Writers are the real stars who give the high quality films – Kamlesh Pandey

Kamlesh Pandey, who had started his scripting career, as a writer with Pankaj Parashar’s Jalwa, has indeed come a long way. Among the films, which he has written, are Tezaab, Chalbaaz, Dil, Saudagar, Khalnayak, Beta, Zinda and many more, not forgetting the landmark film Rakyesh Mehra’s ‘Rang De Basanti’. We had a chit chat with the writer about his new film Delhi6 and his journey in the field of writing.

Why did you choose writing as your career?
I couldn’t do anything else, so I chose writing as my career option. I was poor in math’s, was not fit for defense, and didn’t have the qualities to become a doctor too and in our days there were not many options available. I used to write love letters for my friends and then I discovered myself as a writer and continued with it.

As a writer which works of yours do you consider the best?
There are many favourites, I can’t choose the best but yes some which are really special for me are Tezaab, Thoda Sa Rumaani Ho Jaye, Saudagar, Narsimha etc. I also liked writing family dramas like Beta and Dil.

How did the idea of Delhi6 come to you?
The whole idea of Delhi6 was of Rakesh. It is inspired from his own life as he used to stay in that area and he used to know the people around very well. We took the idea of monkey man and hypocrisy regarding this incident in the society in the movie. Some reference is also taken from the old movie Jaagte Raho.

Are the characters in the movie inspired by some real life characters?
Each and every character is inspired by real life characters in the movie. We have taken all the real life examples.

Upcoming ideas and films you are working on?
Right now I am working on the sequel of Mr. India. Then “Kohinoor” is another project. Then there is one movie coming “Consignment” which is based on the subject of human trafficking.

Although being the base of every film scriptwriters don’t get much of stardom like actors, directors, etc? Tell us something about that?
It’s very true we are the base of the whole film and we are the one who make an actor what he is. But actually a script writer is treated like a condom. In the industry people make the best possible use and throw them. Actually writers are the real stars who give the high quality films and stories and then too he doesn’t get much of appreciation and recognition. But if you will see Hollywood, there the writers get all the stardom what they deserve. I don’t know why we don’t get that place in Bollywood.

Delhi6 was much hyped but still it couldn’t do well at the box office. What do think is the reason behind this?
It would be too early to comment on the success or failure of Delhi6. It is a very different kind of cinema and I know we have taken a risk but we have also done a lot of research on this subject which is a serious one. I feel it should be narrated to the audience. We have targeted intellectual audience. I respect my audience and they truly deserve an intelligent film like Delhi6. These days the audience is thinking and I know Delhi6 would definitely touch the heart of audience.

Most of your works are the best of the stories. What do you keep in mind while writing a story?
All my stories come from within. It all comes from inside. They are all new and fresh and are not taken from some Hollywood films like others. What I see, what I read, what I feel, the kind of life I live, I try to portrait myself in most of the characters created by me. DJ of Rang De Basanti was actually me who was a star in his college but outside college he was just an ordinary man.

You used to be the programmer manager of Zee TV. How was your journey from television to films?
It was really a challenging task for me. When I was in Zee TV, there hardly was any private channel and Zee TV was the fastest growing channel of that time. It wasn’t my field so I left that and started doing what I love the most, writing.

Your idea of the perfect place for writing where one can get creative ideas?
I can write at any place. There is no ideal place for me. I can write in a bathroom. I can write in a mall, in most of the crowded places, its just you need to be open and should always be available for the new ideas. I am a kind of person who gets one new idea each and every day. I want to make movie on each and every idea of mine and wish that I have enough life to make my wish come true.