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CUT CUT CUT Anil Mehta on the sets of “Aaja Nach Le”.

“I was very clear about one thing, if I direct a film, I would not handle the camera. I would like to concentrate on direction only,” says Anil Mehta the 50-year-old debutant director “Aaja Nach Le”, releasing this Friday.

The veteran cinematographer with films like “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”, “Khamoshi”, “Veer Zaara” recalls that the seed to direct a film germinated during his association with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “I had seen Sanjay managing everything from marketing, finance to distribution. I know how troublesome it is. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to handle all that. So when Aditya Chopra broached the subject during the making of ‘Veer-Zaara’, I didn’t lap it up. But he persisted. He had the script. He collaborated with Jaideep Sahni and when we three sat together, I decided to do it because I knew I wouldn’t have to manage the marketing part. Moreover, I wanted to make a film on small-town ethos and this script had ample of it,” shares Mehta.

To handle camera he called his old buddy Mohanan from FTII who had shot “Don”, “Lagaan” and “Agnivarsha” with him. “I trust his handling,” he quips.

As for the expectation from the banner and the audience, he shrugs, “I put all the expectations on the side burner. If I had thought of it, I would have been tensed throughout. I am in awe of Madhuri anyway, she is big star and if she decided to go ahead with a debut director, it is her politeness. But I didn’t let it affect my work on the sets. Fortunately, she is a professional to the core. She is intelligent, well read and knows the technical nuances. It made my work easy,” says Mehta.

Because the film revolves around a small town with a huge theatre space, Mehta took a long trip around Madhya Pradesh but he couldn’t find the right location. “On my way I took several pictures of small towns and went to Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal to have a feel of the open theatre. But nothing fit the bill. So we built a set in the studios and shot in Jaipur for 15 days. The pictures I clicked were the source material.”

The audiences are keen to see Madhuri back with a bang. Mehta had to work harder. “She came 15 days before shooting. Shed lot of weight, did regular dance rehearsals, and even managed her two small boys. The fact that she is 42 and even the screen adds to the age can’t be ignored. So, those who are coming to see an 18-year-old Madhuri must remember that the film is about a senior dancer and choreographer who comes to a small town after a long time. So if they see creases around her eyes and prominent laugh lines, they shouldn’t mind,” he asserts.

And for acting, Mehta says, she hasn’t forgotten a bit. He recalls, “We were shooting a scene in which Raghubir Yadav tells her that her guru is no more. Her eyes welled up naturally. It was such a beautiful shot that we kept camera rolling till she realised it. Though she uses glycerine for tears but many such genuine shots came during the shooting.”

Now Mehta wants to take some rest. “Direction ages you. And I am a laidback guy anyway,” he concludes, smiling.

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