EMPOWERING STORYTELLERS

In a candid chat, filmmaker Nikkhil Advani speaks about why he is grateful to OTT platforms, promoting new directors and making films for the right reasons

- SAMREEN KHOJA

THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic has changed the functioning of society and the film industry was no exception. But, for filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, the road ahead seems one of hope. With his production house- Emmay Entertainment resuming work on several films, and the upcoming release of their medical drama- Mumbai Diaries 26/11 in March 2021, Nikkhil says that the filmy Friday fever is all set to resume.

While discussing his career Nikkhil is forthcoming and candid about his highs and lows along the way. He spoke to me about his upcoming projects, his eternal love for cinema, making films for the right reasons and why Kal Ho Na Ho will be etched in his memories.

Nikkhil has such varied filmography, that it is difficult to put him in a specific box. Right from his debut in 2003 with Kal Ho Na Ho, to his breakthrough film D-Day and a few star-vehicle misfires like Chandni Chowk to China, Hero and Katti Batti, it is difficult to tell that the same person has made these films. Then later Nikkhil produced critically acclaimed Airlift starring Akshay Kumar and the unabashedly commercial Satyameva Jayeta starring John Abrahim. To put it straight, one doesn’t quite know what to expect from a Nikkhil Advani film, something that he considers a strength. “The stamp that I bring to different genres, whether it is an espionage thriller, an animation film like Delhi Safari or a biopic like Batla House, all I try to do is concentrate on the drama and this is consistent for all the films, but I like to switch genres as much as I can,” says Nikkhil.