Interview: Aleya Sen, Director of Superstars like Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, Talks About Her Latest Venture DIL JUUNGLEE

Talk to us about your latest venture Dil Juunglee. It looks like a candy floss romance targeted at the youth. What are your thoughts?

Aleya: The entire film is about my perspective of how I see love and relationships. So yes, there is a deeper understanding in it, when you are younger, your understanding of love is influenced by different sources like the books you read and movies you watch, parents, cousins etc. To me the first love is like whole bag of expectations and because of age, there are things you understand and you don't. As you grow, your understanding of love is different, more mature. You understand that there is friendship and compatibility involved, so you start seeing the different layers in love. Now the entire profound thing is treated in a happy, comic, comedy, romantic way in my film. Every character in my film is very important, most of them are from my real life who I have observed, and maybe there is some reflection on how I perceive love or people that reflects in the film.

2. How different is say, doing a feature film than an ad film and what are the challenges?

Aleya: If you look at the technical aspect then yes, there is a difference in technicians, equipment's, post-production aspects. On the whole, it is an experience, a journey, the time spent, emotional attachment that happens by default at least in my case as it is my first film. The project becomes your life and this is one big difference of course. Honestly, my biggest challenge was, the shift from advertising to feature because in advertising I had already reached an accomplished state. To condition myself, feature is a completely new thing, all I geared myself up was with a fact that it is going to be an adventure trip. I have worked with the other production house for the first time. As this is an original script, to find someone who would believe in my script to put in money and will be convinced was a challenge.

3. You have cast a powerful actress - Taapsee Pannu will she be seen in a new light, tell us more about it?

Aleya: I think from the trailer and the feedback that I read, people have already got it that it is something she is seeing like for the first time and like I said personally it gives me a very big high because every bit of styling is a fragment of my imagination. So I am very happy that the character is being liked, people are intrigued by it and are interested to know what Taapsee is playing as an actor in the film. For example the small little things that I wanted her eyes to be lighter, her hair to be short. This is how I always saw it and I keep saying that Taapsee is an actress who completely surrenders herself to the director so she has been very supportive.

4. You have directed big stars such as SRK in the past. Any memorable moments that come to your mind.

Aleya: With SRK, it is like a fan moment for me. Yes, that was one of my most memorable ads because I did it with him. I would want and love to do a film with him because I really like his charisma on and off screen. The best part was when I worked with him, I realize that he is so down to earth. He makes you so comfortable and he brings you on the same platform. There is no intimidation as such and that he makes you feel so comfortable to work with. For a film maker, things become so smooth when your cast and crew are so supportive who understands your passion and dedication.

5. What would you say about the state of films and performing arts in India currently?

Aleya: There is no end to a creative process. Our film is a reflection of the environment in the society. I feel if it is just Bollywood then yes, we are only moving ahead and it can only get better from here. One of the biggest thing is that there is a whole lot of due respect given to the content which was really necessary because content is what you are bringing on plate to share with the entire public. So giving priority to that, it is really good. Secondly, there is a huge revolution since the digital world started. Today there is no lesser means or no stopping for you to make a film. Of course the scale and budget may be different but the digital world has opened up, has given a huge exposure to the new generation that there is no stopping so yes it is only getting better. And yes, there is way to go ahead.

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