“Nepotism has got nothing to do with the casting of my daughter Jasleen in my film Vo Meri Student Hai, as she is cast only to clear misconceptions about her and Anupji”

KESAR MATHARU tells JYOTHI VENKATESH

What triggered the idea for you to make a film with Anup Jalota and your own daughter in the main leads called Vo Meri Student Hai?

Wherever my daughter went, people used to shout at her and tell her in unison to sing a song. Vice Versa, when people used to bump into Anupji in public, they used to ask him where Jasleen Matharu was and he used to say in jest that she was in his shirt pocket.

Are you producing the film besides directing it?

No. I am only directing the film while Faheem.R. Qureshi is producing it. It was he who suggested that I make a film on the so called romance between a guru and a disciple after both Anupji and my daughter Jasleen came out of the Bigg Boss 12 last year. We are planning to shoot for three months and release the film after its post production work is over after the lockdown period.

Is your film being made on a shoe string budget?

You cannot make any film these days on a shoe string budget at all. My film is not being made on a small budget or for that matter a shoe string budget. Each and everything as far as film production is concerned these days actually costs thrice what it used to cost earlier. I will ensure as a director that there is absolutely no wastage at all and we make the film in a very controlled budget in a period of just around 30 days.

Is it true that there is just one song in the film though two singers are acting in the film?

Yes. It is true that there is only one song in the film. Though Jasleen plays a pop singer, there is only one song which is sung by Anup Jalota in the film as he is playing a bhajan singer

Is it true that you will be shooting intimate romantic scenes in the film since Anup and Jasleen are playing the main roles in the film?

No. Contrary to all kinds for rumors, my film will show platonic relationship between a guru, played by Anupji and his shishya, played by my daughter Jasleen. Anupji will appear in traditional attire.

You are not cashing in on the Bigg Boss controversy linking Anup Jalota and Jasleen Matharu in any way?

No. If you remember I had made a film called Lafdaa two decades ago with Raja Awasthi and introduced Raakhi Sawant in the film. Even the Censor guys praised me for the kind of aesthetic content in the film as if only I had wanted; I could have gone hay wire and shot sleazy scenes

Is your film being made to white wash the image of Anup Jalota whom was linked with your daughter?

It is being made to clear a lot of misconceptions in the minds of people about Anupji’s equation with my daughter Jasleen in real life. In the film, she comes to learn music from Anupji who will be seen asking her to dress up more appropriately, as he is from a traditional music background. In real life too, he keeps telling her and his other students the same thing. Anupji is broad minded enough and has no issues with anyone wearing clothes of their choice, but certain situations demand a certain kind of dressing. Like he says, he too wears shorts in real life, but doesn’t wear them to his class when he is teaching students, as we have to respect the platform.

Didn’t you plan your film as a quickie considering the fact that Anup Jalota and Jasleen who are not busy as super stars on the big screen are playing the key roles in it?

Before Modiji imposed lockdown, Jasleen was busy with more shows than I could have imagined. For the past six years even before the Bigg Boss 12 made her controversial, Jasleen was busy as a stage show performer and is happy with whatever fame she has been able to achieve on her own merit.

Did Jasleen land the key role in your film Vo Meri Student Hai only because of nepotism since she happens to be your daughter?

On the contrary, I actually wanted to work with another actress in the film Woh Meri Student Hai because she is earning only 30 lakhs for acting in my film whereas on her own merit, Jasleen will be able to earn many more lakhs if she is staging her own shows all over India as I will not be able to pay her what her actual price is. Jasleen is acting in my film for my sake and for Anupji who she respects very much.