Exclusive! Filmmaker Ranjan Chandel: I really wish to work with Ranbir Kapoor in future

Ranjan Chandel’s first short film Jaan Jigar: Beloved finally released on Voot Select in India. The short film focuses on moral policing, a trend that's been on the rise in the country in the recent past. Recently, the filmmaker's web series titled Grahan also premiered on Disney+ Hotstar.

In a candid chat with OTTplay, the director revealed that he likes to make films that are inspired by real-life events. During the interview, Ranjan also revealed about his upcoming projects, his favourite Indian filmmaker and more.

Talking about the story of Jaan Jigar, Ranjan added that he had experienced a similar incident in his teenage years. “Something similar to this incident happened with me and my (then) girlfriend. That was stuck in my mind for a rather long time and inspired me to tell my story through my first film.” The short film was shot in the filmmaker's hometown, Bindki, a village in Fatehpur, UP.

Opening up about its male lead Ashutosh Sohan, the director told OTTplay that the budding actor was his discovery. “I was in Mumbai then and was trying to find an original face for my film. I met so many people from the theatre scene in Mumbai and Delhi. Somehow, the news went to Lucknow and Ashutosh sent his audio recording to me, which I saw very late. When I heard the recording, I asked for his photographs too. Later, I met him and decided that he’ll play the part.”

Ranjan, who mostly works on films that are inspired by real-life events, said, “I think the filmmaker should tell the stories that he has actually lived because that brings newness in the story and the storytelling. The story that comes out from the social aspect of our country, inspires me the most and compel me to tell the story.”

The filmmaker also said that Zoya Hussain, who played the character of IPS Amrita in his recent web series Grahan, was her first choice. “Zoya was my first and only choice. We met for the first time when we were working for Mukkabaaz and were in touch after that, admiring each other’s works. And for Amrita’s character, I wanted someone that has restlessness and explosiveness and I saw that energy in her.”

Elaborating on the controversy that arose before the release of Grahan, Ranjan said, “People misinterpreted some things after watching the trailer and started reacting to it. However, I was not worried. After the release, I knew people will understand our intent and that we made it carefully because it was a sensitive topic. I was disheartened because of those baseless reactions.”

When asked about a filmmaker who inspires him the most in India, pat came the reply, “Mani Ratnam cinema inspires me the most.” Sharing his views on the creative freedom for storytellers and censorship on OTT platforms, he opined, “There should be a governing body for OTTplatform. No autocratic body should be allowed to come and discard any scene from films and shows according to their views because that will restrict the real expression of the story.”

Ranjan is slightly disappointed that one of his dreams remained unfulfilled in the industry. "I really wanted to work with Irrfan Khan. Apart from that, I want to work with Ranbir Kapoor because, among the young lot he is the actor in whom I see a lot of potential and range of performance,” he added. The filmmaker replies that he is currently writing the script for a feature film. “It is going to be a love story,” is what he can confirm at the moment.