‘I am most comfortable directing a director’

Kannada filmmaker Jacob Varghese is on a comeback of sorts given that it is nearly five years since his last directorial, Savaari 2 released. His next, Chambal, is a film that he has put his heart and soul into and, by his own admission, has a lot riding on. Starring Sathish Ninasam in the lead, the film also has a bunch of Jacob’s good pals, who happen to be filmmakers themselves, as part of the cast.“Lucia and U-Turn fame Pawan Kumar, Ball Pen maker Shashikanth and Mahantesh, who won a state award for Best Director for Agasi Parlour, are a part of Chambal, in pivotal roles. While they are all good friends of mine, I cast each of them because they fit their roles perfectly. Pawan is a hacker in the film, Shashikanth a politician and Mahantesh a hardcore petty criminal. In fact, casting Mahantesh was accidental. I was looking for an actor for the role and was determined that I need someone who is of short stature. An associate suggested Mahantesh, who is also a theatre artiste, and when I saw him, I could see the character. I later realised that he is an award-winning filmmaker,” says Jacob.
Working with director-actors has its own perks, adds the filmmaker. “I am most comfortable directing a director, as only a filmmaker truly understands film as a medium and the concepts that are being brought onscreen,” he says.