The film 'Love Story of Nineties' tells what real love is-Amit Kasaria

 

Amit Kasaria, who entered Bollywood by writing and directing the film "I Don't Love You" in 2013, has done many other works apart from film direction at a very young age. These days, he is in the headlines for the third film of her career, “Love Story of Nineties”.

Recently I met Amit Kasaria. At that time, there was a long conversation with him about his career so far and his new film, which went like this...

Chat with Amit Kasaria: Career and New Film

Were you brought up in an artistic environment?

- No. It was nothing like that. My father used to work in the government institute ‘NCERT’. My mother is a housewife. My sister is a teacher. Meaning, that every member of my family has been a highly educated and humble person. None of them had anything to do with art. I am the only person in my family who got involved in films. The truth is that I have been fond of singing since childhood. Since childhood, I have had a habit of watching films and then mimicking every artist. I used to listen to singers and try to sing like them. My father used to be happy with these activities of mine. He thought this was his hobby. He used to introduce me to people as a child entertainer. Then questions started arising in my mind how are these films made? My father's institute helped me a lot in finding answers to these questions. Then I got an opportunity to act in Doordarshan as a child artiste. He used to make educational programs at my father's institute, so I got the opportunity to work and learn behind the camera there. I was interested in both music and singing. When I turned fifteen or sixteen, it came to my mind for the first time that I wanted to do something in films. The desire to become a film director arose within me. In school, I used to make up stories in my mind and tell them to my friends and teachers. In those days people used to take it as a joke. Now people have started understanding creativity. Now when a child does such things, people encourage him. But there was nothing like this in our time. But I kept telling my stories to my friends and teachers. Slowly he started praising. But there was neither an atmosphere of art at home nor was there any praise. But I was carrying out my work.

When and how did the idea of becoming a film director first come to your mind?

-Since childhood, I have been a very serious and emotional child. Earlier, I was so fond of singing that I thought that I would become a famous singer when I grew up. But as I grew older, I developed a passion for visualization, storytelling, and writing. I started writing stories when I was in tenth class. In school, children used to listen to my stories. Gradually I became popular in the entire school. He also acted as a child artiste. So there I was, understanding the filmmaking process by staying under the camera in my father's institute. In this way, a direction was being formed regarding a person's thinking and career.

What did your father think about these activities of yours?

-According to them, I was the rejected child of the family. When I developed a passion for making films along with singing, first my parents were surprised that my children had the passion to become actors, and their son had the passion for making films. I wanted to write and direct films. My father could not understand what to do. Our family remains a middle-class family. Had he heard about acting? But it was beyond comprehension that a child would direct a film. My father kept telling me that if you don't feel like studying then do a short course so that you can get a government job. In those days, typing courses were in vogue. My father suggested that I do this course, and then he will get me a government job somewhere. I asked my dad to get me a course in visual effects. He got it done. After that, I did a course in directing. Learned editing. And at the age of just 18, I got the job of editing. But I had the idea of becoming a film director. So one day I left everything and came to Mumbai. I got the opportunity to direct some ad films and music videos. In 2004, Jawahar Goyal ji of Zee Network made me the programming head of a channel in Delhi. At that time I would have been only 25 years old. So from here, my management journey started. But this work was not according to my heart, after three years I distanced myself from it and came to Mumbai again in 2011 and joined a production house as CEO.

When you wanted to become a film director. Then why did you work as a programming head of a channel?

-I already said that we are from a middle-class family. We had to help our parents financially. So when I got a good job, I did it. My father's stature had increased due to my doing this job. But even at that time, the idea of film direction was in my mind.

How did you come to Mumbai from Delhi and what kind of struggle was there?

-I came to Mumbai for three months in 2011 to solve my problems, but after coming here, I became the CEO of a production house. After a few days, a friend of mine reminded me what I was doing and what I wanted to do. So I wrote a story and left the job at the production house. Just four days later, I got a call from Amrapali Builders that they wanted to make a film, so I met them. And made the film “I Don't Love You”, which was released in 2013. Got the second film also. Now my third film is about to be released. So I didn't have to struggle to become a film director. Yes yes! My first film as a writer and director was “I Don’t Love You”. It was a great success.

But the second film ‘Bekhudi’ was released after eight years in 2021.

-I got the film immediately. But due to personal problems, there was a delay in making it. First I got sick. After that, my father remained ill for a year. I had to spend time taking care of them. And I couldn't work. Whereas I always had the story, the producer, everything. Then Covid came. Due to these reasons, I was very upset.

The theme of ‘Bekhudi’ was also a love story.

-It was an intelligent subject, which I created in a non-linear way. No one had worked on this kind of story. This is quite a complicated story. This is a treatment-based film. This is the story of one person but from different people's perspectives. Currently streaming on Amazon. The response to this film was very good.

Where did you get the seeds of the theme of your third film “Love Story Nineties”?

-I always wanted to make a love story film. I am deeply inspired by ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’, ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, and ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’. Nowadays it has become very difficult to make a love story film. Because the process involved in making such a film is long. There are many stages in love. Waiting for her after falling in love, being able to tell her, waiting for her even after that...etc.. In our times, it used to take two years just to see the one we loved, and then we used to spend time writing love letters to her. Now all this is no more. Here dating starts as soon as you send a friendship request on Facebook. But I wanted to show this entire interesting process of love in my film, that is what is being shown in this film. For this premise, I have chosen characters from the cinema I have been watching since the 1990s. Raj and Simran of 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' are the characters of our film. People who have grown up watching 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' are crazy about the characters of Raj and Simran. Now when these two characters meet in 2024, what will they think? Our film is about those characters, which are filmy. Every person in the whole world thinks that I am a king, and I should be loved, but this cannot happen in my personal life. Can't tell more than this. You will understand more if you watch it in the film.

Is this a love story from the 1990s?

-No...What we mean is that we have taken forward the loves of the nineties. Two characters who were born in 1990, grew up watching these film characters and were inspired by these characters. For example, I was born in the nineties. I grew up watching ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’. I have learned to love by watching films. There is a dialogue in the film – “My parents have given birth to me, but the films have given me the values.” This is the truth. Our generation has learned values and love only by watching films. So the characters of our film are also inspired by the cinema of the nineties, love, and characters of cinema. They will be born in ninety and their journey will start from 2012 and end in 2024. The story is not of 1990. We have only captured the love and thinking of the 90s.

By the time 2024 arrives, the meaning of love has changed. Now love starts at the coffee house and ends at the coffee house itself. In such a situation, what does your film do?

-Our film tells what real love is. Look, short-term relationships have always happened. Love always was, is, and always will be. Only the ways of loving have changed. It is human nature that we need love. As long as we are human, we will always fall in love. Only the methods will keep changing. Our film is showing a generation's way of loving.

Do Raj and Simran believe in 90s love?

-Yes yes! Raj believes in love. He believes in the institution of love. He thinks love exists for him. He wants to stay in such an institution where he can feel pure love. Simran is also that kind of girl. Simran also wants pure love. Sometimes people do not need love from each other. This does not mean that they do not want love. When two people are together, it is not necessary that both of them love each other, but both need love.

What are the turning points in the movie “Love Story of Nineties”?

-If a man goes through multiple relationships then it is called Casanova. If a girl does this then we call her characterless. This is wrong. The time is such that now we do not have the right to judge any girl. Every girl has the right to love and have a relationship. Secondly, hearts keep getting broken in love, but it does not mean that we harm the other person. It is wrong to seek revenge against someone who has broken your heart. The turning point of the film is how I have justified the girl's character. How both of them discover love is also a turning point.

What does your film say about overcoming heartbreak?

-Our film is about this. After heartbreak, usually, people first want to harm others, which is completely wrong. Only creative work should be done. Don't do such work that you forget yourself. Every person should love himself first. One who cannot love themselves cannot love anyone.

What is the USP of the film ‘Love Story of Nineties’?

-It's a love story with six songs.

How was Adhyayan Suman selected for the role of Raj and Divita Rai selected for the role of Simran?

-I have worked with Adhyayan Suman before also. I think Adhyayan Suman is an underrated artist. Till now no one has been able to make proper use of his acting talent. The poor guy remained in controversies without any reason. Till now he has not got such films in which he could show his acting ability. I consider myself lucky that I got to know his acting ability and I am very impressed by his acting. Our filmmakers do not even know ten percent of Adhyayan Suman's acting talent. When I started working on 'Love Story of Nineties', I felt that no one could portray the character of Raj in our film better than Adhyayan Suman. He was busy, so I waited for him. I was looking for a new girl for heroine Simran, finally, I chose Divita Rai.

You have made Atif Aslam sing a song for this film. Any special reason for this?

-I am a big fan of Atif Aslam. But I am not aware of what is going on at the political level. But I am such a big fan of Atif Aslam that when the song ‘Main Na Raha Mera...’ was made, I felt that no one could sing this song better than Atif Aslam. When I understood this, then no one could come between Atif and me. We talked to Atif. He was ill, but he sang for me even in his illness, and that too at another place. We have shot this song in eight days at eight locations including the snowy mountains of Manali and Dehradun. I have full hope that everyone will like this song.

Where and for how many days was the film 'Love Story of Nineties' shot?

-We have shot for sixty-five days. Ninety percent of the shooting was done in and around Dehradun in Uttarakhand. Some have been done in Manali. We are going to shoot for five more days in Mumbai.

Was this film shot in Uttarakhand for subsidy?

-To be honest, we came to know about the subsidy later. I had to shoot my film in a hill station, so we thought why not shoot it in the beautiful locations of Uttarakhand?

Interesting incidents during the shooting?

-Interesting incidents kept happening every day during the shooting. We shot at those places where vehicles could not go. Even helicopters could not go. Shooting took place in heavy snow in minus-degree temperatures. We found lion tracks. Also shot in the rain. When we were shooting in the water, we could see the snake, but we remained silent until the shot was filmed. So have faced a lot of troubles also.

 

-Shantiswarup Tripathi

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