EXCLUSIVE! Tushar Hiranandani: There is no bigger hero than the script

Tushar Hiranandani, a writer who became a director with the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Saand Ki Aankh, had to struggle for a few years to turn his dream into a reality. While he has written about 25 films in his 14-year-career, the label of being an expert with double-entendre comedy had become his identity till Saand Ki Aankh was unveiled. Even as he wrote hit commercial films for top directors across subjects, he had to wait to make his debut as a director. As his directorial debut turns a year old, Tushar opens up to Bombay Times about the road ahead:
It’s been a year since Saand Ki Aankh released. How have things been with you and what have you been up to?
My producer, Nidhi Parmar had faith in me as a director in 2019 and produced Saand Ki Aankh. In February 2020, she had faith in me as a father and produced Veer Hiranandani. My son! He has kept me very busy! Additionally, I have been working on concepts and scripts that I want to direct hereon.
How much and how far did life change with the film?
Life has completely changed. Besides getting love from my colleagues in the industry, I also got newfound respect from my family and friends. To top it all, a lot of strangers - young and elderly -- came up to me and said that the film inspired them to turn around their attitude towards life. That was the most fulfilling feeling for me.
From being rejected by several leading ladies to winning awards all along, do you feel you have managed to silence people who thought a film like Saand Ki Aankh was not your cup of tea?
Most importantly, my father still thinks that Nidhi (my wife and producer) has directed the film, which I can assure you she hasn’t. Through the making of the film, I used to tell Bhumi (Pednekar) and Taapsee (Pannu) that I guarantee they both will win the Lion’s Club award because my father is a member but they won the Filmfare Award instead. So, I only work to silence the little voice in my head and strive to do better with every film I make and not to silence people.
Bhumi and Taapsee have set a high benchmark for actresses in several ways: ageing on screen, playing characters with layers and nuances and pulling off a Diwali release on their slender shoulders without a top hero in the film. How do you feel about that today? Has that also upped the expectations from you as a filmmaker?
Taapsee (Prakashi) and Bhumi (Chandro) are superheroes for me. They were my Jai /Veeru, Ram/Lakhan and Karan/Arjun from Day One. I will always maintain that no one other than Taapsee and Bhumi could have done more justice to Prakashi and Chandro Tomar. The entire team from the studio to the actors were in sync for a Diwali release. Maybe we would have made more money at the box office on another date but this was a bigger statement that was important to make. As a filmmaker it is my responsibility to make the film in the best possible manner. For me, the announcement and release will always be the producer’s call. Hence my expectations from myself stay the same – to deliver my best.
Have you felt a change in the attitude of leading ladies towards such stories after your film came out?
I think this trend began way before my film and will continue in future as well. Pakeezah and Mother India were the true trailblazers in this respect. The attitude of the theatre-going audience needs to change. not that of the leading ladies. The audience needs to go into the theatres and make these films successful.
Your film was a Diwali release with two other competing films, and it took an unexpected charge at the box office. What do you think that says about the audience?
We were a very small film compared to Housefull 4 and we definitely didn’t take the lead there. But the tremendous love that I got from whoever saw the film made my Diwali a very Happy Diwali.
What’s that one learning from this film that you plan to hold on to for the rest of your life?
There is no bigger hero than the script. A film is made by an entire team and not by a single person.
Lastly, has the film been worth the wait to make it? And what are you planning to make next?
It was totally worth the wait and the struggle. As far as my next is concerned, I am working on another biopic, being written by Jagdeep Sidhu. Like I said before, announcement and release should be the producer’s call. So, let my producers take that call and announce the film.