Director’s cut

Rituparno Ghosh isn���t what you would call the quintessential director of regional films.
For, his films like the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer Chokher Bali, and the Rai Bachchan-Ajay Devgan starrer Raincoat, were thoroughly enjoyed by many film lovers who usually stick to Bollywood mainstream flicks. The director has been a recipient of major awards and, of course, his distinctive style of filmmaking has won him countless admirers worldwide.
It is often said that Ghosh���s films do not tread the traditional commercial path. What is his take on that? ���Possible,��� reacts Rituparno and continues, ���I feel no film in India is for everybody. A certain film will be watched by a category of audience who may not watch some other film.��� So, does he write his roles keeping certain actors in mind? He answers in the positive and explains, ���Yes, sometimes I have someone specific in mind. But, if getting that actor on board doesn���t work out, then I tweak the role a little depending on who is doing it. I try to make it more refined to suit the new person.���
The director���s recent film starring Amitabh Bachchan-Preity Zinta has been just released in India. However, it has already been screened at some of the world���s finest film festivals ��� Toronto, Rome, London and Rotterdam. In the film, the lead actors have been given a very non-glamourised look. For instance, Preity has a very makeup-free look. But, Rituparno thinks otherwise. ���I don���t think so. I would say she has an alternate glamour look, a graceful look that is quite opposite to the kind of glamourous roles she has done before,��� says he. Critics, who have seen the film, have gone on record to state that this is possibly Bachchan���s best film ever. ���He is a great actor and it was wonderful working with him,��� confesses the director.
Does he feel that the performance of the actors depends totally on the director? ���It is very important to create the right kind of ambience. That���s how one can get an actor to do what���s required. But, there are some actors to whom acting comes so easily that they enhance the look and feel of what���s asked from them,��� feels this talented filmmaker. And, in the case of those who don���t belong to that category of special actors, Rituparno does what great directors do: make them perform way beyond their natural best.