Talent counts: Audiences will reject what is substandard and appreciate, when an actor star kid or not, delivers, says director Santosh

A film titled after an ionic song from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s memorable film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, starring a ‘nepokid’ Shanaya Kapoor and it is bound to whip up attention for the wrong reasons. But before you go all guns blazing and cast aspersions, meet calm and poised director Santosh Singh. As he who has directed many web series is ready with his first big screen outing Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan in which Shanaya daughter of noted actor Sanjay Kapoor, younger brother of superstar Anil Kapoor makes her debut, he is ready for all kinds of salvos.

First and foremost he takes charges of promoting nepotism head on, and his riposte is simple; nepotism is not confined to just film industry. Besides, everyone must get a fair chance, though some get an opportunity easily. So he entreats viewers to watch Shanaya’s performance before passing any judgement. To trolls who believe often self-made actors like Vikrant Massey, the film’s male lead are used to promote star kids once again he does not offer a fiery response.  No, he doesn’t think social media users have no right to pass such sweeping statements. On the contrary, he feels, “If we are fine with receiving love from our fans we should be ready for brickbats too. Audiences will reject what is substandard and appreciate, when, an actor, star kid or not, delivers. ” Only he asks viewers to hold their horses and not jump to conclusions.  He asserts, “Give your verdict good, bad, ugly after the film’s release on July 11.”

For now as a director he is mighty pleased with Shanaya whose audition tape for another project came his way through a casting director. More rounds of auditions and tests and he was certain she could play Saba Shergill.  The chemistry between consummate actor Vikrant with whom Santosh has worked in his first web-series Broken But Beautiful and raw debutant Shanaya he insists is crackling and her fresh appeal has worked in the film’s favour.

However, the real strength of the film he asserts lies in how this love story is more than hat ke.  Don’t all directors proclaim so… but this one based on Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have. It is unique in more ways than one. If there is magic in the written word, transposing the same on to the big screen, he shares, “is a challenge.” He adds, “To make characters emote without the most important tool of expression, their eyes, is no cakewalk.” Yes you read that right…Vikrant’s Zahan is visually impaired and in many scenes in the trailer you see Shanaya’s character of Saba Shergill blindfolded too. Not ready to reveal more of how the cookie crumbles, he does profess the screenplay penned by Mansi Bagla is a risk for the stars and for the Zee studios which is backing the film.

Making a love story ‘a difficult genre to crack’ in times when crime thrillers are ruling is a tough ballgame. Whether Bollywood has forgotten how to make love stories, well, well, he has worked with the master of romance Karan Johar and his Dharma productions in more than one film. One thing he has learnt from him and other directors he has assisted in films like Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Brahmāstra, et al is; never lose your grip on emotions.  “I never okay a shot, till I get the emotional quotient right,” he avers.

To make a love story click music too has to be top-notch. But since his film’s title comes from Bhansali’s melodious number… is he afraid of comparisons of his music with the evergreen song?  Moreover, is any song of his film as good? He says, “I dare not compare my film’s songs with the memorable melody but I am placing my bets on songs like Alvida and Nazaara.” In fact, his composer Vishal Mishra has worked for one and a half years on the original score in the film which is being marketed as a musical. “There is no good love story without lilting songs,” is his firm belief.

Come July 11 and he asks viewers who have all but ditched going to cinema halls to not just fall in love but feel love.