Director Anubhav Sinha is renowned for his fearless and outspoken approach to filmmaking, often challenging the status quo and refusing to compromise his creative vision. His latest Netflix series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, faced initial backlash from critics demanding changes, but Sinha remained steadfast in his approach.
In an interview with casting director Mukesh Chhabra, Sinha candidly addressed the controversy, dismissing it as “gobar” and emphasising the importance of creative freedom. He highlighted the need for aspiring actors to hone their craft, citing examples of seasoned performers like Manoj Bajpayee, Kumud Mishra, and Manoj Pahwa who have achieved success through dedication and talent.
“Actors are in need of that one opportunity to showcase their talent. But are you preparing yourself for it?” asked Anubhav, who went on to explain that an actor can never truly become a good one if they don’t have the ability to think rationally. “If you haven’t read poems or know your history or understand the politics around you, then you can’t call yourself a good actor. You have to be educated.”
The director then delved into his personal life and gave a glimpse about his share of struggles with his actor friend Manoj Bajpayee. Reminiscing about the 35-year journey with the ace actor, Anubhav said, “I have known him since 1989, from the time when we had atta just for 2 rotis, and we used to share one each. Recently, he called me after watching IC 814, and spoke about it with so much happiness. He was so proud of me that he called once in the night, expressed his joy, called me back the next morning, and shared his happiness all over again.”
Expressing a mutual admiration, Anubhav shared that he was not just a friend but a fan of Manoj too. “When I see any good work he does, I feel very proud that I know him. He is the kind of an actor you’d want to work with in every film,” said Anubhav, who went on to share that they’ve never worked together despite the long-standing friendship. “He doesn’t do my films. I know his logic, and I appreciate it too. I offered him films, and in fact, I asked him for Bheed, but it just didn’t happen.”
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