Kangana Ranaut has opted for the unconventional yet again. However, this time it isn’t for a role. The actress has crossed over to ‘the other side’ of the camera and has turned director. And no, she hasn’t retired from her acting career just yet.
Sources reveal that the actress’ directorial debut is a short film, written in collaboration with an Australian writer. The as-yet-untitled short (in post-production) has been shot in Los Angeles with an all-American cast and crew and deals with a complex subject involving a dog and a four-year-old boy.
Kangana Ranaut said that the decision to direct was well thought out and came to light “after meeting Hollywood biggies during one of my recent trips to Los Angeles. And things just fell into place.”
Kangana Ranaut wanted to be well prepared and held plenty of workshops and also delved a bit into child psychology to help connect with the character of the kid in the film. She reveals, “It took six months of thorough groundwork. I was advised not to work with kids and animals, but my script demanded it. Kaden (the boy) is very little. We had to place hidden cameras, play games, and pretend to be aliens and trees in order to get him in the frame (laughs)! But it was fun, he is adorable. The dog was well-trained and not difficult to work with”.
The actress further added, “We intend to send the film for international festivals, but as of now, I am concentrating on finishing the editing and visual effects. That’s the only thing on my mind before I leave for Paris for my next acting schedule.” When asked, what she loved more — acting or directing — she replies, “This is like asking me to choose between apples and oranges… I love them both in a unique way…. But working with an international cast and crew was an amazing experience.”
Kangana expressed gratitude to her director friends back home who gave her much-needed support and constantly stayed in touch, encouraging her even as she went about making the short at the beginning of this month.
Currently working on six films with prestigious banners and having tight schedules and back-to-back shifts, Kangana Ranaut concluded, “Well, this has been an experience that I will always cherish.”
