by Subhash K Jha
"Enough dark brooding chamber pieces. My recent releases Raincoat and
Antar Mahal went into a dark territory. Even my Bengali film Dosar
which was a black-and-white brooding work…Now I want to loosen up, be
happy, make a bright young film."
Ritu was slated to start a
marital drama with Bipasha Basu and his favourite leading man
Prosenjit. "But I've abandoned that idea. I've made a film about a
child, to be played by Akash Neel, called Khela."
Manisha Koirala and Presanjit play the child's parents. "It's just a
7-day role for Manisha. I enjoyed working with her. She was supposed to
be part of Antar Mahal (in the role played by Roopa Ganguly).
But that didn't work out. Manisha is an extremely talented and
beautiful actress. It's a pity she doesn't take herself more
seriously," tut-tuts Ritu.
His old favourites Roopa Ganguly and Raima Sen also star in
Khela. "Raima plays a costume designer. Yes, the film is partially set
in the film industry. Prosenjit plays a filmmaker…
What
really excites me is the fact that this is my first film to be shot
outdoors after my first my Titli. And I haven't really worked with a
child in a central role."
Did he have problems directing the boy? "Not at all. I told him if he
kicks me, I'll kick him back. If Akash was a brat I'm a bigger brat…I'm
really looking forward to the release of Khela. It's frothy fun
get-happy film. After a long time I feel I did a film that I can call a
party."