“I have lived with brighter and more successful women” – Sudhir Mishra

January 18, 2013 - 10:19 AM IST

After a very entertaining and impressive Yeh Saali Zindagi, Sudhir Mishra is returning with his 'most commercial film' till date, Inkaar. While this also stays on to be his most heavily promoted film till date, it is also a much starry affair with Arjun Rampal and Chitrangda Singh filling up the frames. As the film hits the screens and responses have started coming in, Sudhir gives that final push to his offering before the verdict is out.

The film has been widely publicized as the one about sexual harassment. Since this is a sensitive topic, how have you gone ahead and ensured that the film delivers what one expects from Sudhir Mishra?

Yes, there is this subject of sexual harassment in the film but then it is just a core pretext here. It is actually about power and how ambition can make men as well as women lose their soul. That's what the film is basically about; it deals with many things. Today the very idea of a women competing in workplace is proving to be a challenge enough for the male species. For them, it requires some heart to be able to work with a woman and worse, under them. A woman too has her own challenges and she has to battle all the politics while serving her ambitions. It is a story about real people and real situations.

“I have lived with brighter and more successful women” – Sudhir Mishra

While one can well understand that the casting of Chitrangda was pretty much a default in your film, roping in of Arjun seems like a quite a move.

(Smiles) Well, I bring in Chitrangda in my films since she is intelligent and doesn't ask stupid questions. She is wonderful in the film. As for Arjun, his casting was very important. He is playing a very charismatic individual and now that the film is running in theatres, you can see for yourself why he is just the right choice.

So how have you explored their relationship in the film? By the look of things, it is pretty much a love-hate relationship that they share.

While this woman starts off as a junior of this man, their relationship becomes almost sexual. I look at their relationship as this see-saw of sorts since they are two extremely vibrant people in the same organization. In any case, I don't make film about things being simple right and wrong; I never have. There have to be complexities for sure. See, I am actually Renu Saluja's student. I have lived with women who have been far brighter and much more successful than me. I have been very happy in these relationships as well. I would always make films which would have wonderful women characters.

Guess this is where Mehrunissa fits in?

Well, wait and watch. An official announcement would be out soon (smiles). The cast would have some surprises in store as it would not exactly be on the same lines as what you have possibly been reading all this while.

And how about a film with Anubhav Sinha which you were planning to make?

I have written one-two scripts but I have to take it one thing at a time. After Mehrunissa gets locked, I have a slate which is full for next couple of years. I am very happy to be around for these years and would hopefully have a good run ahead.

In the middle of this good run, what is happening on that film with Excel (Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani) that you were planning to make with Kareena Kapoor?

That film is being rewritten. A call is yet to be taken on whether it would be made with Kareena, Excel or elsewhere.