SHORTS is just an opportunity where different people are getting to showcase their work: Anurag Kashyap

Anurag Kashyap is pretty excited as he awaits the release of his short film SHORTS on 12 July (2013) that comprises of five short stories. The film that has been helmed by five different directors like Neeraj Ghaywan, Shlok Sharma, Siddharth Gupt, Anirban Roy and Rohit Pandey, stars Richa Chadda, Huma Qureshi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vineet Singh among many others. Here is Tellychakkar.com in a conversation with the noted filmmaker. A lowdown: How did SHORTS happen? (smiles) Let me tell you that all the five short films were conceived during the making of Gangs of Wasseypur and all the concerned five directors assisted me in Gangs... After selecting their own set of actors, they quietly approached them and shot the films post which TUMBHI, a company that has advisors like Javed Siddiqui, Pankuj Parashar, Irshad Kamil and me and my company AKPL came into the picture to back them and to bring to you what is now called SHORTS. Which of the above directors’ film, did you like the most in this short film? All the five are superb films and I like all of them equally. What is the future of short films in the country? SHORTS is the future. The duration of feature films are getting shorter by the day and undoubtedly people still go to watch them. Definitely SHORTS has a broader future. Moreover, my film has smaller budgets unlike that of feature films. Aren’t you setting a trend with the theatrical release of this film? It is not a trend; it is just an opportunity where different people are getting to showcase their work, which will then lead them onto feature films. There are very good short films that have already won awards internationally in the last two years. What’s your take on the performance of actors from the team of Gangs of Wasseypur in this film? The film is that of five different directors and it is their film. Since I am just the producer, I do not want to comment on it. Could you tell us the solution how to show short films to the broader audience and get a good box-office collection too? Here in India, people have the feeling that festival films are boring. This problem exists more with the exhibitors. In fact, we are all searching for the solution. Filmmakers have to make their films and every filmmaker has his own struggle. I have found a solution and in that I have ensured a theatrical release for my short films. At this point, I appreciate LC Singh of TUMBHI for supporting me in this endeavour. Everyone will find their solutions in their own manner, I believe. Tell us something about your next directorial venture Bombay Velvet. It is being said that Karan Johar has lost considerable weight for the film? The shoot starts next month. Karan has already lost 10 kilos out of the pre-fixed 12 kilos till now; he is on a weight losing spree. After all, he has got to look agile and smart to play a grey character.