Anurag Kashyap at Jagran Film Festival: Films are made with ideas, not with stars

Cinephiles and Bollywood aspirants thronged Cinepolis in Andheri (W), the venue for the 7th Jagran Film Festival, to catch movies from around the world and interactive sessions with the industry's top names on day two.

Last evening, director-producer Anurag Kashyap's master class attracted a large crowd as he got candid about the ups and downs of his cinematic journey so far.

Anurag Kashyap (right) at the master class with Ajay Brahmatmaj. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Besides offering advice to budding filmmakers, Anurag talked about his working style, "Most of my films are made on a low budget. Many people come to me for work, but I can't offer them money, much like how I started my journey. Today, money has become the most important factor in any career and that's not wrong, but that is not how you learn cinema. It's important to learn the basics first rather than directly jumping up the ladder."

Commenting on film studios shutting shop after incurring big losses, Anurag said the problem lies in selection of scripts. "There are around 10 people working in a corporate firm and everyone has a say on the script. It becomes difficult for a filmmaker to please everyone. Besides, production houses need stars. We make projects instead of films. But, films are made with ideas and not stars. In our industry, films are made because of stars.

Very few films are made out of passion. Filmmakers are making films to be relevant." He added, "Earlier, corporates would offset their losses from the stock market, but now that's not possible too as the market is going through a low phase."

Casting has always been a talking point in Anurag's films. Asked how goes about choosing actors, he said, "I write scripts and then find my actors. A lot of actors perish even before their first film because they are already benchmarked with established actors which gets them carried away. My theatre and acting career helps me in casting. I like to work with actors and not stars. I wouldn't shy away from casting or finding talent from a small town of Uttar Pradesh or Bihar."

Anurag recalled how he had three scripts ready while he was struggling to get his first film released. "I don't want to be called the best director in the world. I just want to keep making films because I enjoy filmmaking. In the last five months, I have written three scripts because that's what keeps me going."

Wach out for
> Ivan Polidoro's Surprise (Italian) at 4.15 pm, Audi 1

> Rajat Kapoor's Private Detective at 12 pm, Audi 3

> Nagraj Majule's Sairat (Marathi) at 2.30 pm, Audi 3

> Kundan Shah's Bonga (Meet The Director) at 3.30 pm, Audi 4

> Indian Narratology (session by Somnath Sen) at 2 pm, Audi 4

> Finding Money for Films (seminar by Rajit Kapur) at 4,15 pm, Audi 4

Venue: Cinepolis (Fun Republic), Andheri (W)