‘Shooting in Lucknow feels like home’

Director Anubhav Sinha says the ease of shooting in the state capital makes him come here frequently

Ahead of the release of Anubhav Sinha’s film Mulk next month, the filmmaker visited Lucknow for a day where he shot the film within 27 days. “Lucknow has been shown as Varanasi in the film. It’s basically a small-town story which revolves around homes and galiyan (streets). The city as such does not play a part in the film. We also shot for two days in Varanasi where the film is set,” said Sinha before leaving the state capital.

After Mulk, he shot ‘abhi to party shuru hui hai’ in the state capital which he completed in just 24 days. “Mid-range budget film shot in a tight schedule, real locations and good actors is what I have attempted to achieve in both the films and have succeeded. This is a new formula that I am working on after making so many larger than life films with big budgets and foreign locations,” says the RaOne, Dus and Tum Bin director.

Sinha feels that Mulk is different from all the other films that he has made so far. “The audience will see a different side of film making. Till now, they have seen international locales, glamour, gloss, high-pitched action coming from me but this is a very realistic film that we have made with great love,” he says. He has also written the script of this film which stars Rishi Kapoor, Tapsee Pannu, Ashutosh Rana and Prateik Babbar. “The film has its own voice and says a lot about society and relationship. I am very satisfied with the way it has shaped up. It is set in a very real space. It may look very different from my previous ones but that’s how I started my career,” he says.

Sinha was in the city to meet some of his friends. “It’s a personal visit but also has do with future projects. Right now, I have nothing to say about them as the focus is on Mulk. Post-release, we will see what is next as I honestly believe that every film has its own luck and fortune.”

In his previous visit, he said he has three scripts that could be made in Uttar Pradesh.

“After Mulk, we will also start with (political satire) ATPSHH. “The film is with the editor who is on the job. We shot 40% of the film at Hotel Hyatt as a large part of the film is set in a hotel. Back-to-back films in Lucknow within a span of 6-7 months surprises me too,” he says.

The film maker also credits the ‘ease of shooting’ in Lucknow as another reason to come to the city again. “I have shot two here and am looking to shoot more here. It’s because of the ease I get due to my line-producer (Aroon Singh Dicky) and the film policy that former CM Akhilesh (Yadav) started and the way this government has taken it forward. The administration has also played a silent role in it. Now, I feel like home here,” he says before signing off.

Lucknow has been shown as Varanasi in the film. It’s basically a smalltown story which revolves around homes and galiyan (streets). The city as such does not play a part in the film

ANUBHAV SINHA, DIRECTOR

HT PHOTO Anubhav Sinha in Lucknow