Director Soni Razdan (right) with Meera

Q: Why have you allowed your husband Mahesh Bhatt to take over your film?

Why do you say that? I’m on every TV channel talking about Nazar. Earlier, since he was the producer and also clued in to the Indo-Pak issue, I thought it was only fair for him to hold forth. But I’ve directed Nazar. And once people see the film I’ll get credit for it if I deserve it. I’m not worried about it. But it’s entirely my film. Mahesh was on his best behaviour. He let me be, completely. I cannot thank Mahesh and his brother Mukesh enough for giving me the responsibility.

Q: Aren’t people looking at it for all the wrong reasons?

I don’t think so. The whole idiotic controversy fortunately erupted long before the release of Nazar. I feel I’ve made a film I can be happy about. Initially, when the kissing controversy erupted I thought it was ridiculous. The whole event opened my eyes to the differing moral values in various places. The way we look at a simple kiss in Mumbai isn’t the way the rest of the world looks at it. It never occurred to me that I was shooting with a Muslim heroine and a Hindu hero. That isn’t the way my mind works. And Meera isn’t playing a Muslim Pakistani in Nazar. She’s an Indian girl named Divya.

Q: Is there a kiss in Nazar?

There was a suggestion of a kiss which I toned down after the controversy. I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments. My film’s plot didn’t hinge on the kiss. So, I said, to hell with it.

Q: Nazar has nothing to do with Indo-Pak relations?

The content has absolutely nothing to do with the Indo-Pak relations. It’s a story set in Mumbai. It’s a serial killer murder mystery with an edge of the supernatural. But this is an Indo-Pak co-production and we’re going to Pakistan [on the 20th]. The film will be premiered on Pakistan television on the 29th on Aaj TV in Pakistan.

Q: But a TV premiere isn’t a proper release!

But I see it as a huge cultural breakthrough in Pakistan. The small-screen premiere is a big step ahead for the two countries. We’re going to have lunch with President Musharraf [on the 21st] and then he’s going to see the film. We need to come together in many ways. Our artistes should be allowed to go to Pakistan just as we welcome their artistes. I’m terribly upset that my Nazar leading man Ashmit Patel hasn’t been given a visa to accompany us to Pakistan with Nazar.

Q: Why is that?

It’s a technical problem and I don’t understand it. I’m too taken up with the release of my film.

Q: Is he as pivotal to Nazar as Meera?

No. Meera is the protagonist. At the same time Ashmit Patel, Alyy Khan and Koel Purie are pivotal to the plot.

Q: Why release it with a similar sounding film, Naina?

That’s unfortunate. I guess it’s just Murphy’s Law at work here. Both the films have to do with vision. But Naina and Nazar are two different stories. It’s an open secret which film Naina is adapted from and my film isn’t at all the same. Mine is an original story. The only similarity to Naina is that the heroine sees things that others can’t.

Q: We haven’t seen an original Mahesh Bhatt production since Zakham.

Oh, my goodness! Well, there you have it. It was Mahesh’s story idea. And my screenwriter developed the idea.

Q: You’ve taken long to direct your first feature film.

Actually, I wanted to make a film called Difficult Daughters first. Of course, I’ll make it. It’s my dream project. Then Mahesh met Meera at a film festival. They decided to get together for a film. I wasn’t in the picture then. Mahesh offered me Nazar. And I couldn’t refuse it. The story was so powerful. To do this as the first film was a big challenge. It made the adrenaline flow within me.

Q: Has Meera delivered?

She has over-delivered. She has the most amazing screen presence I’ve seen any woman have in a long, long time. An actor either has the quality or doesn’t. Meera has it in plenty. I think I’m plain lucky to get this kind of a vehicle and a leading lady in my first film. I’m now in talks with UTV for another film. Not Difficult Daughters. That’s the difficult one.