Interview with Reema Kagti in Mumbai. Published in North East Sun, Delhi

Interview in Mumbai

Published in North East Sun in Delhi

I would love to make films on Assam: Reema Kagti

Working with Bollywood biggies is not a new thing for Reema Kagti. After a long innings as an assistant director, she is all set to release her debut Hindi film. Reema is nervous but equally positive.

A film buff since her childhood, Reema Kagti was born in Digboi, Assam, on September 8, 1972, and educated in Shillong, Delhi and Bombay. After a social communications media post-graduate diploma she started to work in films in the capacity of an assistant director.

Reema's first job was with Rajat Kapoor in Private Detective and the national award winning Hypnothesis. She had it in her mind that the film industry was sooner or later going to change its mode of production and switch over to sync sound films shot in one schedule. Hence, she was selective about her projects and worked only with filmmakers who were paving the way for a new generation. Her list was high-profile: Kaizad Gustad's Bombay Boys, Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan, Honey Irani's Armaan, Mira Nair's Vanity Fair and Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya.

Reema assisted Farhan in all his projects, including commercials and videos. When she wrote her script for Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., her debut Hindi feature film, Farhan was keen to see it made and to see her branch out as a director. Excel Entertainment was formed in 1999 by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar offered to produce her first film, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.

Now, Reema is anxiously waiting for her film, which is set for release on February 23. "The film is a humorous take on love and marriage. Six middle class couples go on a package honeymoon tour to Goa," says the scriptwriter and the director.

How did the idea of a script like this happen? "I had written one of the tracks in the film as a short story years ago. In a very tongue-in-cheek way, the story questions the conventional concept of perfect love. Much later, I got the idea to develop it as a feature script and added all the other tracks set against the backdrop of a package honeymoon tour."

When asked about something memorable during the whole experience of making her debut film she says, "There have been so many things going on that it's difficult to isolate one incident. Making this film has taken over my life for the past three years and has been a wonderful experience."

After Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd., she is planning to direct a script that Zoya Akhtar and she will co-write and which will be produced by Excel. "It's very premature to talk about it yet."

Like any other first timer it was difficult for Reema to select the cast or find a producer. "It was probably so because my script is very unconventional and it's difficult for a first-time director to convince actors and producers about something different."

It is very surprising and interesting to learn that Reema had no formal training. "I have learnt what I know from hands-on experience and watching films obsessively."

She has loved films ever since she was a kid. In her late teenage years, she decided that she would make films one day. For that Reema obviously faced hurdles at the initial stage of her career, but she was very positive. "Everyone does (face troubles) when they try and do something. The important thing is to not get bogged down by them. Perseverance does really pay off."

Reema thinks that development is the one big glaring difference between her native place Assam and Mumbai and feels the government should really focus on developing the North-East.

It has been two years since Reema last visited Assam. She gets nostalgic when she remembers her childhood. "My parents have a farm near a small town called Borhapjan. I have lived out of Assam for several years but it will always be home to me."

"I think some very interesting films have come out of Assam. Someday I would also love to make films in and about Assam." Reema says.

It's not that Reema thinks only about her films all the time. This film buff also has interesting hobbies like reading, writing, chess, cooking, music and video games.

Reema has many unfulfilled dreams and she thinks her memorable moment is still to come.

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