Shekhar Kapur remembers making Mr India; says, “I was constantly having a conversation with my 11-year-old self”

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

March 21, 2023 - 2:23 PM IST

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has earned himself a reputation as one of the most innovative filmmakers of his generation. Recently, Shekhar stated that he makes his movies from his heart, as storytelling is an emotional idea. On the same note, he extensively spoke about the making of his hit sci-fi film Mr India and confessed that while shooting the Anil Kapoor and Sridevi starrer he used to have conversations with his imaginary 11-year-old self.

Shekhar Kapur remembers making Mr India; says, “I was constantly having a conversation with my 11-year-old self”

It happened during his recent interaction with PTI, where he said, “Storytelling is about being human. You, as a filmmaker, have to tell me, as an audience, my story, wherever I exist in the world. That’s what we try to do. And that’s why people are liking What’s Love Got To Do With It? because it feels like it’s their movie.”

The 77-year-old filmmaker further added, “I’ve never limited myself to genres. Life exists in a film. Do not let the genre define you, don’t let it confine you. Within a genre, there is life. Like, if I can recognise myself in your science fiction film, then I’ll go see it, otherwise, why will I go? Just to see visual effects? Nobody goes to see visual effects, they go to see themselves.”

As the conversation progressed further, the portal asked him to speak about the longevity of his 1983 family drama Masoom and 1987’s sci-fi film Mr India. Sharing his thoughts, Kapur answered, “I was making Mr India for children. I used to have an 11-year-old boy, an imaginary mini-Shekhar, sitting next to me. Every time I shot, I would ask him ‘what do you think?’ I was constantly having a conversation with my 11-year-old self when I was making Mr India and it was fun. So, I think the innocence and the joy of making that film can be seen.”

He continued, “For Masoom, I am constantly getting calls from all over the world from parents saying, ‘my kids won’t eat unless I put ‘Ladki ki Kathi’ (song from the film). Similarly, most of the fans of Mr India are now watching the film on video. “And I’ve been talking to Boney (Kapoor, producer) and everybody that let’s re-release Mr India in 3D, let people get the experience of that film once again in the theatre because 95 per cent of the people continue to watch that film and not get a theatrical experience.”

Coming to the professional front, his new film, titled What's Love Got to Do with It? was released in India last week.

Also Read: Shekhar Kapur lauds RRR director S.S. Rajamouli; says, “I don’t think we need validation, and nobody has proven it better than Rajamouli”