Jo jaisa dikhta hai.. wo waisa bikta hai.. – Sanjay Khanduri

Sanjay Khanduri is not a Film Maker who likes to take ‘Easy’ roads. Five years after the ‘Cult’ classic ‘Ek Chalis Ki Last Local‘ which gave Abhay Deol and Neha Dhupia totally another respectable standing in Bollywood, Sanjay returned with KLPD (Kismet Love Paisa Dilli).

But despite of being a well made film with spicy twist and turns, KLPD (Kismet Love Paisa Dilli) failed to attract audiences. Sanjay Khanduri the writer and director of the film shares his Pain, Love, Struggle and Passion one on one with Faisal Saif.

Sanjay Khanduri, The world doesn’t know..

Well, I am a very straight forward and a simple life living person. I ‘Worship’ cinema. I am here today only because of it.

The process of making Ek Chalis Ki Last Local..

As it was my first film so it was really not easy to convince producers for even a small budget film like Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. I had to go through a very painful struggle. There were lot of people with fake promises. But fortunately, There were people who believed in me and had confidence that I will make a good film.

Looking back at the super success of Ek Chalis Ki Last Local..

It came as a slow revelation. I was very happy and it was really unbelievable that Ek Chalis Ki Last Local turned out to be such a big money-spinner specially in DVD and satallite. It gave lot of people a respectable stand in Bollywood along with me. I am really thankful to the people who supported me and stood beside me no matter what. Without this team work, this would had been impossible.

We heard KLPD (Kismet Love Paisa Dilli) was a Re-Awakening of Ek Chalis Ki Last Local..

(Smiles) I had wrote this script and titled it ‘Gyarah Chalis Ki Last Metro’. ..Where did you got this news from?

While watching the film, I could easily imagine Abhay Deol (Once Again) in Lokesh’s part..

(Laughs) Yes you are right. KLPD was written and executed as ‘Gyarah Chalis Ki Last Metro’. It was suppose to be of same franchise. The pillars of the story were intentionally kept the same. One night, Two strangers meeting, Entangling themselves into web of deceit. Only the city and story got changed. Earlier it was Mumbai, Now it was Delhi.

And Abhay Deol..

I admit, I had Abhay in my mind while conceiving and writing as he was part of my first franchise.

What ‘Exactly’ went wrong with KLPD.. It was a staire on corruption but ..?

Lot of small things mis-handled cumulated. I will start with myself. I should have reduced teen college mischevious humor in 1st half. Some critics and elder-lies didn’t see it our way and felt offended. I didn’t want that.

But there was far more than that in lot of recent films like Kya Super Cool and Delhi Belly?

Smile.. Today film making is not about writers and directors.. it is about who are standing behind the film. The first 3 days belong to the backers and writer’s director’s job starts from Monday. If film is good it will pick up. But for that pick up you need word of mouth and for word of mouth you need theaters. We got 2, 3 shows out of 16 shows in a multiplex and we ran out of budgets for promotions a week before release.

Do you think really promotion of a film matters so much..?

Yes it does. ‘Jo jaisa dikhta hai.. wo waisa bikta hai..’.. You see content comes to people on friday. But promotions are absorbed by public to make opinions weeks before. Wrong promotions, wrong title and positioning of the film lead us to doom.

And you could not change it?

As a director you are vested with powers to only shoot and script. You can opiniate but not change. It really is sad and shattering when suddenly people with false promises convince you they know all at the back of hand. We went wrong from the first step. The ‘Trailers’ of the film were designed to make it look like a sex comedy though film was a whacky satire on corruption. Promo had revealed content which was not acceptable to viewer sitting at home on TV. It is different when you are in a dark hall enjoying the film. Plus, The Title.. I think people tried and stayed away purposely because of the title Kismet Love Paisa Dilli promoted only as ‘KLPD’. They thought this one to be another wanabe Youth-Indian-American Pie-Sleaze coming from the maker who made a Ek Chalis Ki Last Local.

Did you really get a response.. there are some critics who actually liked it too..

Ya some really did like it too. One gets to know only when you see comments on websites, specially comments below the critic’s review. The ones who have seen the film have a totally different take on the film. I’m just happy film is connecting to those managing to watch. We have more than 40000 hits on YouTube on film in just 5 days which is unbelievable.. and with great user reviews. Though somebody needs to stop this film display on YouTube.

If given you a Time Machine to go back and re-start KLPD, What will you do?

(Laughs again) I will First title it back to ‘Gyarah Chalis Ki Last Metro’. Probably make film with new comers at lower budgets. I will take at least 3 to 5 months to design a decent promotion and slot funds for promotion of the film. Integrate cinema litrates in my content process by screening film to them and layman. Give my film to a studio who can release it big. Rest, I would leave it to the Audiences.

Next film from Sanjay Khanduri..

Well.. I have finished two scripts. Ideas is not to wait long. One is a high concept small budgeted and other big budgeted action. I am starting to cast for one in a week or so. But most importantly, I would now collaborate with people who keep faith in film content and me and keep me integrated even after the film is completed. I will not let anyone hold any guns on my head this time. I have realized that it’s my name at stake above anybody’s.