Always an adventurer, Shekhar Kapur's latest destination is spirituality. He has made a film which talks about his conversation with his spiritual master – Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation. The film covers topics like “Miracle of Life”, “Guru – A Live Road Map”, “Education – Blossoming of a Child” and “Love – A Chemical Hijack”. In this film Shekhar has posed questions to his guru on the topics and Sadhguru was more than forthcoming . Meanwhile, he is keeping us thirsty for “Paani”.
Excerpts from an interview:
Were you always spiritual?
My spiritual journey started at the age of 10-12 when Delhi nights were clean. Lying on the cot on the terrace, I would keep looking at the starlit sky, which my father would say, is infinite. But then in the class my Physics teacher would explain everything that the science knows could be measured in finite terms. It is this conflict that later turned into a quest to find answers.
Did you manage to find the answers?
No, over the years I have realised there can't be any definite answers. It's like explaining to the blind person the colour red. One could only experience it. We live in an infinite universe but we have to describe and measure it in finite terms for it to be ‘scientific'. The ideas of infinity can only come as mathematical possibilities with a ‘constant' which is nothing but an assumption of non linearity of time. It could be proven but to a human ego, which is addicted to the idea of linearity of time, eternity is comprehensible only in the moments of faith and love.
Have you experienced it?
I call it getting into the ‘zone'. It's not trance because you are aware of what you are doing. Players like Sachin Tendulkar feel it; some of the biggest comedians have told me they shift to a different stage while performing the same jokes. I have experienced it while listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with tears flowing from the eyes of both of us.
You don't look into video monitor while shooting a scene?
Video assists have only come in the last decade or so. When I am directing I am not behind the camera…I am one with the creative energy of my actors. I always say direction is like living. It's about love, trust, faith….
You are making a film on mountaineer George Mallory.
It is still in the preliminary stage, but again the idea is to explore the man who became one with the mountain.
“Paani” is pending for far too long…
I want to break free of the studio system and want to make this film independently but it's not easy because it's a big budget project.
Don't you think time is running out for you?
If the passion is there, age is not an issue.
You called “Paani” it a fantasy some 10 years back. Does it still belong to the same genre?
Yes, I described it is as a fantasy 12 years back when I saw somebody taking shower in a high rise society while the people in the nearby slum were lining up for a bucket of water. But today a city is at war because of water is fast becoming a reality.
Have you signed Hrithik Roshan?
Not really, but he is my choice for the central role. He has an international face and I believe he has a strong female fan following across the world.
There is talk of a sequel of “Mr. India”
Yes, Boney Kapoor has spoken to me. I will provide creative help but I won't direct it.
Have you outgrown Bollywood?
If you mean what 90 per cent of Bollywood is making, yes I have outgrown it, but when I see films like “Lagaan”, “Chak De” and “Lage Raho Munnabhai”, I want to be part of it.
But the studio system of Hollywood has its own limitations and you know them.
I agree the wave of independent cinema that we saw in the 60 and 70s which hooked people like me to the medium is no longer there as the director's voice is getting increasingly restricted by the commercial plot but at the same time one can't see something like “Inception” being attempted in India.
You dabbled in short films…
I like them because in a short film format you could say what you want to. It's like nobody asks after seeing a Picasso painting or listening to Mozart's music, so what was the story. Short films provide this kind of independence and I am still open to them.
For a talent like you, don't you think your filmography is far too small?
I am an adventurer. I keep following my different passions and films are just one of them. But yes, when I look back I do feel that I could have made some more films.
