relief. "Finally, I start shooting in about a week. Some things still have to be sorted out. The main cast in Honeymoon is in place. A few TV actors are trying to work out their dates for the outdoors.
We all know how busy TV actors are. But I'm prepared for the struggle. Esha Deol and Fardeen Khan are the young lead, while Moushumi Chatterjee and Satish Shah play the senior couple."
Making papa proud
While Esha's mom Hema Malini, has worked with Meghna's father Gulzar, in Khushboo, Kinara, Meera and Lekin, Moushumi was Gulzar's leading lady in the comedy of errors, Angoor. "So you could say there's a kind of continuity from my father to me. I look forward to making my dad proud," says Meghna.
| Anu Malik scored the music for Meghna's first film, Filhaal. Why Pritam for Honeymoon? "My producers recommended him. They asked me to hear him out. I heard his tunes for three situations in my script, and loved his music He was keen to work with papa." Fruitful gap
Though there's a gap of four years between her two films, Meghna seems far from stagnant. "It wasn't as if I was sitting at home doing nothing. I've been working during the past four years. I was doing music videos for Javed Akhtar's album with Shankar Mahadevan and Alka Yagnik.
Plus, I was writing my scripts and making corporate films. It wasn't as if I was sitting at home looking at the wall. Direction is like swimming; you never forget. I just hope my instincts have gotten better with time." Next project
Meghna plans to do a totally different film next. "Just as Honeymoon will be a complete departure from Filhaal. After my first film, I wrote four scripts in four years. I also have to make Timbuctoo, the film that Vishal Bhardawaj scripted and produced. I'll be done with Honeymoon by August. Timbuctoo or one of my own scripts could be my next film." Uncle se boss
About producer Pritish Nandy, the director says. "I've known since I was a child. I still call him Pritish uncle. But now I need to call him Boss — that's how he's known among his production team. It's very rare to come across a producer who's creatively so compatible.
Now, after the recording of two songs (sung by Sukhvinder and Sunidhi Chauhan), the reality of my second film is beginning to sink in. I told everyone the day before the shooting I want all communication with the outside world to cease." |
| Gulzar on Meghna
"I THINK Bosky (her nickname) has categorically proven that she's her own person. I don't think I could have made Filhaal. The sensibility, mood, dialogues and subject reflect a young aesthetic sense. I, as a filmmaker, would have been very shy to talk about surrogate motherhood.
But Bosky draws a fine line between the sensitive theme and a sturdy storytelling. Comparisons between father and daughter are inevitable. If we are related, there are bound to be similarities.
Kahin aapka rang ek jaisa milega to kahin aapki muskaan ek hogi. Since we belong to the same family tree, why shouldn't there be similarities between our creativity? Meghna received her directorial training under my colleague, Saeed Mirza, only to avoid overt comparisons between father and daughter. And now the results are there for everyone to see.
Bosky has the sensitivity to deal with issues with gentle honesty. I feel very proud of this new generation. I see potential in Bosky, which is going to grow further with her second film." | |
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