Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has offered an honest glimpse into the unpredictable world of filmmaking, explaining why she believes chaos is something every director must learn to embrace. While discussing her latest film Daayra, the filmmaker said that unexpected situations are an unavoidable part of working on a film set and that teamwork is what helps a production move forward.
Her comments provide an interesting look at the human side of filmmaking, particularly when a project involves emotionally demanding material. For Meghna, managing the uncertainty behind the camera and understanding the emotions of actors are both important parts of the creative process.
Meghna Gulzar: “Chaos Has To Be Your Best Friend”
Speaking to IANS during the promotions of Daayra in Mumbai, Meghna Gulzar described chaos as an inseparable part of filmmaking. She explained that no film set can operate without unexpected situations, but a strong team can find ways to overcome them.
“Chaos has to be your best friend because there is no film set without chaos,” Meghna said, adding that the positive part is knowing how to overcome these situations as a team.
Her observation highlights the collaborative nature of cinema. From actors and cinematographers to technicians and production teams, filmmaking involves hundreds of moving parts. Even when a project is carefully planned, circumstances can change once cameras start rolling.
The Emotional Side Of Acting Also Matters
Meghna also opened up about what she has witnessed while directing actors in emotionally intense scenes. According to the filmmaker, there have been occasions when performers continued crying even after she had called “cut” because they had not yet completed the emotional journey required by the scene.
She said that actors sometimes continue to break down until they have fully released those emotions. Meghna added that this has happened in several of her films.
For a director, such moments can create a difficult balance. The filmmaker needs to remain objective enough to judge the scene and performance, while also recognising that the person in front of the camera may be going through an intense emotional experience.
When The Filmmaker Becomes Human
Meghna explained that although she remains objective and unemotional while working on set, watching an actor struggle with strong emotions can make her instinctively want to comfort them.
She described this as the moment when “the human being” in her takes over. Her comments underline the difference between directing an emotional performance and witnessing the real person behind that performance.
According to Meghna, emotional investment is unavoidable in cinema. Whether a film is based on real-life events or is completely fictional, the director and actors have to connect with the material. That emotional investment eventually becomes visible in the finished work.
Daayra Brings Meghna Back To Difficult Subjects
Meghna Gulzar’s latest film, Daayra, stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The crime thriller is inspired by true events and explores complicated questions around justice, power and the grey areas within the legal and policing system. The film is currently playing in cinemas.
In an earlier conversation with Mid-Day, Meghna explained that Daayra is based on multiple real incidents rather than one specific case. She said the story draws from several events that have occurred across the country and combines elements from them to create a broader perspective.
That approach is consistent with Meghna’s interest in stories dealing with difficult social and moral questions. Her previous films, including Talvar, Raazi and Chhapaak, have also explored emotionally and socially complex subjects.
Why Teamwork Is Important On A Film Set
Meghna’s comments also highlight an important reality of filmmaking: a director cannot control every variable. Weather, performances, technical issues, schedules and countless other factors can affect production.
Instead of expecting everything to go exactly according to plan, filmmakers have to adapt. For Meghna, the ability of a team to respond collectively is what makes the chaos manageable.
This perspective is particularly relevant for films dealing with emotionally demanding stories. While the script provides a roadmap, the actual filmmaking process can evolve considerably once actors begin performing and the director sees the material on camera.
Meghna Gulzar Wants Cinema To Create A Response
In another recent interview about Daayra, Meghna said she does not want to dictate exactly what audiences should think about her films. Discussing her earlier work such as Talvar and Chhapaak, she explained that she would rather viewers have an opinion about her film than remain indifferent to it.
That approach fits the filmmaker’s broader style. Rather than presenting every issue as completely black or white, her films often explore conflicting perspectives and leave room for audiences to engage with the subject themselves.
With Daayra, that approach continues through a story that examines justice, authority and moral ambiguity.
What Meghna Gulzar’s Comments Reveal About Filmmaking
Meghna Gulzar’s latest remarks offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on a profession that can appear highly controlled from the outside. A finished film may look carefully constructed, but reaching that final product involves uncertainty, emotional pressure and constant problem-solving.
For Meghna, accepting that reality is part of being a filmmaker. Her belief that “chaos has to be your best friend” is ultimately tied to another important part of her filmmaking philosophy: cinema is created by people, and both the creative process and performances carry genuine emotional investment.
Click here for the latest news from Bollywood, Hollywood, South Film Industry, Bhojpuri and TV world… Click here to join the Facebook Page, Twitter Page, YouTube page, and Instagram of Bollywood Mascot!
Leave a Comment