It’s not easy to be a part of the film industry when your father is a director, and comparisons, inevitable. Sameer Sippy says he is nervous as his debut directorial venture Ishq Forever , starring newcomers Krishna Chaturvedi and Ruhi Singh, releases today. Son of veteran filmmaker Raj Sippy, who made the hugely popular Satte Pe Satta, Thanedaar and other films, Sameer started off in the film industry assisting directors such as Farhan Akhtar, David Dhawan, and Mahesh Manjrekar. In Bengaluru to promote his film, he chatted with MetroPlus .
You’ve been an assistant director in many films. Why did you wait so long to make your first film?
Honestly in all the years I was an A.D I never thought there’s a specific time when I’ll become a director. I was like ‘When the moment comes, it’ll come’. There’s no age or barrier when you have to become a director or producer. I didn’t want to hurry it up because it’s a lifelong thing. Why jump into it when maybe you’re not ready or the opportunity is not right? So I just took it as it came.
What made you feel you’re ready for this one?
Before this I’ve done movies such as Jaan-e-Mann, Dostana, Lakshya . I’ve worked on films of different calibres, with different actors and directors. And when Shabbir bhai (producer Shabbir Boxwala) came to me with this film, I knew I was ready. It is just that for the other movies, I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to do them or not. This movie is different, a road film but not like the others you’ve seen about two people running and all that. It is a chance occurrence of how things keep happening in this journey. That is what attracted me to the script. It is the script that got me to do this film.
Your father is a well-known director. Were you conscious about doing this?
Conscious no…nervous yes. Comparisons are always going to be there. People are going to compare me to my father. It is my first film. Whether it is my first film or 10th, if I’m not nervous, something is wrong with me. Then I know something is definitely ‘off’. I have to be nervous every time my film comes out.
