I’m completely in love with SRK : Anand Rai

Known for his peoplecentric cinema filmmaker Anand L Rai wants to make films that are real.

“When the audience watch my film, they should say, we have met such characters before. I was born and brought up in Delhi and now I am staying in Mumbai. I move around in an expensive car, live in a bigger accommodation but you can’t take away the middle class Anand who is still very much alive and kicking. So that is the reason why you see so many real life characters and instances in my movies.”

The ace director who has given back-to-back hits like Raanjhanaa, Tanu weds Manu, Tanu weds Manu Return (TWMR), is super glad with response to his latest venture Zero starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

“I am absolutely overwhelmed with the kind of response Zero’s trailer has garnered. I thank my audiences who have reposed faith in me and my kind of stories. Many asked me not to make this film then many said not to cast a star like Shah Rukh but at the end of the day I emerged as the winner. I’m completely in love with SRK. He’s such a great artiste and above that he is a wonderful human being. No airs and so grounded. It’s so easy to just love him unconditionally,” says Anand who was in the city to promote his latest production Mukkabaaz.

He feels for him story and storytelling are the most vital part of film making.

“When I decided to cast Dhanush as Varanasi guy it was unbelievable but I knew he will fit in like nobody else. Same goes for Nil Battey Sannata that was about a maid in Agra who wanted her daughter to study but the girl didn’t wanted to work. It was beautiful script and Ashwiny and I knew Swara was our central character. Then as I said story is the first hero of my films and this wouldn’t have been possible without Himanshu (Sharma), my writer my partner in crime and my collaborator. Jo aapke iis khoobsurat shaher Lucknow ka aziz tohfa hai mere liye...he laughs..,” he says.

Anand has been shooting in and around UP for quite sometime now.

“Yes I love coming to UP especially Lucknow. The people, the language all make you so comfortable that you connect with the city immediately. It’s a very giving state so you become part of everything that is happening here. Also now shooting here and making right kind of cinema is so very easy. Also the city and the state have immense local talent be it technicians or actors. All are so well versed in their craft. So all this makes me come back to this place again and again,” he says before signing off.

Yes I love coming to UP especially Lucknow. The people, the language all make you so comfortable that you connect with the city immediately ANAND L RAI, FILMMAKER

Anand L Rai DHEERAJ DHAWAN/HT