Shantanu Bagchi – who played the boy who is kidnapped in place of Mukul in Sonar Kella — was bitten by the film direction bug when he watched Satyajit Ray’s Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne for the first time as a kid. That dream is coming true on January 20 with the release of his debut feature film Mission Majnu, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna. The Mumbai-based ad filmmaker and illustration artist shared with us his fond memories of meeting Satyajit Ray and his spy action thriller arriving on Netflix.

The Telegraph Online: Before we begin to talk about Mission Majnu, can you share your memories of Satyajit Ray?

Shantanu Bagchi: My interest in becoming a director was kindled when I watched Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne for the first time, with my grandfather, who introduced me to Satyajit Ray. I wondered if Ray was acting in the film, and I was told that he had directed the film. I was astonished to see that he was responsible for everything that happened on screen and thought it would be wonderful to be that person.

I met Manikda (Satyajit Ray) when I was six or seven years old at a relative’s place and told him that I knew Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne by heart. I had no inhibitions, and he started laughing when I enacted some scenes. Then, he called me to act in Sonar Kella in the role of the boy who was kidnapped by the goons, mistaking him for Mukul. Much later, I went to his set as an observer as well. It was a wonderful learning experience.

I have done four to five films as a child actor. I acted in Ramer Sumati, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s work. I am in touch with Sandipda (Ray) and go to see him when I visit my sister in Kolkata.

So after school, you got into the visual medium?

Shantanu Bagchi: Yes, after studying in Patha Bhawan, I went to the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and majored in film and video. I am primarily from a design background and have made around 500 ad commercials across brands.

Is Mission Majnu the film you had planned to debut as a director?

Shantanu Bagchi: No, it isn’t. There was some other story. A film comes together because of various factors, so it didn’t happen that time. Let’s see if it can be made later.

The Mission Majnu trailer has everything going for a mainstream entertainer…

Shantanu Bagchi: It is a story which will engage the audience and bring a smile in a sensible way. It’s not over-dramatic with over-the-top dialogues but it’s a mainstream film and not a small-budget film.

How was it to collaborate with Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna to bring your vision to life?

Shantanu Bagchi: When we started the film and met Sidharth (Malhotra) for the first time, I found him to be a wonderful man. As far as the film was concerned, he was extremely dedicated. He had put in all his effort to learn things such as riding a scooter. People will see a new side to him. It will resonate with the audience. Rashmika (Mandanna) is also a wonderful actress. Though both are stars, when they come to work, they don’t have any star tantrums, which makes a director’s life very easy.

Didn’t you wish Mission Majnu to have a theatrical release?

Shantanu Bagchi: Well, these decisions are not in my hands. When we started off, we had thought of a theatrical release but then the pandemic happened. The studio had to make a decision. It’s a worldwide release on Netflix. It will be released in 190 countries. Language isn’t a bar anymore. The reach is far more than the theatres. If a film is good, the audience will know about it. It’s 2023, so there’s no need to be heartbroken if a film doesn’t release in the theatres.

The film’s release date also got delayed multiple times…

Shantanu Bagchi: (Cuts in) Well, there are a lot of decisions that one has to take while making a film and this one was a very complicated film. The pandemic happened while we were shooting. There were restrictions. Shooting got delayed and all the other processes got delayed too, so we wanted to come out in a form and shape that is acceptable, which took a bit more time than it should have.

Since the screenplay of Mission Majnu isn’t written by you, did you work on the script while directing?

Shantanu Bagchi: I feel a director should know how to write a script. As Mission Majnu’s screenplay was already written, I worked on it as a director to figure out certain things, tweaked it a bit and came up with ideas, especially for the songs and action sequences.

Spy thrillers are a thing across the globe as well as in India. And the trailer reminds me a bit of Raazi (starring Alia Bhatt)...

Shantanu Bagchi: In every romantic film, the story is almost the same. Similarly, in every James Bond film, the story is the same but people like it because that’s the format of the genre and that’s how it works. Every genre has the same basics or template. Once people watch it, they will realise that Mission Majnu isn’t something that they have watched before.

While making ad commercials, who are the biggies you have worked with?

Shantanu Bagchi: I have worked with Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, Brett Lee, Sachin Tendulkar and Katrina Kaif, among others. People say that celebrities throw tantrums and are difficult to work with, but I have never ever experienced it. All of them have been very professional and outstandingly sweet. They have helped me a lot.

Did you always want to become a film director? How was the shift from making ad commercials to a feature film?

Shantanu Bagchi: Yes, I have always wanted to make films. I came across this script and liked it instantly. It was a difficult project as it needed to be shot in various locations. The canvas was big and challenging, but I took the plunge. While making ads, I was making films only. I had to tell a story and convince people through the ad films. Now, I have two hours to tell a story and that’s how the paradigm changed.

Who are the filmmakers who have had an influence on you?

Shantanu Bagchi: I was born and brought up in Calcutta, so I am deeply inspired by Satyajit Ray. I am influenced by filmmakers like Vittorio De Sica, Majid Majidi, Akira Kurosawa, Quentin Tarantino, Alfred Hitchcock, James Cameron, Ridley Scott… the list goes on.