Imran helped me with my career

Debutant director Shakun Batra’s first offering Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu will hit cinemas on February 10 and Shakun is busy tying up loose ends

When you have an interesting cast like Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan in your film, you are bound to generate interest and it gets all the more better if the director is new. That’s what director Shakun Batra has managed to do with his first film, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu.

Going by the buzz that the trailer and the music of the film has created, we are sure that Dharma Productions have a winner in hand again. But right now Shakun is extremely busy with last minute touch-ups, “It’s been crazy the past few days,” exclaims a stressed out but excited Shakun. And why not? Not many directors can boast about making their debut with Dharma Productions.

“Anyone wanting to be a director wants to be backed by a good production house and I am lucky to have Karan Johar who has been extremely supportive of my endeavour,” shares Shakun who had initially narrated the script to good friend Imran who liked the script and introduced him to Karan. “Karan liked it too and he suggested a few pointers here and there to make it better,” confesses the young filmmaker.

According to the debutant director, his film is based on emotions and has got easy characters watching whom, the audience will have a smile on their faces. “It is about everyday humour, which sometimes does get sentimental but is not slapstick,” informs Shakun whose first choice for the lead roles in the film were Kareena and Imran.

“It rarely happens that one gets to cast the same actors who are your first choice, but Karan made it happen. While Imran is my friend and I know him well, I did not know how to approach Kareena. And I am ecstatic that we could cast them together because the film has shaped up really well, Imran and Kareena literally owned every piece of dialogue,” explains Shakun.

Though it worked out like a dream for Shakun, for him the challenge was not to let anybody down with his film. “When you get everything easily, the pressure and responsibility is on you not to let down those who are involved in it and always be consistent. It’s very important to stay grounded and not get carried away,” shares the sensible director.

Shakun started out in the industry when he was 22 and so far he has seen enough to sense a change. “It’s good to see that nowadays young and new filmmakers are getting a chance to work,” says Shakun, going on to add, “Every 10 to 12 years, a new set of actors come in who want to work with new people; of course in between too there are new people coming in but not everyone survives.”

The young filmmaker though credits a large share of his success to good friend Imran, “Imran has helped me a lot with my career. Both Imran and Avantika are my good friends and I am glad they have been there for me,” signs off Shakun.

Tags: Avantika, Dharma productions, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, featured, full-image, Imran Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shakun Batra

Category: Bollywood, Cinema