Naseerji isn't intimidating: Ribhu

Ribhu Dasgupta talks to TOI that right now, he doesn’t have the time to think of being intimidated by the fact that he is directing Naseeruddin Shah in his debut venture, Michael.
Kolkata is seeing back-to-back Hindi films being shot in the city and yet, there are many who say that Kolkata doesn’t have a proper work culture. Since you are shooting your debut Hindi film in Kolkata, what’s your take on this issue?
I don’t think it’s right to say that Kolkata doesn’t have a good work culture.Different cities have different work cultures. Kolkata has a big film and television industry. So many technicians work here. It’s true that the number of Hindi films being shot in Kolkata is less than those shot in Delhi and Jaipur. Language could be an issue though I wouldn’t know whether that is the problem. I began shooting in Kolkata on Friday and haven’t faced any problems here.
Kolkata became a character in your brother, Birsa Dasgupta’s 033. Are you portraying Kolkata similarly in Michael since Somak Mukherjee is the cinematographer for both the films?
My film, Michael, is based in Kolkata. Seventy per cent of film will be shot extensively in Kolkata. Though I live in Mumbai now, I am basically from Kolkata. I want to present Kolkata as it is now. There is no attempt to paint anything otherwise. The tramlines, the old Kolkata buildings... I want to zoom in on the decadent character of this city. Somak is exploring Kolkata a lot more in detail (primarily at night) in my film.
How and why did Naseeruddin Shah come on board in your film?
Anurag (Kashyap) has a huge role to play here. He met Naseer Sir and showed him the script. I’m sure he must have liked the script enough to give his nod.
How much of a disadvantage is it for a fresher to get Naseeruddin Shah on board for his debut film? Can complacence set in easily since you’ve got one of the world’s greatest actors on board on your first venture?
Naseer Sir has worked with so many first-time film-makers. Hence, credit must go to him for working with directors, who are more raw when they make their debut. For me, this is a very big opportunity. It’s like a dream-come-true. Mine is a character-based film and I wanted an actor who can play the role. Naseer Sir is playing an ex-cop. The film is being treated like a psychological thriller.
But you do realise that so many aspiring film-makers want the veteran actor in their debut ventures but never manage to get him. Does getting Naseer give you a sense of pride already?
I don’t think that way. I think a film should speak for its director. Nothing should be bigger than the film. One might work with Robert De Niro but finally, it is the film that is going to ascertain how good a director, the maker is. If the film is good, only then will a director reach a certain level. The cast alone can’t catapult him anywhere.
Rudranil Ghosh says that it wasn’t easy to get actors from Tollywood to shoot with Naseeruddin Shah since many were too intimidated by his mastery over acting. As a director, did you face that problem?
Right now, I don’t have the time to think of being intimidated by him. My only focus is to finish the film within my budget and the time frame allotted to the shooting. The first schedule is for 15 days. The next schedule is for another 15 days in August. Naseer Sir is kind enough to be very accommodative. Besides, we had met many times over during the script-reading sessions. That’s when he broke the ice. I believe that a film is a collaborative effort. The actor is as important as the director. Naseer Sir gave us some suggestions that we’ve incorporated too. Now, when we’ve begun shooting, both the actor and the director are on the same plane.
Ishqiya had shown Naseeruddin Shah romancing a much younger Vidya Balan. Is the romantic angle in Michael between Naseeruddin Shah and Mahie Gill following a similar curve?
Mahie is again a character in the film. Though there is a romantic angle, we are not treating Michael like an Ishqiya.
Did you audition with a lot of kids before casting Tahaan’s Purav Bhandare in the film?
No. I had liked Puraav so much in Tahaan that I was sure of casting him.
Anurag Kashyap has been quite a huge support to both the Dasgupta brothers. Can you imagine a career in films today without a godfather in Kashyap?
Anurag has been a driving force. It’s not that he has to produce a film to be of help. It helps even if you are with him. Anurag has been supporting independent cinema and is helping us to narrate the kind of stories we want to. While others too are doing independent cinema, Anurag is a pillar of strength to us.
Though Anurag Kashyap was supposed to do a cameo, he hasn’t been able to turn up in Kolkata on Saturday to shoot his scene. What do you do now?
I had wanted Anurag to play a cop. But for some reason, he hasn’t been able to come down on Saturday. I might either wait for him to come down later to shoot that scene. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll have to think of an alternative.
Is there any competition between you and Birsa?
No competition here. Birsa is my inspiration.
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