Vinta Nanda

"I hate to portray women being dragged on the floor and touching the feet of every elder!" She can easily be termed the feisty first lady of Indian television. The intrepid filmmaker who made the unforgettable Tara for Zee in the 1990s, is poised to make waves again - this time with a feature film that explores the dark side of the glamour world of television. Is she ready to take on the fickle industry with her daring work of art? Vickey Lalwani met up with her to find out. Finally, you are ready with your first film 'White Noise'? Finally. It took me three years. I hadn't quit Zee. I was heading the ideation cell for Zee Network and I thought I'd be back in six months time. But wasn't it a gamble to quit such a high-profile job? Of course it was a gamble. But I had a burning desire to make a film that I couldn't suppress. In fact, the flames kept burning within me all the time. I believe I have only one life to live. I don't believe in rebirth, unless it is proved to me. I won't argue on that, but why did it take you so long? Wherever I went- be it for a financier or an actor, they thought that I won't be able to make a film. I had take a lot of shit like, 'Yeh kya banayegi? Inka to TV background hai?'. But I wanted to make a comment and I was not going to give up. Interesting. Then? I managed to rope in Rahul Bose and Tabu. But suddenly Tabu turned around and demanded a high price, something which fit nowhere in my budget. She walked out. In walked Koel Puri? Thanks to Soni Razdan who suggested her name. I was quite psyched up those days. But three seconds after I saw Koel, Tabu was erased from my mind. Yes, she was my protagonist, Gauri Khanna. Koel Puri told me last week that this film is going to expose the television industry; that it will rip the façade off these so-called bahus and sati-savitris of TV? Does it deal with their life behind the scenes? (Smiles) It's not so dramatic. But yes, it makes a comment on the hypocrisy prevailing in the television industry. But why the television industry? I am not targeting the television industry. Hypocrisy unfortunately prevails in all spheres. But being from this industry, it was easy for me to relate and to convey what I want. If I have been hands-on with what I am saying, only then can I send the message across convincingly. Koel plays a soap script-writer and Rahul plays the editor of the same show. What happens in their life thereafter forms the crux of the story. Is Gauri Khanna playing Vinta Nanda? (Smiles) Well, I won't say that. But as I told you, my personal experiences definitely reflect in the story. How did you manage the finances eventually? Mahesh Bhatt helped me. He told me "you are a genuine person who is making something that should be made." He arranged for someone (Sevy Ali, my co-producer) who contributed to my cause. When is your serial 'Mili' going on air? It's coming up on Star in December. It stars newcomer Mona Vasu in title role. And of course, there too I'll make a statement. It's a progressive soap. I hate to see women being dragged on the floor and touching the feet of every elder. Tell me, how many women do that in today's times? I am not talking about the working woman essentially. Tell me, how many housewives don mangalsutras and saris at home 24X7? So much of regressive stuff is on air. I know what you mean, but don't these serials register high TRPs, much higher than others? That's because people have not been given enough of the other variety. They have been constantly hammered with this kind of stuff. However, with new channels and new genres of shows coming up, there is hope. In fact, I am sure it's a matter of time when we'll have bold and sensible shows again. But yes, we need some people to bell the cat, someone who can take charge and turn it around. I remember there was a wave of bold shows after Tara clicked but somehow they got washed away. Think of it, it's a cycle. I, for one, will never subscribe to homely, saas bahu serials. But why? Simply because I don't believe in them. I don't see myself as an entertainer out to make money. I have traveled into the interiors of India and extracted events and issues which have disturbed me. If I was money-minded, would I have chucked up the Zee job? Let me tell you a very pathetic thing that happened with me, recently. Uh huh? Someone from the television industry, told me that I was too intelligent to be making serials in India. If that's the case, I shudder to think what stuff we're leaving behind for our future generations to see. Why don't we realise that we are documenting something? How can we document fallacy? So does this very intelligent maker go back to Zee? (Smiles) Zee will have to make a very tempting offer for me not to refuse. (pauses) I think I'll stick to making films.