“Somewhere in Wake up Sid, are bits and pieces of my life” – Ayan Mukerji : Bollywood News

He is B-town's latest wonder-kid who struck gold with his very first film Wake Up Sid. We are indeed talking about the young and talented director Ayan Mukerji.

“Somewhere in Wake up Sid, are bits and pieces of my life” – Ayan Mukerji

Ayan was recently on Bollywood Hungama's celeb chat to interact with his fans and for all those who missed this fun-filled session, here are excerpts of the same.

Ayan Mukerji: Hi This is Ayan Mukerji only on Bollywood Hungama.com.

Jassi13: Hi, Ayan!! Thanks a lot for making Wake Up Sid! It's a fantastic film! I enjoyed watching it with my parents. Though I'm a girl, there is a bit of Sid in me.

Even I'm lazy and irresponsible in life. I'm still being lazy though. I'm trying to change myself these days???

Ayan Mukerji: hi jassi... glad you liked the film, it feels really rewarding...don't stress too much about your life... we've all been through phases where we're taking it

easy... it all works out eventually.

Jassi13: After Dil Chahta Hai and Jab We Met, Wake Up Sid is the most trendsetting movie!! Please always direct more refreshing flicks like Wake Up Sid!..all the best.

Ayan Mukerji: I hear you jassi. Thank you.

Jassi13: After Dil Chahta Hai and Jab We Met, Wake Up Sid is the most trendsetting movie!! Please always

direct more refreshing flicks like Wake Up Sid!..all the best.

Ayan Mukerji: I hear you jassi. Thank you.

Jassi13: There's a bit of Akash of Dil Chahta Hai in Sid of Wake Up Sid! Do you agree?

Ayan Mukerji: 1er... ya i see what you mean in a sense... but then again, there is a little bit of Sameer and Sid in him too!

priya64: hi ayan! I'm looking forward to watching Wake Up Sid! Whats ur fav song from the movie?

Ayan Mukerji: kya karoon is my fav priya.

Jassi13: What's next after Wake Up Sid?

Ayan Mukerji: lots of travel and reading and movies jassi :-)

priya64: how was it working with Ranbir??

Ayan Mukerji: Ranbir is just too good to describe in this space! it was the best part of making Wake up... working with him...

Jassi13: Have you ever interacted with Nikhil Advani, Soham Shah and Tarun Mansukhani - Karan Johar's protegees?

Ayan Mukerji: I've only interacted with Tarun... he was associate director on KANK and I worked under him... he's so hard working. It's impossible to keep up with

him... have not worked with the rest.

Priya64: which other actresses' wud u love to work with and why?

Ayan Mukerji: I'd like to work with Kareena Kapoor... she just lights up the screen i think... and she's got a very infectious energy about her... even when she's not

at her best, she's incapable of being boring...

Niraj: Ayan ji, Wake Up Sid is a good film but not as much as we expected from an assistant of greats like Karan Johar and Asutosh Gowarikar. 15-20 minutes

into the film I could predict the screenplay and the climax of the film. I hope as you said in Screen Newspaper Interview that after seeing films of Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy &

Manmohan Desai films you make better Hindi Films and won't follow Hollywood as you have done in Wake Up Sid. Its my humble suggestion that do watch Raj Kapoor

Films and you will feel that with a message how can commercial cinema be made with song and dance and showmanship.

Ayan Mukerji: niraj, i hear you sir. Will definitely make an effort to watch all those movies... hopefully, you'll like my next film more :-)

priya64: how old are u? You seem very young to be a director? Did u always want to get into directing?

Ayan Mukerji: that's a good question. it was because i always wanted to be a film-maker and it was a wrong call i think to join engineering school in the first place.

But at that point, I was still figuring out how to break into the industry correctly...

Jassi13: but how did u break into the industry?

Ayan Mukerji: jassi... it's a very long and boring answer to that question... to sum it up, i have some family in Bollywood, then i worked as an assistant director for

a few years... and then i made this movie! yup!

Jassi13: How is Karan Johar as your mentor and producer?

Ayan Mukerji: Karan Johar... before being a mentor and a producer... is a friend. He is like an older family member in my life. I think that affection and sense of

protection that you feel from someone in your family is always a part of our professional relationship as well. That makes it very nice.

Saurabh: Hi Ayan..Heard great things about the movie..goin wth fr tonite.

Ayan Mukerji: hope you enjoy it saurabh.

Jassi13: Are you happy and satisfied with the positive response for Wake Up Sid?

Ayan Mukerji: yes, i am happy. But more than happiness, what I feel is just relief! Lot of responsibility one carries for other people when one makes a movie... I'm

so thankful to have that burden lifted off with the positive response! Maybe now they'll actually let me make another movie :-) that feels good.

Minalh: did u have Ranbir in mind from the start?

Ayan Mukerji: yes, i always had Ranbir in mind.

Priya64: what's ur take on Reality shows on TV? Would u ever be part of it if u are offered one?

Ayan Mukerji: i think reality shows are great fun to watch sometimes though I've had no time for them in the last 2 years. But i would never be a part of one ever.

I'm too private a person for that.

priya64: do u have any siblings? are u married??

Ayan Mukerji: i have 2 sisters, well technically, half-sisters... and no, i am not married!

Minalh: did u expect Wake up Sid to get the success its getting now?

Ayan Mukerji: minalh... to be honest, and i don't mean to sound pompous at all so don't take it the wrong way, but yes i did think Wake up Sid would work with

audiences... or at least a certain kind of audience. Lot of money and time at stake on a movie... would never have made it if I didn't think it could be successful.

Soham: tell something about ur dream film..do u like the concept of remaking a film?

Ayan Mukerji: remakes don't really excite me... I think its because although i love watching movies... with my own movies, i'm not that interested in following or

drawing from other movies... I'm more interested in drawing from life, or my sense of life to be more precise... does that make sense to you?

Soham: how any young star with no filmy family background can enter in the industry?

Ayan Mukerji: honestly soham, there isn't any one answer to that question. I think the trick is to set a goal for oneself... however small it maybe... and then just do

everything to make it happen!

priya64: which of the khans is ur fav and why??

Ayan Mukerji: Shah Rukh Khan! Hands down! i can't sum up why in words... I've always just loved him!

FenilSeta: Saw WAKE UP SID on Friday and loved the film a lot. It is still lingering in my mind! Hats off!

Ayan Mukerji: thank you so much fenilseta! Big smile on my face!

Niraj: Ayan ji, I would be highly obliged if you convey my message to Karan Johar Saab. I am a great fan and admirer of him and I am extremely disappointed and

hurt that such a great man like him goes to a leader of a political group folding his hands (as shown on tv news channels) and apologizing. He should have apologized on TV or in a press-conference. We are in awe of him and he has hurt a lot of fans like me by this. Thank you.

Ayan Mukerji: niraj, i will convey your message to karan. But you should understand that he did what he felt he needed to do at that point to protect our film. it is not possible to understand from the outside sometimes how much a film means to the people who have created it. Its like having a baby or something. And when someone threatens to hurt

Jassi13: Would you love to direct thrillers like Abbas Mustan?

Ayan Mukerji: jassi... i would love to direct thrillers but honestly i'm not sure I'm capable of it yet. still, lots of learning on the roads ahead... at some point in life,

maybe...

Benu: how did u go abt directing this movie any inspiration??

Ayan Mukerji: benu, the inspiration was simple. it was to write a movie about characters and situations and feelings that i personally understood and could totally

relate to. Somewhere in Wake up Sid, are bits and pieces of my life therefore. Everything else was an offshoot of that initial feeling.

relate to. Somewhere in Wake up Sid, are bits and pieces of my life therefore everything else was an offshoot of that initial feeling.

Jassi13: What do you think of Taran Adarsh's review of Wake Up Sid? Are you satisfied with his review?

Ayan Mukerji: Taran was very kind to us with his review. yup i'm happy with it.

priya64: did u take up any special courses for direction?? Or was it just after assisting u decided u wanted to direct a movie?

Ayan Mukerji: priya, i learnt everything i know on the job.... two movies as an assistant director and a few tv commercials...

N_Vashi: don't you think the word 'Bombay' has been used all the time in the film and not at least once the name 'Mumbai' I think if Niranjan Iyengar would have

used both these names then it would have been a little more justified even though I don't agree with the fuss about the name of cities

Ayan Mukerji: actually, Mumbai has been used in the film as well. The magazine is called 'Mumbai beat

Sojib: is "WAKE UP SID" resembles ur life?

Ayan Mukerji: sojib, Wake up Sid doesn't resemble my life in a very conscious or direct fashion... i was very far from being a failure in academics...but there are

parts of life as i understand it that are there in the film. the characters and situations are not me, but they are close to me.

priya64: are u computer savvy?? do u tweet or have an face book account?

Ayan Mukerji: I'm savvy.... but i don't do face book or twitter... it's a bit of a conscious decision... i feel like it takes up too much time in your life... and i would

rather devote it to other pursuits... but i keep hearing that I'm missing out. People seem to be having a lot of fun out there.

Ayan Mukerji: thank you for logging in. i hope you guys enjoyed the film, and for those who didn't... well, next time perhaps i'll get you on my side :-)