Khaitan is now preparing to release his latest film, Dhadak, which is an adaptation of the blockbuster Marathi film Sairat (2016).
I budget a film in such a manner that it does not fail: Shashank Khaitan
Mumbai - 16 Jul 2018 11:00 IST
IANS
He started directing films with Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania in 2014, and then followed it up with Badrinath Ki Dulhania three years later. Now as his third movie Dhadak is ready to be released, Shashank Khaitan prefers being slow and steady in his way of working.
He says it is essential to spend more time on pre-production to finish a film within the given budget.
"I have worked as an assistant for years and I made a film that never released before Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. I lost a lot of money in that. It taught me what are the things one should not do while making a film. Perhaps, that is why I do not rush into a film, and rather spend more time writing the film.
"I try to ensure that my producer should not lose money on the film I am directing," Khaitan told IANS, a news agency in an interview.
"I budget a film in such a manner so that it does not fail. I work on every detail so that when I am going on the film set, it is just about execution," he added.
Both his earlier films are set in a small town, revolve around a boy-girl love story, and it seems the director is trying to find a space in this genre. However, Dhadak is the first time Khaitan has attempted to adapt the story of a successful Marathi film Sairat (2016).
Is he open to the comparison which is inevitable?
"Yes, I am. The fact is I am trying to contemporise the genre of love stories with my original writing. I have done that in two of my earlier films. But when I watched 'Sairat', I realised the film that I was planning to write has a similarity with this story. So I thought of making it as an official adaptation.
"There are many elements in Sairat that inspired me and I wanted to incorporate them in my story. Just because I enjoy writing an original story, I cannot be dishonest to the story I am taking inspiration from. So our Dhadak is quite similar to Sairat, yet there are a few different elements that the audience will find out once they watch the film," he said.
Dhadak, releasing on 20 July, addresses the class issue and honour killing. It features Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, who are making their Hind film debut with the Karan Johar production.
