'Production
Is
Not
Just
About
The
Money'
Q.
As
an
actor
in
front
of
the
camera
and
now
as
the
capacity
of
a
producer
in
Soorma,
which
of
the
two
roles
do
you
find
more
challenging?
A.
Hands
down
producer.
(laughs)
I
have
so
much
respect
for
producers
after
doing
Soorma.
It's
not
just
about
the
money
but
I
think
it's
about
patience
and
the
amount
you
want
to
believe
in
your
project
and
take
it
through
no
matter
what.
It's
challenging
to
handle
and
manage
people.
I
never
thought
it
would
be
so
difficult.
I
think
in
the
creative
field
more
than
anyone
else,
people
come
with
certain
opinions.To
get
the
right
kind
of
people
on
board
for
project
is
the
most
important
thing.
There's
a
whole
list
on
things
that
I
have
learnt
and
is
definitely
more
challenging.
'I
Felt
A
Certain
Amount
Of
Shame
And
Guilt'
Q.
How
did
you
decide
to
become
a
producer?
A.
When
I
wasn't
really
doing
much
work
during
2014-15
as
I
wasn't
getting
the
kind
of
offers
that
I
was
looking
for,
I
started
working
on
two
stories
which
I
was
writing
at
that
point.
I
thought
somebody
would
produce
it.
It
was
a
very
vague
thing.
When
I
met
Sandeep
Singh
in
December
2014
and
heard
his
story,
I
wrote
it
down
and
met
him
couple
of
times.
I
realized
how
powerful
the
story
was
and
how
important
it
was
to
make
it
for
a
lot
of
reasons.
I
felt
certain
amount
of
shame
and
guilt
that
I
don't
know
about
this
man
at
all.
For
me
honestly,
it
was
a
little
bit
of
anger.
I
have
been
around
sportsmen
who
ain't
cricketers
and
know
how
they
are
given
step-treatment.
So,
I
thought
Soorma
was
a
very
important
film
to
make.
That's
probably
one
of
the
reasons
why
I
thought
of
becoming
a
producer
with
this
film.
I
think
I
have
to
give
full
credit
to
this
film
and
story
that
I
became
a
producer.
Q.
What
about
those
two
stories
which
you
were
writing
back
then?
Do
you
have
plans
to
act
in
them?
A.
At
that
point,
I
was
writing
those
two
scripts
thinking
that
I
would
act
in
them.
Those
are
the
characters
which
I
would
love
to
play
on
screen.
One
was
the
love
story
and
the
other
was
a
thriller. We
have
locked
the
screenplay
and
dialogues
for
one. The
work
is
going
on the
other
one. Things
were
put
on
a
backburner
after
I
met
Sandeep
Singh.
Soorma
became
a
far
more
powerful
story
than
anything
that
I
was
even
thinking
of.
'I
Chose
Not
To
Work
Instead
Of
Doing
Something
Which
I
Wouldn't
Be
Proud
Of'
Q.
You
have
been
very
selective
about
the
films
that
you
take
up.
However
these
days,
visibility
matters
a
lot
in
showbiz.
Do
you
think
there's
a
flip
side
to
you
being
so
choosy
about
your
films?
A.
You
mean
to
say
you
get
forgotten
(laughs).
I
have
taken
big
breaks
in
between.
There
was
four
and
a
half
years
first
time
and
then
two
and
half
years
the
other
time.
But
I
have
realized
that
if
you
are
doing
good
work,
people
don't
forget
you
that
easily,
if
they
have
liked
what
you
have
done
and
you
have
left
some
kind
of
a
mark.
I
have
so
thankful
to
the
audience
and
the
industry
that
they
have
not
completely
forgotten
me.
If
you
do
good
work,
you
remain
relevant.
It's
not
important
that
you
have
to
keep
doing
something
or
the
other
to
remain
relevant.
That's
my
take.
I
wasn't
really
getting
the
offers
that
I
was
looking
for
or
the
kind
of
people
I
wanted
to
work
with
at
that
point.
So,
I
just
chose
not
to
work
instead
of
doing
the
kind
of
work
I
wouldn't
be
proud
of.
'Women
Introspect
All
The
Time'
Q.
Looking
back
at
your
journey
so
far,
do
you
ever
feel
that
perhaps
you
should
have
done
more
commercial
mainstream
films
or
you
are
just
happy
with
how
things
have
panned
out
for
you
so
far?
A.
Women
introspect
all
the
time.
(laughs)
I
was
going
through
certain
professional
and
personal
issues
at
that
point.
I
wasn't
doing
such
a
good
job
of
handling
both
things.
I
chose
what
I
needed
to.
I
think
that's
why
the
professional
bit
took
a
little
bit
of
a
backseat.
But
that
was
the
best
that
I
could
do
at
that
point.
I
don't
think
I
was
this
superwoman
who
could
do
everything.
So,
I
really
don't
have
any
regrets
as
such
because
I
don't
think
I
had
a
choice.
I
am
that
kind
of
person
who
needs
to
be
feeling
at
peace
and
settled
inside
on
my
personal
space
to
be
able
to
concentrate
on
other
things
that
I
have
to
do
professional.
Acting
is
a
very
demanding
career.
It
isn't
not
something
where
you
just
walk
around.
It's
very
important
to
remain
focused
and
be
there
at
the
right
time
when
something
comes
your
way.
I
do
know
I
have
missed
on
a
couple
of
things
when
I
wasn't
here.
So,
I
know
some
people
were
looking
for
me
and
reached
out
to
me
at
that
point.
I
cannot
reveal
much
about
them
now
but
there
were
these
two
very
big
important
films
that
I
could
have
been
a
part
of
at
that
time.
Q.
You
said
that
it's
more
important
for
you
to
be
feeling
at
peace
inside.
How
did
you
manage
to
achieve
that?
A.
I
was
going
through
certain
situations
in
my
personal
space
at
that
point.
You
have
to
handle
things
as
you
go.
It
takes
time
for
you
to
come
in
terms
with
those
things
and
be
a
stronger
person.
It
takes
a
while
for
you
to
change
your
priorities
in
life.
Especially
when
it
comes
to
me.
There
are
a
lot
of
people
who
are
very
blessed
to
be
very
focused
on
their
profession
and
remain
very
driven
which
is
great.
However
it
takes
some
time
for
you
to
make
that
kind
of
a
switch
if
you
are
not
instinctively
that
kind
of
a
person.
Q.
You
have
a
very
good
work
equation
with
Sudhir
Mishra
and
have
acted
in
three
of
his
films.
In
future,
have
you
thought
of
asking
him
to
direct
one
of
your
films
as
a
producer?
A.
He's
somebody
whom
I
respect
immensely.
He's
the
reason
why
I
am
here.
I
would
be
more
than
happy
to.
But
I
would
be
so
nervous
to
approach
him
as
a
producer
because
he's
who
is.
I
respect
him
so
much.
If
there
is
one
thing
which
I
could
wish
we
could
put
together
again
would
be
Meherunnisa.
It's
a
film
that
Sudhir
has
been
wanting
to
make
for
such
a
long
time.
I
worked
on
my
character
in
that
film
so
much.
If
God
willing,
that's
a
miracle
I
would
wish
for.
Q.
Now
that
you
have
become
a
producer,
any
chances
of
you
directing
a
film?
A.
Hahaa,
I
will
freaking
die
if
I
direct
and
produce.
No
ya,
that's
too
far.
I
am
not
saying
there's
an
age
for
you
to
start
directing.
People
as
young
as
20
year
old
are
directing.
But
I
think
you
just
need
to
feel
ready
for
it.
It
will
be
just
natural
if
it
happens
to
me.
'If
You
Have
A
Good
Story,
It's
Half
The
Battle
Won'
Q.
With
Soorma,
you
have
joined
the
likes
of
Anushka
Sharma,
Priyanka
Chopra,
Dia
Mirza
as
actresses
who
have
turned
producers.
But
as
your
first
film,
you
have
chosen
a
very
intense
subject.
Did
this
thought
never
cross
your
mind
that
maybe
I
should
do
this
later
and
make
my
production
debut
with
a
more
commercial
film?
A.
I
think
a
good
story
is
the
mantra
for
success.
It's
not
like
if
you
make
commercial
films
or
love
stories
or
just
add
an
item
song,
then
it
will
become
a
success.
A
good
story
is
like
a
gem
these
days.
If
you
have
that,
it's
half
the
battle
won.
'Sanjay
Dutt
Is
The
Kindest
&
Nicest
Person
That
I
Have
Met
In
This
Industry'
Q.
You
are
working
with
Sanjay
Dutt
in
Saheb
Biwi
Aur
Gangster
3.
How
has
that
experience
been
for
you?
A.
It's
been
lovely.
It's
been
so
joyous
to
work
with
him.
He's
the
kindest
and
nicest
person
that
I
have
met
in
this
industry.
I
have
been
a
fan
of
Sanju.
When
you
are
in
the
industry,
you
hear
stories
about
him
of
how
he
was
when
he
was
growing
up
and
then
you
get
to
work
with
this
man.
He's
a
very
quiet
person.
But
there's
this
aura
about
him.
When
I
started
working
with
him,
I
realized
he
is
such
like
a
child.
There's
a
purity
about
him.