July 31, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Dibakar Banerjee left on Tuesday for the Melbourne International Film Festival where Love Sex Aur Dhokha is being screened in a special section called ‘Not Quite Hollywood’. He regrets not having his producer Ekta Kapoor along. Immersed in the release of her new film Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, Ekta has regrettably given the an honor a miss.
But Dibakar has a very special gift for his producer. A new love story written specially for Ekta’s Balajee Films, presented to her as a belated birthday present (Ekta turned a year older on June 7).
Irresistible is how Dibakar Banerjee describes his collaboration with Ekta Kapoor. After the luminously lauded LSD the unlikely twosome Dibakar and Ekta are all set to come together again for what promises to be the most intense love story of 2011.
At home with his daughter Ira, Dibakar now is in domesticated and mellow frame of mind. He has been quietly penning the love story for his demanding producer.
Says Dibakar, “See, Ekta is dream producer. When we came together for LSD we never thought we’d be able to work so well together. She gave me a free rein. I was in a totally happy frame of mind making LSD. Even if its impact was not what it is, I’d have still gone back to Ekta to make a film”.
Ekta had a pre-condition for Dibakar. “She wanted me to return to her only when I’ve a true blue love story to make”.
The love story will go on the floors in the second-half of 2011. For now Dibakar watches LSD acquire a life of its own. He leaves for Melbourne where LSD is being screened along with Aamir Khan‘s Peepli Live and Abhishek Choubey’s Ishqiya in the ‘Not Quite Hollywood’ section.
Says the enthused director, “It is quite a triumph for Indian cinema to have different kind of films being recognized. But we have a long struggle ahead”.
Dibakar and LSD’s associate producer Priya Aven would also be participating in a discussion on digital cinema.
And if you think Dibakar’s trip to Melbourne is only about the business of cinema he’s also taking his wife and daughter Ira to Melbourne.
“If I don’t find ways of spending time with Ira I’d soon be left with no time for her”, grumbles dad Dibakar.
— Subhash K. Jha/Sampurn Wire
