Masterpieces shouldn't be touched: Meghna on remake of Gulzar's movies
Meghna Gulzar has often been offered to remake her father, iconic writer-lyricist, Gulzar's films but the director says she will never consider the thought as she believes "masterpieces shouldn't be touched". Gulzar, 83, has helmed several celebrated films in his career such as "Ijaazat", "Aandhi", and "Angoor". Meghna, 44, however, did not specify which of her father's movies were offered to her to remake.
Father doesn't help me in writing any stories: Meghna
Meghna said that her father has never written any of her films, especially her directorial debut "Filhaal" and her second outing "Just Married". He, however, gives a few suggestions from time to time. "The subjects I was picking, he says it himself, that he'll never be able to write something like these films because the perspective that I have, he wouldn't," she said.
Meghna directed four films in her 15-year career
"I can't ever remember my father instructing me about anything. The upbringing, the support was subliminal and through suggestions. You cannot teach writing, it has to come instinctively," Meghna said. She helmed four films in an over 15-year-long career and started assisting filmmaker Sayeed Mirza right after college. Surprisingly, she never worked on a set with Gulzar, a decision which she says, was deliberate.
'Learning on set where father worked wouldn't have been possible'
"On my father's set, it was difficult not to be director's daughter for the rest of crew. So learning on that set wouldn't have been possible," Meghna said. "I can be a distraction for him too. He doesn't seize to be father and it can be distracting for a director. I know how I feel when my son is on set," she says.
Meghna made her first movie in 2002
Meghna made "Filhaal" in 2002 and then went on to direct her second, "Just Married", five years later. The gap stretched to seven years when she made her third, "Talvar" in 2015. She also directed one of the 10 stories in "Dus Kahaniyaan" (2007).
There is lack of motivation if you fail, says Meghna
"After 'Just Married', I took really long to write a script, due to lack of motivation. When there's failure, there's lack of motivation. You...get a little deflated. But I did write three scripts which never materialized," Meghna said. "I've outgrown them now. 'Filhaal' is not my first script, it's my second. I put the first one aside, it was a comedy," she says.
I'm 'bad filmmaker or bad storyteller', I thought once: Meghna
Meghna says the seven-year gap made her question her craft. At one point, she even wondered if she is a "bad filmmaker or a bad storyteller, maybe the subjects she chose are wrong". The director says today she is in much more "confident" space and has found an immense liking for stories based on real life, such as her latest "Raazi", a spy thriller.
Meghna finds true life genre very stimulating
"I find true life genre very stimulating because it's challenging, it's a tremendous responsibility. You can do away with the bells-and-whistles, nice looking actors and blow dry hair and pristine costumes. You can just tell the story in the best possible way," Meghna says.
