Nupur Asthana sounds relaxed and shocked at the same time. Her debut film Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge ( MFK ) has hit the bull's eye and the congratulatory messages have been pouring in. “You won't believe I am so bad on Twitter. But there have been so many messages for me that I thought it would be only polite to answer them,” says the director whose film ironically is based on love on Facebook!
Nupur got a positive response from her pre-screening group at YashRaj Films ( MFK is produced by Y-Films, the youth division of YRF), but wasn't sure even then. “I thought everyone was just being nice to me though I was hoping it would be a success,” she confesses, adding that many people have commented that this doesn't look like her first attempt at direction. That's because it isn't. When she was just 26, the lady had to her credit one of Zee TV's most popular show Hip Hip Hurrah based on the life of collegians. “Television was a great training ground. I have always been in touch with youngsters. Then it was about people my age. Now I have to treat my cousins and their friends as guinea pigs,” says Nupur who has the recent lovable show Mahi Way on her roster too.
Nupur has come up the hard way. A mass communication post graduate from Sophia's College, Mumbai, this Delhi girl assisted Ketan Mehta on a few films before taking the plunge into TV. After a few good shows, in 2002 she decided she wanted to make a film. “I had a couple of ideas — one was a high school drama, the other a comic caper. Both got shelved. In fact, the latter was picked up by a corporate but the youth arm of the company wrapped up. Just then Ravina Raj Kohli (then heading YRF) called to say they wanted to commission me for directing Mahi Way. This was part of a three-project proposal of which one could be a film,” says Nupur. The success of Mahi Way led Adi to believe that she would be the apt choice for MFK . “And I jumped at it realising its potential to connect with everyone irrespective of age. It could be set in a college or an office!”
Nupur has signed a fresh three-film contract with YRF and has several ideas swimming in her head right now. “I am taking one thing at a time. My next film could be either with Y-Films or YRF and that's an exciting prospect. Having a banner like YRF back you in your films is absolutely a dream,” she signs off, adding that the only thing she finds scary are the hundreds of friendship requests she receives on a daily basis!
