Navdeep Singh had gained instant recognition & glory when he had yielded the megaphone for actress Aushka Sharma’s ‘NH10’, and this was almost after 8 years of lying low after his debut directorial venture ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’. Here in this exclusive interview Editor Ravi Kumar of Film & TV Trade preview, Navdeep Singh speaks about his more than a decade long directorial journey.

You are hailing from an army background. So what made you to choose your career in the film industry?

After completing my education in US & UK and also dabbling with the making of a few commercials side by side out there I had come to India and joined the army but from day one I was itching to do something creative. Over here, I mean in the Army Club’s cantonment arena they used to show us the VHS of Hindi & English films. And so I slowly got drifted into the realms of the magic of Bollywood movies.

Did you face any objections from your family, when you decided to opt for a career in the film industry?

None whatsoever as I had already tried my hands at making commercials in UK & US I decided to follow my passion in India too. So when I reached the Indian shores I instantly decided to make commercials and I ended up doing the commercials of branded products like Lakme, Maruti, Garnier et al.

So your real claim to fame has been in the arena of the commercials & the music videos. Tell us something about your past work!

As said earlier I made commercials and the making of music videos came much later. On the flip side I also started making enough grounds for making my debut Hindi film. Besides I have already told you about the branded commercials I had done.

When did you decide to direct a Hindi feature film?

I had come to Mumbai in the year 2001. Then I took some time to establish myself by making commercials & music videos. And then I planned the making of my debut feature film in Hindi. No doubt it was an offbeat film named ‘Manorma Six Feet Under’. I had initially planned to make ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’ with Irfan Khan, but the initial producer who had come on board jus backed out at the last moment. And since the project was getting delayed day by day Irfan khan too started becoming busy and he too opted out. But finally ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’ hit the celluloid silver screen in the year 2006.

You directed ‘NH10’ after a gap of 8 years. What was the reason behind it?

You see it so happened that ‘Manorama Six Feet Under bagged a lot of critical appreciation but could not hit the bull’s eye at box office. I did have to make serious efforts to bag my 2nd project. And then when I landed up the project named ‘NH10’ its pre – production planning took a lot of time and finally it went on the floors.

How did you plan ‘NH10’?

After the initial pre – production planning like getting the script and stars on board which also included the rece of the locales on the National Highway 10 which also included seeking of the requisite Governmental permissions to shoot. And since it was the debut project for Anushka as a producer we all were trying to make extra efforts for its success both artistically & commercially.

’NH10’ was a perfect balance of realistic & commercial cinema, touching the subject of honour killing in a very different way. Have you done any effort to make the film commercially viable?

No we did not take any effort in this direction. We had landed up a good subject for ‘NH10’ so we tried to present the theme as realistically as possible. We did not temper with it nor did we try to decorate it with the usual commercial trappings of songs, dances and the usual masala entertainment. It was a story based on the true events. With no lecture baazi and it was not even preachy. A simple story told simply, of course retaining the hardcore gruesomeness as far as possible.

How was it working with Anushka Sharma?

It was a pleasure working with her. I would say that she is a fantastic actress. Not only these, she is equally sincere & dedicated actress. The film was shot mostly in night shift but never once did she complain and above all she is a wonderful producer never even once asking how the film is shaping up. There were no objections or obstacles whatsoever raised from her side. It was a smooth sailing all the way.

It is heard that members of censor board wanted a ban on ‘NH10’. Why?

Yes initially they did raise an objection stating that the film was too crude, violent & gruesome. But ultimately I convinced them by saying that it was nothing as compared to what happens in real life. And it will hardly inspire anyone to connect with such crimes. In fact it will prove to be very repulsive for them to hate such crimes.

Is thriller your favourite genre?

Yes you can say that as I enjoy making films of this genre.

If a director gives a flop in Hindi film industry, producers are generally afraid to sign his / her next project. What are your comments on it?

It’s true. Tell me why they would take risk on such flop directors. But one fine day such directors too, get a 2nd time to prove their directorial prowess but it takes a lot of convincing powers to make them to back your project. Directors do find someone who can put their belief in them.

In Hindi industry, cinema with stars is preferred more than the cinema of content. What are your comments on it?

Yes I think so and I totally agree with you. But of late content driven films are proving to be a lot more successful.

Are you looking forward to work with any big star?

Yes of course If they come forward and believe in my kind of cinema. Or else I am happy with my content driven films starring mini stars or debutante actors.

So what is next on your directorial cards?

A lot more which I can’t reveal at this stage. Suffice it to say that concrete & productive talks are going on with 2 to 3 producers.