Director Sayan Basu Chowdhury’s new film Nerve is set to hit theatres in April. Starring Akshay Arun, Rupsha Mukhopadhyay and Ananya Guha in lead roles, the film is about the unconditional love of siblings and how sometimes that extreme love can devour the person you love the most. A t2 chat with Sayan.

Why did you decide to direct this film?

Along with the concept, the interesting star cast of the film also attracted me. None of them have ever worked with each other and the film also featured a debutant in a lead role. This interesting mix of characters along with a truly strong script is what attracted me the most.

Tell us more about the cast.

Rupsha is a prominent face in the Bengali industry and Ananya is a renowned TV actor. However, this is Akshay Arun’s first venture as an actor and he was selected through an audition.

What are their strengths as actors?

Both Rupsha and Ananya are immaculate performers as both have been working for a long time. Akshay was a fast learner and his strength lies in his dedication to the art.

What are the high points of the film?

The high point of the movie is its script and the unconventional mix of actors. Nerve has one of the best storylines I have ever worked on. So I’m confident that the plot will work with the audience heavily. The film doesn’t have a conventional storyline of a boy-meets-girl type plot. Rather it is a complex story between two sisters and the love they share.

What are you trying to say through the film?

How extreme love and affection for a person can slowly turn into poison.

How was the shooting experience?

The shooting experience was really great. Everyone was top-notch with their dedication. Akshay lived far away from the city so every day he had to travel a lot to reach the shooting location. The biggest challenge we faced was a short schedule. The last two days had a huge number of scenes remaining. So we shot all day and night to finish the movie. However, all the artistes and technicians were really supportive from their end and they cooperated a lot.

Why the title Nerve?

The lead character of this movie suffers from nerve damage due to which she is unable to walk. Thus the title Nerve.

Tell us more about the new song.

The first song of this movie, Hereche dil, is sung by Raj Barman and Prashmita Paul and the music was composed by Amit Mitra. It was shot in Prayag Film City over a period of two days under intense heat. But the song has gained popularity after release so the effort seems profitable now and we are satisfied with the initial reviews.