Beyond The Shadows

ONIR gets candid on alternate sexuality and the stigma attached to it. RAGHUVENDRA SINGH chats with the filmmaker, who’s been conversant with the dark side of glamour

- Raghuvendra Singh

After six years, Onir is back with another intense human drama, which deals with societal hypocrisy, relationships and sexuality. Actually, Shabd was supposed to be his debut film as a director but because of its ‘bold’ subject the project never took off. “I had written it in 2009. But people said the subject was ahead of its time. It was supposed to be made with Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Suri,” shares Onir.

But the idea remained with him and 17 years later, Shabd has found expression. “I guess the subject chose me. The film is inspired by people who come to Mumbai with dreams. It also has bits of me,” he says about the film, which however, is set in Delhi. “One thing that I sacrificed hugely during my early years here were my relationships. The dream of directing a film was so huge that I never had time for any other dreams. And then suddenly you realise you’re lonely. It’s clichéd but it’s true,” he insists.

He’s glad to have Raveena in his film and considers himself lucky for that. “Raveena and I share an emotional connect. Raveena agreed to do this film because of our friendship and also because she trusts me as a filmmaker. It’s a bold role but it’s not sleazy,” he asserts.

Raveena plays a socialite, who fakes a happy marriage and exploits young men for pleasure in the film. Shab includes Onir’s good friend Sanjay Suri and newbies Ashish Bisht, Simon Frenay, Gaurav Nanda and Arpita Pal. “Exploitation exists in every industry. It’s sad that people only point fingers at the entertainment industry. Power and sex often mix together. People deny that but it’s true,” he says. “Human beings are essentially unkind. Child trafficking, women trafficking… there are all forms of cruelty happening around us,” he sighs.