PremiumAs Udaan Turns 15, Vikramaditya Motwane reflects on the pressure of making Lootera: ‘It really got to me at the time’ | Exclusive
Vikramaditya Motwane made his directorial debut with Udaan and as it turns 15 this year, he talks about the pressure of its success that he felt before making Lootera.
Vikramaditya Motwane On 15 Years Of Udaan And Making Lootera As Second Film
Last Updated: 03.48 PM, Jan 21, 2025
Vikramaditya Motwane did the world a favor when he made the film Udaan, starring Rajat Barmecha, Ronit Roy, and Ram Kapoor in the leading roles. Released in 2010, the movie is one of the most revered pieces of art across the country. While the initial reception wasn't massive, it took years for audiences to realize the depth of the moving story about a young man struggling to discover what he wants from life while resisting pressure from his strict, toxic father, who now imposes the same demands on his younger son. This year marks 15 years of the film and also Motwane’s career as a director. When he and his co-writer, Satyanshu Singh, sat down with OTTplay for an exclusive chat, we had to ask about their journey and any regrets they might have had. Their responses were thoughtful and inspiring.
Vikramaditya Motwane Talks About 15 Years Since Udaan
For the unversed, Udaan was written by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, with Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh contributing poems and stories for Rohan. The team created one of the most cherished films of our times, and there’s no way we wouldn’t celebrate it. During our exclusive conversation, Motwane recalled how the love for his debut film created pressure that carried over to his second movie, Lootera, starring Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha. Meanwhile, Satyanshu reflected on why professional regrets are significant.
Both Motwane and Satyanshu have teamed up again for Black Warrant, now streaming on Netflix. Joining the OTTplay team to discuss their work, they opened up about their journeys. Reflecting on the past 15 years since Udaan, Vikramaditya shared, “I think everything is a mistake or nothing is a mistake. There are no mistakes. Everything is a step toward discovering who you are. The pressure I felt after Udaan was immense—it was such a loved film. Then I was making Lootera, with Sonakshi and Ranveer, who had just come off Dabangg and Band Baaja Baaraat.”
“I had these stars and was making an art film. The pressure got to me then, but it has taken me years to realize that you cannot carry the pressure of your previous film—you must move on. Mistakes will happen. For me, the greatest learning has been that I’m not afraid to make mistakes. If you go wrong, it’s okay; you figure it out and don’t repeat them. I can point out things I could have done differently, but nothing keeps me awake at night. It’s all just steps forward,” he added.
Satyanshu Singh on Regrets
Satyanshu Singh, on the other hand, offered an intriguing perspective on professional regrets, arguing that they are vital for growth. He shared, “I think the regret that you could have done better should always exist. If that regret is missing, then something is wrong—maybe you’ve become corrupt as an artist. Regret is fundamental, like aging. However, I don’t dwell on what more I could have done professionally because I’ve received so much that there isn’t enough time to process gratitude, let alone focus on regrets.”
He continued, “My regrets are more personal. If I’ve misbehaved with someone or been so immersed in work that I neglected my family, those are the regrets. My regret is about conduct. Was my behavior appropriate? Work-related regret is inevitable, and it should be.”
Both Udaan and Black Warrant are streaming on Netflix. Stay tuned to OTTplay for updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.