Q. Anubhav, how important is it for you to make films that address relevant issues?
I don’t look at my films as socially relevant or whatever brackets that they are placed in. I get personally, emotionally driven by certain subject matters, and I ended up making films about them. So, it’s not that I am choosing films, it’s the stories, the matters that stay with me and bother me are what I end up making.
Q. If you had to do Tum Bin or Ra One today, would you be game?
I would love to make a love story, I would love to make Ra One, but you know, as I said, it has to happen from inside. The day that it happens from inside, I will do it.
Q. What was the genesis of the film?
The genesis of the film is not really a news report, a headline, or an event. It is the cumulative impact of a whole lot of such. I unfortunately happen to be that guy who gets very affected by everything that is wrong around us. I look at them more passionately than I look at what is right. I tend to celebrate internally. And even I get very happy when India wins a match, but you will not see me screaming in passion. You will never find that close-up of mine in a stadium. So that’s who I am. We have grown up with Mr Bachchan’s movies, that character, intense, brooding character. We celebrate internally, and that generation is like that. So there is no one headline. It’s a cumulative impact of a whole lot of things. And I thought, we needed to sit down and talk about it. And then the idea that you can make a film about it. So I did that.
Q. Were these actors your first choices?
Yes, the supporting cast, though I hate to call them supporting cast, the other actors, all the other actors were the first choices. I am blessed and lucky that these are people who choose to stand by me. And it’s not only about standing by you, but it’s also about stepping out and doing something for you. And you know, a lot of times actors are very scared of doing such cameos, which are not even guest appearances, like Supriya Pathakji and Seema Pahwaji and Naseer sahib, those are not even cameos, those are purely guest appearances. And I didn’t even need to convince them to do it; I asked for it, and I had it.
Q. When did you zero in on Taapsee as the lead?
I don’t know when, but I think quite early in the process of writing that Taapsee became the character. I start casting when I am writing, because then I start seeing a face for that character. I also have a look for the character in my mind. I repeatedly cast Manoj Bawa and Kumud Mishra, and I am aware that it might look repetitive, so I try to cast them in more diverse parts. So, Taapsee happened very early in the writing.
Q. And the amazing Kani Kusruti?
Kani took a bit of time. The character Parima’s part took a bit of time. And then this was Mukesh Chhabra’s idea, who brought up Kani, and I tremendously liked her in All That We Imagine As Light. And I immediately said yes, and I am so happy that all the other logistics of her dates and schedules etc., worked out.
Q. Where do you place Assi in your repertoire?
I don’t look at it as a repertoire; it’s a very French, exotic expression. I don’t think I have a repertoire. I make films, and just by virtue of that, there is a shelf on which these films rest. And the films are meant for the audience, and yeah, they can place it wherever they want. Right now, Assi is the most recent one, so it is very special. But no, I don’t look at my work as repertoire.
Q. Are you happy with the response?
The film started very slowly on Friday, as we all saw. It grew on Saturday, and it grew even more on Sunday. So, the film is holding and growing. So, right now, the entire attention is on that.
Q. Do you feel the process of justice in rape cases needs fast-tracking?
The process, the justice process, that’s beyond my bandwidth. That is for the people sitting in the parliament and the legislature. I don’t know. You know, the one thing that one expects is for the process to become faster. But I’m sure the responsible elected people sitting in those houses have a better understanding of the road ahead for it. I wouldn’t like to comment on that. But this film, largely, if you notice, is not about them. It is about us. We need to do so much more than what the judiciary or the police do.