Kangana Ranaut : A small town girl with no godfathers in the film industry, she is much appreciated for her talent.

She is especially good at playing complex, disturbed characters and imbuing them with genuineness. With several blockbusters in her kitty, she is an exception in an industry where movies seem to need the Khan-Kapoor tag to set the cash registers ringing. Kangana has just won her third National award and is one of the highest paid actresses today.

How difficult was it to enter the picture as a director in October with the pressure of delivering the film in three months?
October is when everyone got to know, I came on board as director in June. For two-three months we reconceived the entire film, incorporated six-seven songs, then the reshoot began. I was running two units simultaneously one with my DoP, Kiran Deohans, and a parallel unit with Sachin Krishn and Nick Powell. A regular takes 15-20 shots a day, Kiranji and I were taking 50-60 shots, wrapping up five-six scenes, every day for 45 days. The same was happening with the parallel unit with every frame taking a couple of hours to dress up. Even the VFX team finished off six months work in two and the music team didn’’t get more than two hours sleep. It was all about manic passion, devotion. It might have killed me, but I was used to working in extreme situations.

Your producer, Kamal Jain, has reportedly suffered a paralytic stroke. He is currently on the ventilator battling for his life?
This happened a week ago. When we were in Delhi together on January 6 he had complained of a kharash in his voice. Two days later, he called from the hospital to say the MRI report had detected a small dot in the brain. After that he couldn’t move one side of his mouth, couldn’t talk or eat. It was scary. We’re praying for him and have taken over all his responsibilities. On Saturday, Kamalji released a letter from hospital thanking everyone for their concern and informing that he was recovering. This film has been a labour of love, sweat and blood.

At any point did you feel like it would be aborted?
There were date issues, certain actors not co-operating, some being flown into ND Studio in chartered planes. The original DoP and the earlier ADs were not allowed to come on my sets because they’d started working with an entirely new team and couldn’t afford to recreate the grandeur, like a Rs 5 crore darbar set. I could only work with fresh content and patchwork. But just when things seemed impossible, they’d tilt in my favour. I was fortunate to have KV Vijayendra Prasad sirand Prasoon Joshi sir (lyrics and dialogue), who were my pillars of strength.

A year ago, you had planned to turn director but the project did not materialise. Today, after Manikarnika, do you feel confident to drive your own directorial from the first shot to the last?
I drove this film too, from the first shot to the last. Only 30 per cent of the film, the action sequences shot by Krish and Nick, has been retained and I did lots of patchwork on those too. The remaining 70 percent of the film was shot by me.

So, when do we hear about the next directorial?
I’m itching to go on the floor now, I have a concept, but will wait for the response to this film. True success comes to those who do what is needed, not what they want. I was ready when this opportunity was thrown at me, I grabbed and ran with it. But now, I’m in no hurry. I’m accepted as an actor, I have two–three films lined up. For me direction is not just about engaging the viewer for two hours, that’s a given when you’re in the entertainment business. The only way I’d give a year or two of my life to a project as a director would be if I have something important and meaningful to say that can’t be said on Instagram or Twitter. Not that I am on either or against the social media. The fact is direction can never be a self-indulgent pursuit for me.

That’s quite a statement…?
I know it’s hard to understand that someone wants to make a movie not for money, for fans or vanity. I have never worked so selflessly. Anurag’s (Basu) film (Imali) was to start in November, but from May to January, I’ve done only 10 days work for Ashwiny’s (Iyer Tiwari) Panga to pay my installments. During Diwali I let go of several campaigns, financially things have gone for a toss but there was no question of asking for extra money in a project that had already gone over-budget. And I couldn’t desert a sinking ship either. People try to dissect my motives, compartmentalize me, wrap their heads around me. And in doing so, they only end up with pancreas and kidneys. It would be better if they wrapped their hearts around me, they might have found the person.

You are sharing the credits with Krish as director, right?
Yes, having shot 70 per cent of the film, my contribution is inarguable. Once the job was done, the team felt I should get my credit. But since Krish was the pioneer of this project and set up many things which have been retained for their sheer brilliance and not because we couldn’t have changed those too, he becomes an equal partner. However, it’s not a collaboration so our names will be listed individually.

What was the reaction at the Rashtrapati Bhavan screening on Friday?
Phenomenal! Everyone stood up and clapped at the end! ) Advani told me thrice, “Wonderful direction!”, and noted certain subtle nuances which was unusual when everyone was talking about my performance. Prasoon sir later explained that he’d started his career as a film critic. It’s almost surreal to be accidentally launched as a director in this way. I remember discussing my dress code with my sister Rangoli when I first thought of turning director, and when I actually took over the reins, I don’t recall what I pulled out of the cupboard or what shoes I wore. My hair was mess, my face was dusty, kuch khaya nahin tha din bhar… All the romanticism flew out of the window and what remained was dedication and diligence to the craft.

And Manikarnika, did you feel her?
I felt her anger and her grudge when things weren’t going her way. I fell off the horse two-three times, there were freak accidents, so finally I surrendered myself to her so she could tell her story through me knowing she would not settle for less.

Manikarnika took on the British male order, you have taken on the industry bastion. Today, no matter how many films with top heroes bomb, if you stumble, it will be the debacle of the year…?
Manikarnika fought not just the British but also the Indian male order because she did not go to Kashi after she was widowed and ascended the throne. I too have gambled everything on this film and I am hanging in there, waiting to see what will happen. Will I lose more? Maybe. Will I hit the jackpot? Maybe. It has happened many times before. It’s a film about an extraordinary woman and what I am feeling right now doesn’t come easily and then doesn’t last long. So, all I am doing is revelling in the grace without thinking of commercial success or critical acclaim.

Earlier there were four films — Thackeray, Why Cheat India, Super 30 and Manikarnika — vying for the same Friday. Did the thought of moving ever cross your mind?
Never! This is a patriotic film, it needed to come on Republic Day. But that said, it’s not a sentimental or emotional call, but a strategic decision. The buzz on our film has been strong since the first teaser which is why we could stick to this date while two other films moved.

After seeing the first trailer people pointed to a line of dialogue similar to Hrithik Roshan’s Mohenjo Daro…?
Who has seen that film? Let’s not even go there.

There are fellow actors who walked out of Manikarnika and today are congratulating you. Tables turn quickly?
I had so much respect for those who hated me, now they are changing their mind too. In this world dosti is often betrayed, dushmani toh imandaari se nibha lo.

From Manikarnika to Mental Hai Kya, how big a jump will it big a jump will it be for the audience?
A complete shift. If Manikarnika is an event film for school children and families, Mental Hai Kya is targeting young people with a fondness for psychological thrillers. For film like Mental… and Panga my contribution is limited to that of an actress. I go to the set as an employee and do what I am asked to do, it’s a great relief.

Have you seen Zero given that Anand L Rai and you go back all the way to the Tanu Weds Manu franchise?
I have been too busy with Manikarnika to attend any of the trials of Zero but Anand ji is coming for a show of our film We will be announcing Tanu Weds Manu 3 soon.