Anurag Kashyap, Kalki Koechlin unplugged

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is ready to venture into the comic genre with his next production Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. He's also directing the much talked-about Bombay Velvet and reveals why things didn't work out with Aamir Khan. His pretty wife Kalki Koechlin gets candid about her upcoming movies and much more. Aditi Caroli writes.

Critically acclaimed director-producer, Anurag Kashyap, known for off-beat films like Dev D, That girl In Yellow Boots and Black Friday is ready to venture into the comic genre with his next production Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana.

Contrary to popular belief, the filmmaker insists he isn't all that intense and I found him to be quite affable and approachable. "I'm producing not one but two comedies. If I like the script, even if it's comedy, I'll make it. I'm not a very intense person. You guys (media) have made such an image which isn’t true."

The director is in the process of finalising the lead actor for his dream project Bombay Velvet, a film set in the era of 1960s. He is expected to collaborate with Danny Boyle in what is being touted as one of the biggest collaborations. Aamir was the initial choice but things didn't materialise. "I wanted Aamir Khan for the film. I had approached him but he was busy. So I started going to other actors. As soon as we sign the dotted line, I will tell you." Speculations are rife that Kashyap has zeroed in on hit Band Baaja Baraat jodi Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma.

The filmmaker was recently in news for lending his name to debutant director Bedobroto Pain's long-stalled project Chittagong Uprising. "I liked the film and felt it wasn't treated well. No one was ready to release it, so I'm releasing it now. It's not a favour to anyone. If I believe in a film, I'll help it."

So how’s he going to handle if everyone start seeking his help for troubled projects? "Yes, now people expect that I'll help out but I run away. Everyone who has script and no one is making a film on it, thinks Anurag will make it. If some film is stalled, Anurag will release it. But I can't do that as I'm no Tata or Birla. Whenever it's possible and it's in my hand, I do it like in the case of Chittagong. It'll be releasing in February."

"We have started our company- Phantom. Now Vikas will take care of productions. I'll stay at home and focus on creative work," he adds. Phantom is India's first director's production house, helmed by Vikas Bahl, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane.

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Anurag Kashyap, Kalki Koechlin unveiled ORRA Platinum collection Duests in the capital.

Anurag and Kalki have worked together in Dev D, That Girl In Yellow Boots and Shaitan. So when is he planning to cast his pretty wife again? "I want to make a romantic film with her. It will happen soon, by 2013. But I don't want to reveal anything in front of my wife. It'll be a surprise for her."

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Kalki doesn't really believe her hubby and says: "I think when he will be on his death bed, he'll be saying the same thing. When it's going to happen? Romantic film coming from Anurag will be one helluva, leaps and bounds for mankind."

It's been a good year for Kalki. She has been a part of some interesting projects like Shaitan, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, That Girl in Yellow Boots and My Friend Pinto. So what’s she working on right now? "I'm part of Dibakar Banerjee's next film Shanghai and I'm doing a new play- The Real Inspector Hound.

Kalki has a long list of directors she's keen to work with: "I'm a director's person. There are so many directors I want to work with- Vishal Bhardwaj, Navdeep Singh, Vikramaditya Motwani, Imtiaz Ali, Manish Sharma and many others."

She's particularly amazed by Imtiaz for obvious reason: "Rockstar was the best film of 2011 and Ranbir is an actual Rockstar. I can't say ZNMD as you'll think I'm being biased, but Zoya is a rockstar herself."

Throughout the interview, you can’t help but notice the duo can't get enough of each other. The lovebirds, who went for their honeymoon to Turkey in September, are so into each other that you can't stop yourself from asking about their love story. "Anurag had taken me for a date to a fancy place. He had ordered huge champagne to impress me. As soon as we cheered, he broke his glass. That was the moment I knew this is the guy whom I want to marry," says Kalki, blushing like a teenager.

Not many know, the two were quite serious about each other right from the beginning of their courtship. "After six months into relation, we moved in together. I went to her, packed her bags and brought her home," says Anurag who can't stop smiling at the thought.

That's why the couple was chosen to unveil ORRA Platinum collection Duests in the capital on Tuesday. The platinum bands are representative of true love, just like Anurag and Kalki!