No big stars, no money. Just crazy ideas that worked for me, shares Upendra during the launch of Bangalore Times CentreStage at the Headliners Gala

Recently ranked eighth on IMDb’s list of the World’s Top 50 Directors — alongside global names like Christopher Nolan and Rajkumar Hirani — Upendra continues to stand apart, often dubbed the ‘Christopher Nolan of India’ by fans, though his storytelling is deeply rooted in Indian ethos and lived realities. It was only fitting, then, that the Centre Stage chat at the Aiikya Real Estate presents Bangalore Times Headliners Gala turned the spotlight on the man who has consistently stayed ahead of his time. In a warm, candid and often philosophical conversa tion — the highlight event of the evening — Upendra was joined by his wife, actor Priyanka Upendra, and their son Aayush Upendra. Excerpts from the chat:You’ve even been ranked No. 8 among the world’s top directors. How do you see it? That credit should go to the fans, not me. It’s because of them and their love for my work. Even before films like Inception or Memento made reverse storytelling popular, you experimented with reverse screenplays. What was going on in your mind back then? When I started my career, I didn’t know anything about filmmaking. That’s why I tried something different. It just happened that way. I would discuss different ideas with my friends outside of the film industry. I would ask them, “Will you walk out of the theatre, or will you stay if something unusual happens?” That’s how it started — the urge to do something different.Was that also a strategy, considering you didn’t begin with big stars or banners? Yes. When I started, there were no big stars, no big banners, no big budget. My first film with Jaggesh Sir was made with just ` 9 lakhs. So I kept thinking — how do I bring audiences to the theatre? With out stars or money, I had to rely on ideas. Even when I titled a film Shhh!, I thought the title itself should be intriguing enough to pull people in. The poster, the concept — everything had to stand out..There was a film without a ti tle, except for that striking image of a pointing finger — al most like you were ad dressing the audience directly. You have this tendency to make people un comfortable, to speak to them and say, “I’m talking to you.” Where does that come from? Why do you feel the need to hold the audience accountable? I don’t consciously set out to make people uncomfortable. But when everyone keeps saying everything is great — that Bengaluru is a wonderful city, that we are all growing and thinking big — I sometimes feel un easy. Growth is important, yes, but growing togeth er is more important than just saying, “I am grow ing, my house is getting bigger.” Over the years, we’ve built beautiful homes, but have we looked at the roads, the society around us? That’s where the discomfort comes from. Sometimes, to make life bet ter, we have to talk about the bitter truths too. That’s what I try to do in my films. I simply express what I feel and that honesty can make people un comfortable, but it’s necessary. How much time goes into cracking a script for you as a director? There’s no fixed timeline. Sometimes it takes three months, sometimes six months, and sometimes even six years. A script can’t be forced — it has to evolve naturally and feel right for its time.Your earlier films were raw, emotionally intense and rooted in realism. But with UI, you’ve moved into a completely futuristic space — technology, digital addiction, questioning society again. Are you consciously staying in the present each time? Actually, it is still about being in the present — but by looking at the future. That’s what UI is about. Today, AI is coming. It’s taking over jobs. Whether we like it or not, we have to accept that reality. We often say we are proud of our education sys tem, but somewhere along the way, education has become a business. Health has become a business. We talk about progress, but what we tru ly need are leaders with futuristic vision. If you compare us to countries like China, their AI and robotics are way ahead and that made me think deeply about where we are heading. That is why I titled the film UI — which also stands for “You and I.” It’s about all of us. And there’s a ‘NaMa’ within it too — meaning ‘we’. So even though the film looks futuristic, it is actually ques tioning who we are today and where we are collec tively going. Aayush, you have two strong powerhouses at home — Upendra and Priyanka. As parents, they might tell you to wake up on time, sleep on time, not ride your bike too fast — but creatively, what kind of influence have they had on you as artistes? Aayush: At home, they’re very different from how they are on set. On set, especially with dad’s wise words, I get a lot of courage and motivation to work. They switch roles beautifully — parents at home, artistes at work. It’s truly an honour to have them by my side.(To Upendra) Aayush is making his acting s debut this year, in a way continuing your legacy. What are you expecting from him? Upendra: I don’t expect anything from him. I always tell him — whatever you want to do, do it. And even if you don’t want to do something, that’s okay too. It’s his life. How do you see your parents’ expectations and guidance? Aayush: Their words affect me a lot. They guide me, but they always say, “You have to walk the path on your own.” They’re very loving. Especially mom — during our shoot, she choreographed so many things for us. She was like a bridge between two pillars. Thanks, Amma. When she’s around, it’s such a lovely atmosphere. She in spires people, and dad motivates peo ple. So I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds. (To Priyanka) Are you more nervous about his debut, or is he? Priyanka: I don’t think neither him nor us are. I feel more emotional than nervous.