Directors Roundtable | Anupama Chopra | The Hollywood Reporter India | Presented By District

In this compelling Directors' Roundtable presented by The Hollywood Reporter India, Anupama Chopra sits down with six of Indian cinema's most exciting filmmakers: Mohit Suri, Dominic Arun, Neeraj Ghaywan, Reema Kagti, Rohan Kanawade, and Rahul Ravindran.

The conversation delves deep into the craft of filmmaking - from the hardest shots they've ever attempted to the emotional toll of directing vulnerable performances. The directors open up about the lonely process of writing, the pressure of following up success, and the ongoing struggle to get audiences into theaters for non-blockbuster films. Highlights include Reema Kagti's account of directing through a deeply personal scene, Dominic Arun's reflections on Lokah's unexpected blockbuster success, and a candid discussion about whether mass moments can be "cooked" or only stumbled upon organically.

The roundtable also tackles the economics of independent cinema in India, the challenge of competing with tent-pole releases, and what it means to make films that endure beyond opening weekend numbers. Punctuated with humor, vulnerability, and genuine camaraderie, this conversation offers a rare window into the minds of filmmakers shaping contemporary Indian cinema.

00:00 Introduction
02:28 Welcome and opening remarks
02:48 Hardest shot/scene to execute
05:50 Dominic on technical challenges in Lokah
06:52 Neeraj on the climax bridge scene
09:39 Reema on the door sequence in Superboys of Malegaon
13:10 Rohan on casting the grandmother/grandfather character
17:48 Neeraj on the 10-year gap in the features
20:35 Discussion: Is writing harder than directing?
22:03 Killing your darlings - letting go of scenes
27:47 Music as screenplay vs. no background score
31:21 Can directors show doubt on set?
44:46 Handling success and unexpected moments
57:04 The struggle of finding audiences and touching moments
1:08:02 Theater experience - last film that felt magical
1:16:46 Rapid fire
1:31:09 What's next for each director
1:35:56 Closing remarks and sign-offs

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