You can’t fake it: Saurabh Shukla on filmmaking with integrity
Saurabh Shukla, reflecting on his journey as a filmmaker, said that he makes films primarily as a way to express himself and share the world he believes in.
Actor, writer and filmmaker Saurabh Shukla recently revealed what inspires him as a storyteller. had an exclusive conversation with India TodayHe talks about why he makes films and how his understanding of cinema has evolved over the years.
When asked why he directs only a few films, Saurabh Shukla said that filmmaking, for him, is simply a way of expressing himself.
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“I think it’s just that – they say, ‘Why do you become an artist, right? Why do you become an actor, a poet, a writer or a painter? It’s to express yourself. So, I think I make films to express myself,'” he said.
The actor said storytelling often becomes a medium through which filmmakers present the kind of world they believe in.
“And here I would just add one thing that I’ve realized, and I’m very glad that at least for me it works that way. Every story is an excuse to tell the world you want to see or believe in,” he said.
Shukla also reflected on an old interview from 2000, where he described his preference for making realistic films, even if they were challenging to make.
Recalling that phase of his life, the actor admitted that his outlook was shaped by the anxieties and ambitions of being young in the industry.
“In 2000, I was younger and a little more desperate. I wanted to say my work is realistic and no one is looking at it – that’s all,” he said.
However, after more than two decades in cinema, Shukla believes that the debate between realistic and fictional storytelling is no longer the most important question for a filmmaker.
He said, “What I feel today, 26 years later, is that it doesn’t really matter whether you’re making something realistic or fantastical, or in some form, or making something absurd, or whatever you’re making. What’s more important is how much you’re able to connect with people.”
He emphasized that authenticity and emotional honesty matter more than style. “So, if you are doing it with your heart and soul, whatever you are doing, that is what matters,” he said.
At the same time, Shukla accepted this Not every genre is suitable for every filmmaker. Using Popular Franchises maze For example, he said that he enjoys watching such films but not necessarily that he can make such films himself.
“For example, if I say maze as an exampleI would love to see it. I can laugh and enjoy the experience of going through it. But I can’t do that,” he said.
Summarizing his evolving philosophy on filmmaking, Shukla said that the real challenge for any director is not to choose a particular style or genre, but to make a film that is honest.
“So whatever Saurabh said in 2000, delete it now. In 2026, you can do everything. The hard part is not realism or anything else. The hard part is just making a good film. Make a good film that is made with integrity. Nothing else. You can’t fake it,” he concluded.