In this exclusive interview, actor-filmmaker-producer Deepankar Prakash tells JYOTHI VENKATESH for FILMYTOWN.com what inspired a middle class young guy like him to take to making films.
Here is Deepankar Prakash to FilmyTown.com:
How would you rate the recently held 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival 2025 where your film Shanti Niketan was showcased?
BIFF was a well organised International film festival, like Ajanta Ellora International Film Festival was.
What inspired you to make your directorial venture Shanti Niketan?
Basically, it was the life story of a friend that inspired me to make my film Shanti Niketan. Keeping in mind the language of Cinema, especially as a middle class guy, I could easily relate to the story as a filmmaker.
What exactly is your film all about?
My film Shanti Niketan is about a young and diligent man called Ravi who is in his mid-30’s, who shoulders the responsibilities of caring for his ailing parents after the sad demise of his old parents. I can assure you that each and every viewer will be able to relate to my film as he or she will be able to identify with the proceedings in the film
Go on!
Growing up in a modest middle class household, Ravi learns the value of duty very early on in his life. However, the weight of his immense responsibilities do take a very big toll on him and his life and he becomes increasingly isolated from everyone in society, sacrificing his own happiness and relationships to meet the needs of his family.
Then?
Despite all, a sudden financial crisis pushes Ravi on to his limits and the story ends unexpectedly, leaving the viewers to contemplate the complexities of human relationships and the resilience of the human spirit.
Can you elucidate in detail?
My film is based on the responsibilities the pressure of society entails on a responsible human being.
How many days did it take you to complete the shooting of your film Shanti Niketan?
It took me around 23 days to wrap up my entire shooting on a modest budget of around 30 lakhs of rupees in Rajasthan.
How do you plan to recover the costs that you have invested in your film?
I have already recovered around 50% of my costs thanks to the subsidy that I received from the Rajasthan government.
Were you very passionate about becoming a filmmaker in the first place? Why did you not try to make it as an actor?
That is because I am really very happy off camera. Frankly, I am an accidental filmmaker. Professionally, I was actually playing cricket as well as painting. I did not know what vocation I should pursue.
Deepankar Prakash’s interview continues…
How did you end up as a filmmaker?
Though I find Cinema to be a little monotonous, it was Amit Dutta who inspired me to make a film. When I visited his shooting of Nayan Sukh, it struck me that I too can set out to make films but at the same time, I also have decided not to limit myself as a filmmaker by making the same kind of films over and over again.
As an independent filmmaker, why didn’t you set out to seek a loan from NFDC to make films?
Definitely, I think it is very difficult for independent filmmakers to raise funds from the NFDC to make films. I did not want to go on waiting for the NFDC to make my films. And luckily, Michael Grove, who is right now also making Ramayan, stepped in to help me make Shanti Niketan as the producer.
Did you not think of making an out and out commercial film as a director?
Before I set out to make Shanti Niketan, I had also made an art film called Nanera when I realised that you will be able to survive as a filmmaker in the commercial scenario, only if you set out to make films which are commercial. Right now, after Shanti Niketan, I am in the process of making an out and out commercial film in Hindi with stars like Anupam Kher. I am planning to start the shoot in April this year.
Why do you want to make a film in the first place?
As a filmmaker, I want to follow the process of the trial and error method. I like Annu Kapoor, Shoojit Sarkar, Pushpendar Singh and Rima Das
Who are your favourite actors?
My favourites range from Manoj Bajpayee, Kay Kay Menon, Vijay Verma, Rajkummar Rao, Tabu and last but not the least Irrfan Khan, who was also from Jaipur.
That’s what Deepankar Prakash revealed to Jyothi Venkatesh.
