Abhinav 'Dabangg' Kashyap, Vikramaditya 'Udaan' Motwane, Maneesh 'Band Baaja Baaraat' Sharma, Abhishek 'Ishqiya' Chaubey and Abhishek 'Tere Bin Laden' Sharma began their directorial careers last year with a seismic bang, paving the way for the next bunch of young turks, who promise to make 2011 a cinematic riot. Sunday MiD DAY speaks to five young directors supported by giant banners and with superstar endorsement and hundreds of crores riding on their backs
Abhinav 'Dabangg' Kashyap, Vikramaditya 'Udaan' Motwane, Maneesh 'Band Baaja Baaraat' Sharma, Abhishek 'Ishqiya' Chaubey and Abhishek 'Tere Bin Laden' Sharma began their directorial careers last year with a seismic bang, paving the way for the next bunch of young turks, who promise to make 2011 a cinematic riot. Sunday MiD DAY speaks to five young directors supported by giant banners and with superstar endorsement and hundreds of crores riding on their backs
Rohit Dhawan
Launch Pad: Desi Boyz, Judgement day: November 18
seriAl hitmaker David Dhawan's son, Rohit, who makes his debut this year with the star-studded Desi Boyz, chooses to see his filmy antecedents only as an advantage.
"You have initial access to stars, and that is a plus because it is difficult to bag a narration with a big movie star even if you have the best script in your hand. 
Of course, once you are in the room with the actor, you are only judged by your story; no one wants to risk their career for relationships," he says.
The narration obviously worked for Dhawan, who has written the story and screenplay for the film in which he has managed a casting coup for a debutant. Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangda Singh play protagonists.
Since Dhawan has spent successive summers in Switzerland, watching his director dad shoot, it was obvious that he'd take to filmmaking.
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"When you come from a film family, you don't choose films. Films choose you," says the youngster, who majored in Film Direction and Writing from TISCH School of Arts, New York.
Back in Mumbai, Dhawan worked as assistant on his father's productions, including Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya and Partner.
"Desi Boyz is a slice-of-life story about two guys who refuse to grow up. It is my take on male bonding and friendship... a full-on masala Hindi film."
The last bit of the description makes it not too removed from his dad's Hero No. 1 style of filmmaking.
But Dhawan argues that his writing is a lot more subtle as is his brand of humour.
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"I don't believe I am capable of making what he makes. But more than film school, the time spent with dad has been a learning experience. Working with him has been my real film school."
Writing a two-hero film has not been easy for this first-timer. "When you are trying to make sure both actors are happy with their parts, the writing process takes time," he says candidly about the two laborious drafts he wrote.
Casting was simpler. "When Akshay and John talk, there's a distinct camaraderie. I don't think they keep in touch but the minute they connect, they appear like long lost friends."
And of course, Pritam on board assures Dhawan of a full-blown commercial music score.u00a0
Deepika and Chitrangada dance to the songs but it Akshay and John, who are filling in for the item numbers in the film.
Ali Abbas Zafar
Launch Pad:
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan
Judgement day: September 9
Yash Raj Films has had a successful stint with new directors. Kunal Kohli, Siddharth Anand, Kabir Khan and Maneesh Sharma all began their careers with the banner. Now, 28 year-old debutant Ali Abbas Zafar joins the YRF camp with Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.
A bio-chemistry graduate from Delhi's Kirori Mal College, Ali found his cinematic calling when he worked on Farhan Akhtar's Lakshya, and the critically acclaimed 2005 film Amu directed by Shonali Bose, based on her own novel by the same name, in Delhi.
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"I realised films were the best medium to tell stories," says the director who moved to Mumbai, and managed to find entry into the YRF camp after an initial bout of struggle. "Yash Raj is a university. There is discipline in how they make films."
The youngster was assistant director on Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Tashan, New York and Badmaash Company before being given a dream debut.
Ali's film is set in a North Indian milieu, and headlines a fresh star pair Imran Khan-Katrina Kaif. "This is the sort of film that needs to make you smile, so, the casting was important. Imran has never played a middle-class boy from North India, and Katrina has never played a Dilli girl.
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The idea was to have a pair pull it off in style, and yet, have a surprise value attached. Ali Zafar (of Tere Bin Laden fame) is also a fresh face; casting him added a different colour to the film," he says about the choice of actors.
Ali calls his film a romantic comedy but qualifies it by adding: "It has more comedy than romance. The film takes a journey from London to Mumbai, Agra, Delhi, Dehradun, and every place has a distinctive look."
The film is simple, quirky, and mad because he has always been a fan of Hrishikesh Mukherjee comedies, he admits. But since it's 2011, expect a cooler version of the same.
You will not see conventional item numbers with skin-show, but you will definitely see a my-generation item number with much more style, attitude and fun.
Nupur Asthana
Launch Pad: Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge
Judgement day: October 14
She comes from Delhi, from a family of doctors, engineers and financiers. But that doesn't mean the Lady Shri Ram graduate didn't wonder how she'd make it in Mumbai's big bad world of films.
"I assisted filmmakers for about three years but couldn't figure how I was going to raise money to make my own film. I knew nobody," she says.
Deciding to take on television instead, she tasted success with Hip Hip Hurray. The saga of kids in their last year of school was Enid Blytonesque in tone, almost gag for gag.
"After the cult success of Hip Hip Hurray, I thought I would be able to make a film easily. But it didn't happen. A film with a big corporation was shelved. Then I got a call from Yashraj Television to direct Mahi Way," she says about the slick SONY TV show about an overweight girl in search for love and success.
Eventually, she bagged Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge with Y Films, the recently launched youth film arm of Yash Raj.
Exploring the world of social networking, this Diwali release woos GenY.
"There is a virtual life, and there is real life; and it's amazing how you can suddenly turn into someone else on a computer. The audience loves great love stories. It is like a nice blueberry cheesecake that you can bite into," she says of the a rom-com set against the backdrop of online networking.
Casting a bunch of newcomers Saqib Saleem, Saba Azad, Nishant Dahiya and Tara D'Souza didn't create a nervous moment for the writer-director.
"Fresh faces are receptive; like clay you can mould. That's why the youth arm of Yashraj and I are a good fit."
There is a virtual life and there isu00a0 real life; and it's amazing how you can suddenly turn into someone else on a computer.
Nitesh Tiwari (and Vikas Bahl)
Launch Pad: Chillar Party
Judgement day: July 8
Five years ago, when Nitesh Tiwari (an IIT graduate who moved to advertising) encountered Vikas Bahl (who was heading SAB TV then), he didn't know their friendship would lead to a feature film.
After three years of struggle, the director duo have nailed their debut, Chillar Party, a film that's left Salman Khan impressed enough to co-produce it under Salman Khan Being Human Productions, in association with UTV Spotboy.
"After I wrote the story sketch three years ago, Nitesh and I developed it together. We were unable to find an ideal director, so, we decided to give direction a shot. UTV Spotboy's Ronnie (Screwvala) and Sid (Roy Kapoor) liked the subject... And the idea that Salman has come on board is yet to sink in," grins Tiwari.
A story about 10 children taking on a corrupt politician, Chillar Party has dollops of humour to bring in the crowds. "I can't tell a sorrowful story about childhood. Tales from my childhood that I narrate to friends are peppered with masala. That's the way I have written Chillar Party too it's funny, it's heroic, and friendship stands above all else."
Tiwari says it wasn't sticky to have worked in a pair. In fact, "It was almost scary. When someone else thinks just the way you do, you feel you are losing your individuality."
The kids were a handful, vouches the director. On the first day of the shooting, the kids were reluctant to act after one take. They didn't know how to cycle, while most of the film requires them to ride bicycles. "We saw full-on politics unfold among them over the dialogue; they wouldn't stand in the frame if they didn't have a line to say!"
We saw full-on politics unfold among the kids over the dialogue; they wouldn't stand in the frame if they didn't have a line to say!
Siddique
Launch Pad: Bodyguard
Judgement day: August 31
Siddique is mighty excited about Bodyguard. It's the South Indian director's first Hindi film, and it stars Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The Atul Agnihotri production is slated for an Eid release, which should ensure a huge initial.
The Hindi film industry has another reason to await its release will Salman complete a hat-trick after the thumping success of Dabangg and Ready?
"I started my career as an assistant director to Fazil," says the director whose Malayalam film, Bodyguard, and later, its Tamil version (Kaavalan) won the audience vote. "Two years ago, Salman watched the Malayalam version and liked it." It was the superstar's idea to launch a Hindi remake, and Siddique "couldn't refuse".
And he isn't regretting the move. The budgets and infrastructure he is allowed to play with can't rival that of the Malayalam industry, he says. "Here, a cost barrier doesn't exist. I can execute whatever I think up."
Bodyguard is a love story spiced with drama and action, with an undercurrent of humour that the director says is his USP. And the audience is set to see a different side to Salman, we are told.
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"The hero and heroine screen space ratio is 50:50. Her role demands high performance and that's why I decided to cast Kareena," he says of the film that was shot primarily in Pune and Patiala.
Another reason you'd want to catch the film? It marks the comeback of Himesh Reshammiya as music director.
The hero and heroine screen space ratio is 50:50. Her role demands high performance and that's why I decided to cast Kareena.
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