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Renowned filmmaker Hansal Mehta, celebrated for his acclaimed streaming series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ and ‘Scoop,’ is currently gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated crime thriller ‘The Buckingham Murders,’ featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead role. Mehta, who initially ventured into showbiz with television productions, transitioned to filmmaking in 2000 with ‘Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!!’ Despite earlier projects like ‘Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?’ and ‘Woodstock Villa,’ it was his 2012 biographical drama ‘Shahid’ that catapulted him to significant success and garnered critical acclaim.
The narrative chronicles the life of Shahid Azmi, a late lawyer and activist, and stars Rajkummar Rao, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Kay Kay Menon.This poignant tale garnered accolades from critics and earned Mehta the National Film Awards for Best Direction and Best Actor for Rao. Reflecting on the film’s production during a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Mehta recounted, “I was certain we could execute this film on a modest budget. We devised innovative shooting techniques with the sole determination to see it through. With a crew of only 10 individuals, including my son Jai, cinematographer Anuj (Rakesh Dhawan), focus puller Rajkummar (Rao), and a makeup continuity assistant, we embarked on our journey. We even lacked proper lighting equipment,” he reminisced.
Expounding further, he disclosed, “We managed costumes ourselves. A gentleman named Irfan assisted in crafting 3–4 lawyer suits tailored to Rajkummar’s measurements. During idle moments, Rajkummar would borrow shirts from the crew. He’d persuade them to swap shirts with him and clad himself in their attire for the shoot, thereby infusing authenticity into the character. Despite my offer to procure new shirts, Rajkummar insisted, believing the worn appearance complemented his character. Such dedication allowed us to realize the film within a modest budget of Rs 35 lakh.”
Mehta also recalled the arduous 11-month shoot for Shahid, compounded by financial strains encountered by co-producer Sunil Bohra, who had invested in numerous major projects. “Bohra contributed whatever he could, sporadically offering sums like Rs 5 lakh, Rs 1 lakh, or Rs 2 lakh.”
Elaborating on the logistical challenges, Mehta shared, “We filmed in Rakchham, Himachal Pradesh, a 16-hour journey from Shimla. Accommodations were scarce, with nine of us crammed into the sole local hotel, amidst a village population of merely 1,200. Despite these hardships, it was a picturesque locale. We embarked on a grueling 24-hour journey via train to Ambala, followed by a bus ride. Remarkably, we managed a 7-day shoot within a meager budget of Rs 6 lakh, covering expenses for food and lodging. Local activists and members of political parties graciously assumed supporting roles.”
He expressed admiration for actors who volunteered their services, singling out veteran Kay Kay Menon for praise. Mehta lauded Menon’s pivotal role, recalling his willingness to participate without remuneration. “I explained the situation to him over the phone, mentioning a brief three-day commitment. He readily agreed, asking when to join. When I confessed our financial constraints, he simply replied, ‘Did I ask for any?’ True to his word, he appeared the next day.”
Reflecting on familial support, Mehta credited his father-in-law, actor Yusuf Hussain, for aiding in the film’s completion amidst financial turmoil. “He offered Rs 15 lakh from his fixed deposit, recognizing the urgency of the situation. We completed the film with his assistance and subsequently repaid him.” Mehta acknowledged the transformative impact of ‘Shahid’ on both his and Rao’s careers.
The narrative chronicles the life of Shahid Azmi, a late lawyer and activist, and stars Rajkummar Rao, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Kay Kay Menon.This poignant tale garnered accolades from critics and earned Mehta the National Film Awards for Best Direction and Best Actor for Rao. Reflecting on the film’s production during a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Mehta recounted, “I was certain we could execute this film on a modest budget. We devised innovative shooting techniques with the sole determination to see it through. With a crew of only 10 individuals, including my son Jai, cinematographer Anuj (Rakesh Dhawan), focus puller Rajkummar (Rao), and a makeup continuity assistant, we embarked on our journey. We even lacked proper lighting equipment,” he reminisced.
Expounding further, he disclosed, “We managed costumes ourselves. A gentleman named Irfan assisted in crafting 3–4 lawyer suits tailored to Rajkummar’s measurements. During idle moments, Rajkummar would borrow shirts from the crew. He’d persuade them to swap shirts with him and clad himself in their attire for the shoot, thereby infusing authenticity into the character. Despite my offer to procure new shirts, Rajkummar insisted, believing the worn appearance complemented his character. Such dedication allowed us to realize the film within a modest budget of Rs 35 lakh.”
Mehta also recalled the arduous 11-month shoot for Shahid, compounded by financial strains encountered by co-producer Sunil Bohra, who had invested in numerous major projects. “Bohra contributed whatever he could, sporadically offering sums like Rs 5 lakh, Rs 1 lakh, or Rs 2 lakh.”
Elaborating on the logistical challenges, Mehta shared, “We filmed in Rakchham, Himachal Pradesh, a 16-hour journey from Shimla. Accommodations were scarce, with nine of us crammed into the sole local hotel, amidst a village population of merely 1,200. Despite these hardships, it was a picturesque locale. We embarked on a grueling 24-hour journey via train to Ambala, followed by a bus ride. Remarkably, we managed a 7-day shoot within a meager budget of Rs 6 lakh, covering expenses for food and lodging. Local activists and members of political parties graciously assumed supporting roles.”
He expressed admiration for actors who volunteered their services, singling out veteran Kay Kay Menon for praise. Mehta lauded Menon’s pivotal role, recalling his willingness to participate without remuneration. “I explained the situation to him over the phone, mentioning a brief three-day commitment. He readily agreed, asking when to join. When I confessed our financial constraints, he simply replied, ‘Did I ask for any?’ True to his word, he appeared the next day.”
Reflecting on familial support, Mehta credited his father-in-law, actor Yusuf Hussain, for aiding in the film’s completion amidst financial turmoil. “He offered Rs 15 lakh from his fixed deposit, recognizing the urgency of the situation. We completed the film with his assistance and subsequently repaid him.” Mehta acknowledged the transformative impact of ‘Shahid’ on both his and Rao’s careers.
Hansal Mehta: One of the first things that I told Jai during ‘City Lights’ was to make the budget of the film
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