Sudhir Mishra is one of the most niche filmmakers in the country, who’s always left the audience impressed with his hard-hitting cinema and a unique narrative. His next film ‘Afwaah‘ is set to hit the screens this Friday, May 5. The film stars Bhumi Pednekar and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and ETimes had an in-depth chat with team ‘Afwaah’.
During this conversation, when Mishra was asked about the advent of OTT, especially for filmmakers who have a different voice, he said, “It’s a wonderful thing which has happened. When it comes to OTT, it’s not like you’re making a film just for now. It will be watched even 20 years later, someone can see a film whenever they want to. You’re not making a film for your own posterity. My film may not work here but people in Kerela might love it. The ideal thing is you make a film for theatre and it goes permanently on some OTT platform and stays there. The film doesn’t have to be an instant hit on OTT.”
Mishra who is very honest and that also reflects in the honesty in his movies, further added, “I will not be paid as much as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, I have no problems in accepting that because he is more popular. But I get enough to make my film correctly. I made ‘Afwaah’ in a correct budget. So, it’s a nice atmosphere which OTT has created and it should have occured earlier. But I hope we don’t mess it up even with OTT. If we keep making horrible content, people will get tired.”
With ‘Afwaah’, Mishra collaborates for the second time with Nawazuddin. Talking about the equation with him this time around, the director said, “When you’re writing something, some face emerges. In Nawaz’s case, I thought it would be interesting to work with him in this kind of part which is different from ‘Serious Men’. There’s always a synergy. He could say that it’s all because of me, but it’s also because he gives me that energy back. That’s the whole thing about performances, whether it’s the most junior actor like Bhumi or a senior actor. But you learn a lot from young people also.”
During this conversation, when Mishra was asked about the advent of OTT, especially for filmmakers who have a different voice, he said, “It’s a wonderful thing which has happened. When it comes to OTT, it’s not like you’re making a film just for now. It will be watched even 20 years later, someone can see a film whenever they want to. You’re not making a film for your own posterity. My film may not work here but people in Kerela might love it. The ideal thing is you make a film for theatre and it goes permanently on some OTT platform and stays there. The film doesn’t have to be an instant hit on OTT.”
Mishra who is very honest and that also reflects in the honesty in his movies, further added, “I will not be paid as much as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, I have no problems in accepting that because he is more popular. But I get enough to make my film correctly. I made ‘Afwaah’ in a correct budget. So, it’s a nice atmosphere which OTT has created and it should have occured earlier. But I hope we don’t mess it up even with OTT. If we keep making horrible content, people will get tired.”
With ‘Afwaah’, Mishra collaborates for the second time with Nawazuddin. Talking about the equation with him this time around, the director said, “When you’re writing something, some face emerges. In Nawaz’s case, I thought it would be interesting to work with him in this kind of part which is different from ‘Serious Men’. There’s always a synergy. He could say that it’s all because of me, but it’s also because he gives me that energy back. That’s the whole thing about performances, whether it’s the most junior actor like Bhumi or a senior actor. But you learn a lot from young people also.”
Mishra was quick to clarify that he called Bhumi a junior actor because she was a kid and growing up when the director made his tenth film. The director, who also shares another connection with Bhumi, added, “I know Bhumi in another context because I have this favourite young sister of mine, Shanoo Sharma and she used to be her assistant.”
Watch the full interview here:
Afwaah Interview: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhumi Pednekar & Sudhir Mishra On RUMOURS, Film Industry
