Director Abhinay Dev prematurely says about his films: Never understood labels
Director Abhinay Deo said that he never understood why some of his films were labeled “ahead of their time”. In an exclusive chat with India Today, he also recalled convincing Karisma Kapoor to star in Brown and shared an update on a possible 24 revival.
Director Abhinay Deo was never convinced by the idea that some of his films were “ahead of their time”. Filmmaker whose credits include Delhi Bailey, 24 And recently released crime thriller brownHe believes that every project is an effort to push creative boundaries. had an exclusive conversation with India TodayDev talks about rejecting labels, convincing Karisma Kapoor to take one of her most unconventional roles, balancing creativity with business realities and the possibility of reviving. 24.
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three weeks later brown After the premiere, DO is finally allowing itself to enjoy the reaction. This crime thriller has been praised for its layered storytelling, atmospheric portrayal of Kolkata and, above all, Karisma Kapoor’s amazing transformation into an alcoholic police officer battling her own demons while chasing a serial killer.
However, the biggest compliment for Dev is not that the audience is surprised by Kapoor’s performance, but that they never expected to see him in such a role before.
He told that Karisma Kapoor has given memorable performances in films like Zubaida, Fiza And Shakti: Shakti, Brown Allowed him to live in a world that was not labeled as art house or commercial. Interestingly, Kapoor did not immediately agree to this and refused to do the show within minutes.
He said, “She didn’t even want to discuss it further with the Zee team. Then they convinced her to have a ten-minute meeting with me. That meeting lasted for about an hour and a half, and by the end of it, she was completely sold on the idea. Whether it was my power of persuasion or her ability to see what she could play, maybe it was a little bit of both.”
But agreeing to the role came with conditions. The DO made it clear that there would be no room for vanity, even mirrors would not be allowed on the sets. According to the filmmaker, Kapoor needed a few days to adapt to a different style of filmmaking, involving workshops, bound scripts and rehearsals, something he admitted he had rarely experienced before. However, once she was established, there was no looking back.
“When she finally watched the entire series, she was in a state of complete shock. Initially, I couldn’t figure out whether it was a good shock or a bad shock. Then she came and hugged me and said, ‘Oh my God, what have you done?’ I told him, ‘It’s you who did this.’ Enjoy it,” he said.
Another character that has garnered praise is Kolkata itself. Instead of relying on postcard scenes, DO consciously explored neighborhoods and communities that rarely find a place in mainstream cinema. From leather factories to Chinatown and many hidden corners, residents were amazed to see their city captured so beautifully.
He said, “Very rarely do you get a chance to work in a city which is so multifaceted. Where do you find Anglo-Indians, Chinese, Bengalis and people from Bihar who live so harmoniously and yet are not in harmony? The only thing I have not seen is football because everyone expects me to do so. Otherwise, I have explored every aspect of the city which is generally ignored.”
Despite making content-first films, Dev does not dismiss the importance of stars. If anything, he believes filmmakers have a responsibility to balance creative ambition with financial realities.
“It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s an important consideration because ultimately someone is putting millions of dollars behind your idea. You can’t say, ‘I’m a pure creative person, and I’ll do what I want.’ It’s your responsibility to make sure that people come and see the movie and they get their money’s worth. At the same time, you cannot think only from the perspective of the stars. He has to fit into the character. As a director, you are constantly balancing responsibilities. Sometimes you loosen your grip only to tighten it later. It’s a tug of war all the time,” he said.
That philosophy probably also explains why movies are loved Delhi Belly and as it shows 24 They continue to find new audiences even years after their release. While many describe them as projects that arrived before audiences were ready, DO doesn’t particularly like that label.
He said, “I never understood what ‘ahead of time’ meant. If someone didn’t try to do something before everyone else, how would we move forward? Sometimes you’ll get it right, sometimes you’ll get it wrong, but someone’s got to get it going. I just do what I feel is right.”
He also revealed talks about reviving 24 He continues every time he meets Anil Kapoor, although rights, international partnerships and platform logistics make it a complicated process. Still, he remains optimistic.
Like the stories they tell, The Dio is less interested in taking the easy path and more invested in letting audiences see familiar faces and familiar styles through an entirely new lens.