Mumbai, Dec 1 (IANS) His first film “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu” earned critical accolades for Shakun Batra, but the director feels romantic comedy is risky genre and one needs to be innovative enough to ensure a film stands apart from those made in similar space.
“I think romantic comedies have reached their saturation point. And now for an audience to like any romantic comedy, it needs to have a voice of its own, be individualistic and fresh,” Batra told IANS.
“We have seen all kinds of romantic comedy in this country. And if you don’t have anything new to say it’s tough to make a romantic comedy and get the audience excited about it,” he added.
Batra donned the director’s hat for Kareena Kapoor-Imran Khan starrer “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu”, produced by Karan Johar, and admits that the ability to tell stories in innovative ways, makes his job as a director even more interesting.
“I connect with the story…I must have an emotional connect and feel strongly about the characters. All my favourite directors, be it Sam Mendes or Woody Allen, have been directors, who have made different genres. They have never stuck to one and that is how I would like to go ahead,” he said.
“I would try different kinds of things. This is what makes my job exciting as a director to be able to play with genres and tell different stories,” he added.
Batra harboured a dream of becoming a cameraman but it was his experience as an assistant director on Farhan Akhtar’s “Rock On”, which got him interested in the craft of direction.
“It was a gradual shift. I wanted to be a cameraman when I was in film school. But then I got to assist Farhan Akhtar and slowly I enjoyed the idea of direction. And in a very organic way I shifted towards direction. But I am happy and I enjoy it. There is nothing else I would enjoy more,” he said.
Talking about his working equation with filmmaker Karan Johar: “He is the best guy in the business to work with. He is such a great collaborator. He gives you your space and the freedom to work. For someone new like me, it’s so good to have someone like him who is accessible and guides you through the whole project, without forcing his opinion on you.”
“He let’s you make things the way you want to do, but at the same time he is there if you have questions or you want to bounce ideas. I couldn’t be happier to have worked with him,” he said added.
Asked about his future projects, Batra says he has nothing concrete at the moment.
“I have a few ideas and nothing concrete. I need to sit down and decide. There are a few ideas I would like to develop,” he said.
