Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon turned a producer under the banner Blue Butterfly Films with Do Patti, a romantic thriller starring Kajol, Shaheer Sheikh alongside Kriti herself. During the campaign for the film which released on Netflix on October 25, Kriti, who is now one of the bankable B-Town actresses, spoke on her journey as a producer at length. Souvik Ghosh writes
Q. How was your journey as a producer alongside playing twin roles?
A. It was a beautiful journey. I always felt the hunger to be creatively involved other than just being an actor. There are especially some stories that touch our hearts and we feel very passionate about them. I wanted to make that shift (from actor to producer). I am glad to make that shift with Do Patti, which not only gave me my most challenging roles as an actor but also there are a lot of drama, layers, twists and turns in the story. I strongly feel for what the film says at the end.
It was a great journey to be just creatively involved with everything related to the film, from the moment of its inception to the finish. I also understood it’s not easy to produce a film. It’s a tough job (laughs). A lot of things are involved. I am really happy to have the best team involved and the best producing partner (Kanika Dhillon) with me.
Q. You yourself were in the audition in search of the actor to play the character Dhruv!
A. To be honest, it was so important to find the appropriate Dhruv because the character is multilayered and the chemistry had to work in a certain way. I was glad that I did the audition with Shaheer (Shaheer Sheikh). While I was doing the audition with him, I realised our chemistry was working and also the shades of Dhruv that he has. He was pulling it off so well.
Q. How was the reunion with Kajol after the 2015 film Dilwale?
A. I was so excited when Kanika told me that Kajol ma’am has agreed to play the role. I couldn’t believe it. Of course I have worked with her in the past. I have been a huge fan. When I watched her and Shah Rukh sir in Dilwale, I was really new to the profession. It was my second film and I was just learning on the set. But I was always in awe watching her on the screen. I just love how she just switches on and off the character and just lights up the screen every time.
I think she is getting better in the way she looks (laughs). I was particularly excited because I got an opportunity to do meaty scenes with the kind of performer Kajol ma’am is in Do Patti. Kajol ma’am might be senior and a great performer but she was approachable to make a scene beautiful.
Q. You have a sister in real life. How could you relate to that while playing the twin sisters in Do Patti?
A. Like every sibling, I do fight with my own sister, Nupur (Nupur Sanon), as well. I feel sisters also go through phases. There are times when they are best friends or don’t like each other at all. But Do Patti was very different. The kind of sisters shown in the film was also different for me to understand. It was exciting as well as challenging because it was a double role. I think the audience will see a different sibling equation in this film.
Q. Does your producer self change the way you work with other actors?
A. No, not when I am on set. I am just an actor while shooting a scene. Thankfully, I had a great producing partner in the form of Kanika Dhillon, who took care of the rest. Moreover in Do Patti, I was playing two roles so I had no way to think of anything else than acting. Having said that, I started understanding the other side, which is the producers’ side, better and their compulsions. I was aware of finishing a certain number of scenes on a particular day to avoid budget issues. I had the producer side of me waking up. (IBNS-TWF)
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