Why did you decide to direct your first feature film on a lesser-known topic like body dysmorphic disorder?

I teach drama at IIT Mumbai and am also a judge at its annual Mood Indigo Festival. Last December, I saw a street play on body dysmorphia there and was moved to realise how it affects the mental health of those who suffer in silence.

I researched the topic extensively and learned that this debilitating condition can affect anyone of any age, especially the teenage years, when people see themselves distorted and ugly in the mirror. They don’t really know or realize how they look, but they imagine things and either avoid looking in the mirror or spend money on cosmetics in an attempt to look better. Ironically, their mind shows them a different version of themselves.

How did you select the cast and develop your script?

I am trained in the Meisner technique of Barbara Merchant and have my own Indriyaan theatre group which I founded in 2017. I have developed acting techniques and conduct regular workshops to teach participants how to act without ‘acting’. Titiksha is one of my students who put her soul into the role of Ahana broken mirror, Bringing to life the complexities and emotions related to the dysmorphic condition.

The film is the story of a teenage girl whose parents are divorced and who is bullied in school. The girl dreams of becoming a theatre artist but is suffering from BDD due to slimming clips on Insta and societal beauty standards. She worries about her yellow teeth, her skin, and is obsessed with her face. She pleads with her mother to understand her as she feels she is going through some abnormal condition. But her mother fails to understand her and Ahana gets panic attacks.

It is very important for a mother or any person to tell their child that she is beautiful. In the film, a theatre teacher plays the role after Ahana succeeds in the audition. It takes her 23 years from recovery to acceptance; it is a story of hope, resilience and the healing power of self-love.

And there’s a message in it too…

Yes, it is about recognising BDD as a cognitive behavioural disorder and seeking treatment. Unfortunately, there is not much awareness even among doctors and people suffering from BDD are not vocal. They often lock themselves in the dark, wear masks or live in delusions. This is why many cases do not get cured and end up on the mental health spectrum.

Tell us a little more about your work

I don’t make films to entertain. I make films to shake and awaken people. In every such film you need a story in which the main character is struggling, but then it cannot be shown for long.

Due to lack of funds, I made short films, but I feel they did not yield any profit. Short films are shared based on the revenue, they rarely sell. So, this time I decided to make a two-hour format feature film for profit as it gave me a chance to explore. The recognition is better and it is easier for filmmakers to sell a film or finance their film on a low budget.

Why have you directed two of your films in English?

The first short film I directed was Crossroad, Highlighted abandonment issues. I did a lot of reading and, for example, found that there are 21 ways to touch a child to show him love and affection. Every child needs physical and emotional affection until the age of six. But often parents get busy and children’s emotional needs are overlooked; and their feelings continue to manifest in different ways through their academic lives, professional careers, love relationships and divorce. I myself have gone through similar problems and had to seek therapy. I understand how difficult it is to connect.

Crossroad Dedicated to every such child going through emotional ups and downs; I acted on my instincts to make a short English indie for an international audience. And I am glad that the film won several awards last year including Best Director at Montreal Shorts and Jaisalmer International Film Festival in Canada; Best Short Film at Tagore International Film Festival (TIFF) and Outstanding Achievement Award at Indie Short Fest, LA.

Tell us about your other films?

I made it Hathak A film based on prostitution that won the Best Short Film at Cannes Shorts in 2023 and Best Actress at TIFF the same year. Freewill is about a young farmer who has to travel far away to get his father’s cancer treated for free at a government hospital. But he has to spend money on medicines and accommodation there; this upsets him as he sees people spending money on unnecessary things and not thinking about the needs of the needy. He strangles his father to free him from misery and penury.

What’s the plan ahead?

I’m finishing my fourth indie short titled Pather KathaIt is the story of a village boy who has a lisp and gets angry when people make fun of him. He leaves for the city and after many rejections and a lot of struggle, a girl helps him overcome his problems and develop the power to forgive and move from self-hatred to self-acceptance.

I am also planning to expand my first short film Crossroad in a complete facility.