Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: Now, youngsters have more avenues for expression

A still from the film

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has captured his 20-year journey in the movies within the pages of The Stranger in the Mirror. In the memoir, the filmmaker has reflected on his movies, including his most celebrated work, Rang De Basanti (2006). The Aamir Khan-starrer was firmly anti-establishment in its tonality, with the leads fighting the corruption in the government.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Asked if such a film can be made in the current political climate when dissent itself is considered ‘anti-nationalistic', Mehra says, "I don't see any reason why I can't tell the story I want to. Your intentions have to be correct. We have to look inwards rather than questioning the belief of somebody else. Now, youngsters have more avenues for expression - podcasts, short films and YouTube. So, people who have the right intentions won't think twice [about voicing their opinions]."

The director revealed that he had approached Farhan Akhtar, Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan to play Karan Singhania before casting Siddharth in the role. While he went on to work with Akhtar and Bachchan, Mehra is keen to collaborate with Roshan some day. "I will give my right arm to work with him. But when you go to such a talented actor, the script has to challenge him. Once I have the right script, we will work together."

Also Read: ‘Life is not a marksheet'