Releasing in 2018, Siddharth P Malhotra’s second film, the terrific Hichki which, starred Rani Mukerji, who was absolutely brilliant in the drama. In this exclusive and excellent in-depth interview, the director talks to Subhash K Jha about the making of Hichki, working with YRF and Rani Mukerji, and so much more!
Tell me about the genesis of your Hichki with Rani Mukerji playing a schoolteacher suffering from Tourette Syndrome?
My earlier film We Are Family with Kajol and Kareena was declared average at the box office. For a first-time filmmaker, it’s heartbreaking, and there are various other vulnerable feelings in a film that meant so much to him.
The second film is always more difficult?
That’s right. I listened to much advice as a maker, only to realise if you listen to sundry advice and accept then no blame game can be justified ever. My next film was going to be a make-or-break effort. It had to be my voice as a filmmaker with the right collaborators. But the final say had to be mine even in a collaborative effort which filmmaking is.
How did the idea of Hichki come to you?
When I was down and out, my younger Maama (maternal uncle) Raaj Mehta and his son Rishi read the book Front Of The Class by Brad Cohen. A Hallmark film of the same was also available, but it was too sweet a film about Brad and his journey with small kids in school.
You decided to move away from that source?
We began adapting it with Ganesh Pandit, Ambar Grab, Raju Maama, and me. I had done a pilot fourteen years earlier, which never saw the light of day called Class 9, where the kids were called 9F. From there came 9F, the basti kids into in Hichki. The script kept evolving, and thanks to the many writers whom we credited, we had the film we believed in.
It sounds like an arduous process?
It took me seven years literally to get it greenlit as I went from pillar to post to every producer and male actor who heard it, but I was scared that I, as a director, could deliver. Or else they wanted a bigger studio; at that time, Dharma Productions didn’t want to make it.
You mean after We Are Family, Karan Johar didn’t want to produce another film with you?
After loads of heartburn and tears, my wife suggested, ‘Why don’t you go to Adi?’ I responded cynically, saying, ‘The country’s biggest producer is waiting for me, right… he won’t even look at me or give me time.’
What made you change your mind?
Perhaps God was listening to my wife. Ashish Patel was working with Yash Raj Films, then heard it, loved it and set me up with Adi. Adi heard it and said, I haven’t watched your last, but the way you narrate this film and the fire that’s in your belly, you will surely make a super film. Adi was directing Befikre, so Maneesh Sharma took charge. He loved it.
How and when did Rani Mukerji enter the picture?
Adi and Maneesh suggested we turn the male protagonist into a female, which didn’t change anything. But again, the Gods were in the mood to bless me. Came in Rani, who heard it and had just delivered her daughter Adira. Once she loved it, I got my biggest collaborator, who envisaged the same film as me.
Rani was fabulous in Hichki.
She is an actor par excellence who can spoil any filmmaker as she is tooooo good and the other pillar of strength was my DOP Avinash Arun, who is someone till date a brother and a soul friend for life.
Do you consider Hichki your most important film?
Hichki was surely the most important film for me as this was the film which decided for me whether I am a filmmaker or not. It was my vision; therefore, the brickbats or garlands were all mine. Today, I say humbly the garlands belong to all, including my technical team, Ads, my Maama, my wife, my parents, and the kids who stood by me. The heroes of the film are Adi and Maneesh who empowered me to be the maker I am More power to Adi to allow me to tell a story like Maharaj. Gratitude is all I have for YRF and my own Maama and all who till date support me and help me tell the stories I want to and give me the wings to fly.
