Anurag Kashyap: When I make a film, I show it to everyone

When you decided to co-produce NH10, did you think an offbeat film like that would find takers?

We always believed in NH10. The problem was finding people who believed in a script that was fronted by a woman. I was shooting for my directorial venture then, and I was told that Anushka (Sharma; actor and co-producer) doesn't want to do the film. It was only when I spoke to her that I realised that she had read some other script and not NH10. The title on the opening page had been mixed up. Then I gave her the right script and things got rolling.

There was also some buzz that your upcoming Ranbir-starrer is gearing up for a screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

There is no confirmation on that right now, and until there is, I can't talk about it. However, I have shown the film to committee members of several film festivals around the world, and many Bollywood directors as well. I like to do that. When I make a film, I show it to everyone to get their opinion. I'm not scared of reviews; I have followed this practice since I made my first film, Paanch. It's insecurity that stops other people from doing this.

BOI: People think you are arrogant...

AK: (Cuts in) People who know me don't think I am. Also, I am blunt and call a spade a spade. I am not arrogant; I just love cinema too much. I believe that one can do so much with all the resources one has. So when one doesn't because one is lazy... I feel that when I am making a film and using all the resources I have, it should show on screen. When Bombay Velvet was written, it was a Rs 300-crore film but the film's budget is actually ' 90 crore. I have shot for 75 days. Name one film with a budget of over Rs 60 crore that was shot in less than 120 days. We had to finish a Rs 90-crore film in 75 days or else we would have gone over-budget. Everything was very well planned and organised. When we were in talks with Aamir (Khan) for the film five to six years ago, the budget was ' 160 crore for the film.

BOI: You were planning this film with Aamir Khan?

AK: Yes, six years ago. It was obvious that one couldn't make a film on a budget of Rs 160 crore; even box-office numbers didn't reach Rs 160 crore. It was unreasonable. So I put the project on the back burner. Slowly, we cut down on things and decided that we could make the film on a smaller budget without changing the movie. We even travelled the world to find the most cost-effective locations for the film. It was our meticulous planning that ensured that the film became reasonable for everyone.

Like we are unable to make Doga right now because I know how much money it requires. Till the box office doesn't reach that mark, Doga cannot be made. Of course, we could make Doga with Rs 40-50 crore but that would be a sub-standard film. Basically, you need patience to increase the capacity of a film.

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