Director Debaloy Bhattacharya is on a high after the success of Dracula Sir. He is now all set to start the shoot of his first Hindi web series — The Girl (working title) — from March 1. The Amazon Prime Video web series stars Tanya Maniktala, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Jisshu Sengupta, Vinay Pathak, Zarina Wahab, Samir Soni and Saurav Das among others.

Debaloy Bhattacharya

What can you tell us about the Hindi project?

I’m really excited to direct this Hindi web series. It is a thriller with a difference. We are taking a very different approach with this thriller.

How long have you been planning to do a Hindi project?

See, I never had any fascination to do a Hindi project as such. This offer came my way last year. The writer and showrunner of this project is Arindam Mitra, I had worked with him before... we have a nice understanding... he called me and I really liked the idea of the script. Then we developed it. And I was on board as the director.

You had worked in Bombay for a few years...

Yeah, from 2003 to 2009... I primarily worked as an editor at that point of time. I edited the promos for Black Friday, edited the film Shunyo... I also directed a film called Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which did not release. It got shelved.

Parambrata

Jisshu

Why did you move to Bombay?

In early 2000, there were hardly any opportunities for new makers. The multiplex films had not arrived yet. Independent films were quite big in Bombay at that time, with film-makers like Ram Gopal Varma and Anurag Kashyap spearheading the movement. Independent film movement in Bombay attracted me. I was not growing in Calcutta, I had worked here for two years as an editor. So I moved to Bombay.

I come from a family that has no film background or connections. I started watching all the relevant and important films in world cinema. I started working with professional people and developed my skill. I got the required exposure in Bombay. Indie films were taking on a new shape, there was a different kind of energy and excitement. It taught me a lot. I was planning another Hindi film then, but then I had to come back to Calcutta for personal reasons. I started from scratch here.

How was that phase?

Initially, it was very tough. I worked in television, unhappily, for some time. Then I got a break in Obhishopto Nighty, and it clicked. Then I directed my first Bengali film Roga Howar Shohoj Upay, which did not click at the box office. The next two years were once again very tough. I realised there are no friends in this industry.

What was the survival technique for you?

I knew that I’ll just keep quiet, do my work and go home. I soldiered on as an outsider. I don’t belong here.

Why?

I felt it in those two years. The moment my film did not work, I did not have anyone by my side. All those people whom I thought were my friends just disappeared. It was very difficult to come back. Vinod Bhalla, executive producer, helped me to come back. SVF backed me a lot. And then I got the opportunity to do Bidaay Byomkesh, which was a huge hit. Things also changed for the better with the popularity of Hoichoi web shows like Dupur Thakurpo and Holy Faak, both of which I directed.

In the meantime I got to build my team. The quality and successful work that I have done till now is because of my team to a large extent. My team is my strength. I was lucky to get the right people to work with. That is most important. My team is also working on the Hindi project. Thanks to Arindam that he showed confidence in my team.

How have you evolved as a film-maker?

I have become more introspective. I have found a voice and managed to develop a language of my own. I can also address my emotions, thoughts, through my work. Now I can express my emotions on screen. I have managed to build my resistance so that I don’t get hurt. My guards are up now. And now I know, if my work is successful, I’ll get the go-ahead to do my next project.