New Delhi: Criticism can be humble and without hatred, filmmaker Hansal Mehta says, who is advised not to be vocal on social media, but believes that it is important to speak in someone’s mind.
Mehta is known for films like “Shahid”, “Aligarh”, “City Lights” and “The Buckingham Murds” and hits Oats like “Scam” and “Scoop”, one of the most vocal and active members online from the film fraternity, whether he is talking about Hindi cinema or talking about his comments.
“I have been asked not to be vocal on social media, but whatever I say is without maliciousness. It is for great good. It is not negative or derogatory. Criticism can be humble and civilized,” Mehta told PTI on the occasion of Cinemator International Film Festival (CIFF) 2025, which was conquered on Sunday.
Asked if he is concerned about whether the social media discourse often lacks nuances and it can be negative, Mehta said that he does not let it affect it.
“I do it in my own way. If you understand, well, if not, it is still fine. But the truth is that, speaking your mind is important.
There is a lot of conversation about how the Hindi film industry is going through a crisis, in which the producers are not ready to take risks. But Mehta said that he quietly believes in working in his own way through problems.
“You have to be smart about it. The budget is correct to reduce the risk … things will succeed and they will fail. But do you have your best performance? You have to ask this question and I keep doing this with myself.”
Filmmaker’s stories, both films and shows, have mapped contemporary upheaval in the society whether this is the murder of advocate-activist Shahid Azmi, after a sting operation after the suicide of Professor Ramchandra Siras of Aligarh Muslim University, after a sting operation, stories of their sexual oriented stories, Harshad Mehim Tele or Journalist. Seven years later, Dey and acquitted.
Mehta said that he is focusing on the time he experiences it.
He said, “My effort is for our time and people in those times for decisions without their truth, lies and good packages,” he said.
“As an artist, somewhere we, who are chronic to the characters of our time, can document the discretion of the nation.
Regarding finding themselves in a challenging period where the ecosystem is not suited to creativity, Mehta said that it has always been the case.
Also read: ‘Physically assaulted me …’ Hansal Mehta supported Kunal Kamra amid controversy
“Establishment changes from time to time.
“This is the work of installation to suppress the common voice so that the limit is always there, but somewhere we have to find a way to work within it. The only way to do it is what I can do, budget, I can tell stories, but how I can reduce risks,” he said.
In January, the director launched its production company True Story Films on the board along with producer Sahil Vyagal and Parag Sanghavi along with producer Sahil Vyagal.
Mehta is currently busy with his ambitious project “Gandhi” and “Scam” and “Scoop” in the later season of the show. His company recently announced adaptation of the Sri Lankan comedy “Tentingo”.
The Punjabi film directed by filmmaker Shashank Walia is also supporting the film “Hanere de Panchi”. The film is supported by Molly Singh, who also acts in the film and Walia’s wife Reema Kaur. It was part of 22 market projects in the festival’s cinev-CHD.
Mehta said that they are manufacturing all kinds of stories including mainstream cinema, but in their own way.
“We have mainly begun to produce to create an environment where we focus on development and writing, nurture scripts and stories and look at them. The basic belief in the power of cinema to tell stories. This is the main objective in the power of cinema.
