'My Whole Career Has Been Built Upon Rejection, But I Never Give Up'
Outlook|October 09, 2017

National award-winning director Hansal Mehta talks about this happy, hectic time, the joys of film-ma­king and working with actors such as Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao.

Prachi Pinglay
'My Whole Career Has Been Built Upon Rejection, But I Never Give Up'

National award-winning director Hansal Mehta talks to Prachi Pinglay-Plumber about this happy, hectic time, the joys of film-ma­king and working with actors such as Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao. Two of his recent films—Simran, starring Kangana, and Omerta, premi­ered at the Toronto International Film Festival—see the director dabbling with very diverse themes for storytelling.

Omerta, which premiered at TIFF, seems very different, dark…  

Omerta was completed much before Simran. It is a happy but tight coincidence that Omerta premiered just four days before Simran.Though, it’s not a coincidence that TIFF picked 9/11 for the world premiere. Omerta is also a departure of sorts because it is a political thriller. It is a genre that I haven’t dealt with. It’s based on a true story, based on Omar Sheikh, allegedly the murderer of journalist Daniel Pearl. It’s a 96-97 minute roller-coaster and it traverses a whole world—Pakistan, Afghanistan, London, Old Delhi. My tagline for the film is ‘Brief history of terrorism’—from when it first started, with the Bosnia genocide in 1992, up to the present.

Were you careful or cautious while doing this film?  

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OUTLOOKView all
Trump's White House 'Waapsi'
Outlook

Trump's White House 'Waapsi'

Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election may very well mean an end to democracy in the near future

time-read
6 mins  |
November 21, 2024
IMT Ghaziabad hosted its Annual Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2024
Outlook

IMT Ghaziabad hosted its Annual Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2024

Shri Suresh Narayanan, Chairman Managing Director of Nestlé India Limited, congratulated and motivated graduates at IMT Ghaziabad's Convocation 2024

time-read
2 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Identity and 'Infiltrators'
Outlook

Identity and 'Infiltrators'

The Jharkhand Assembly election has emerged as a high-stakes political contest, with the battle for power intensifying between key players in the state.

time-read
1 min  |
November 21, 2024
Beyond Deadlines
Outlook

Beyond Deadlines

Bibek Debroy could engage with even those who were not aligned with his politics or economics

time-read
2 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Portraying Absence
Outlook

Portraying Absence

Exhibits at a group art show in Kolkata examine existence in the absence

time-read
4 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Of Rivers, Jungles and Mountains
Outlook

Of Rivers, Jungles and Mountains

In Adivasi poetry, everything breathes, everything is alive and nothing is inferior to humans

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Hemant Versus Himanta
Outlook

Hemant Versus Himanta

Himanta Biswa Sarma brings his hate bandwagon to Jharkhand to rattle Hemant Soren’s tribal identity politics

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024
A Smouldering Wasteland
Outlook

A Smouldering Wasteland

As Jharkhand goes to the polls, people living in and around Jharia coalfield have just one request for the administration—a life free from smoke, fear and danger for their children

time-read
1 min  |
November 21, 2024
Search for a Narrative
Outlook

Search for a Narrative

By demanding a separate Sarna Code for the tribals, Hemant Soren has offered the larger issue of tribal identity before the voters

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024
The Historic Bonhomie
Outlook

The Historic Bonhomie

While the BJP Is trying to invoke the trope of Bangladeshi infiltrators”, the ground reality paints a different picture pertaining to the historical significance of Muslim-Adivasi camaraderie

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024