Balki in conversation with t2. Picture by Pabitra Das

Balki — the man behind Cheeni Kum and Paa — was in Calcutta on Thursday to deliver a talk at a Tea Conclave organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce. t2 caught up for a quick chat…

Good to be back in Calcutta?

I wish I could come here for all the Eden Gardens matches! Ten years ago, I used to come here almost every week when ITC used to be more active with its advertising. Last year, my wife (Gauri Shinde, who directed English Vinglish) and I were here and we went to your famous Coffee House. On that trip, we saw a lot of Calcutta we hadn’t been to before, but don’t ask me for the names because I don’t remember!

How is it having another director in the house now?

We both love films. If she was an engineer and I was a doctor, we would have still spoken about films! Gauri and I are very passionate about films.

What films did you grow up on?

Oh, hell of a lot. I remember the first film my father took me to was Marlon Brando’s Julius Caesar. Living in cosmopolitan Bangalore, I watched all kinds of cinema. I saw all of Amitabh Bachchan’s films… all of Rajinikanth’s and Kamal Haasan’s. My introduction to classic filmmakers like (François) Truffaut happened later when I was in college. At that point, I saw everything… probably stuff that even a student of cinema wouldn’t.

Today, I make it a point to watch a film a day, mostly on my treadmill. Gauri and I watch everything — from Moroccan to Marathi. I have this knack of knowing how good or bad a film is just by seeing half a scene or a second of its trailer!

If you were a critic, you would be a filmmaker’s nightmare!

No, I am not a cynical movie-watcher. I just watch films… neither do I criticise them, nor do I hype them unnecessarily. I would never criticise Rowdy Rathore because I loved it.

So while watching Amitabh Bachchan as a youngster, did you say that one day you would make a film with him?

I didn’t say that, but I definitely wanted someone to come up to me while I was walking on MG Road, hand over a suitcase to me and tell me, ‘Here is two crore, go and make a film!’ But I always knew that if I made a film, it would only be with him.

Will you always only make films with him?

I think he’s too good for anyone to force-fit him into a role. I will never cast him in something that doesn’t suit him. Fortunately, I keep coming up with ideas that make his life a little interesting (smiles). As long as he wants to make films with me, I would love to.

For a filmmaker, it’s the story; for an adman the idea. What excites you more?

Idea, because that’s where the story flows from. Not knowing English (in English Vinglish) is an idea; life begins at 60 (Cheeni Kum) was the idea for me; In Paa, I just got excited with the idea of reversing the roles — casting the son (Abhishek Bachchan) as the father and the father (Amitabh Bachchan) as the son.

How did you react when Gauri came to you with the idea of English Vinglish?

I told her, ‘Do it 100 per cent. Write it right now and start the film’.

While producing the film, was it difficult to rein in the director in you?

I respect the fact that it’s somebody else’s story and it’s coming from their heart. Being a director doesn’t qualify you to tell somebody else’s story. My mother and her mother gave Gauri inputs… I did the same. I was very happy just doing the duties as producer and making sure she was well fed (laughs).

After making two-hour films, is it now a challenge to tell a story in a 30-second ad?

It’s the same thing actually. It’s the same audience that watches a film as well as an ad… just the structure and the grammar of the mediums are different.

Two days ago, Ram Gopal Varma tweeted that your next film as director will be the film of the decade…

Ramu’s a friend and a well-wisher. I am writing something and it’s kind of him to say that. I am actually looking forward to Ramu’s Attacks of 26/11. I think it will be very good.