I want to prove that I am a good director too, says writer-director Rumi Jafry

Mona

Taking pride in being named after the Persian poet, Rumi Jafry considers reading and writing to be the main purpose of his life. With more than 50 films as writer and Gali Gali Chor Hai and Life Partner as director to his credit, he is helming his next, Chehre – a film which has made him nervous for the first time. He has been a hit at romantic comedies, but his latest is a suspense thriller.

Playing favourites

Films: Mughal-E-Azam, Mother India, Pyasa, Do Bigha Zamin, Burfi, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Lage Raho Munna Bhai

Book: Elif Shafak’s 40 Rules of Love

Song: Chod de sari duniya kisi ke liye

Cuisine: Thai food.

“I made Chehre to have people say, ‘Acha Rumi yeh bhi kar sakta hai’,” he laughs. “Golmaal Returns, God Tussi Great Ho, Judwaa, Biwi No. 1 and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan have been comedies or romantic comedies at best. I never expected a nomination for them nor did I bother about criticism,” he says. But all that is set to change with Chehre. With Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role, and Emraan Hashmi, Siddhanth Kapoor, Krystle DSouza, Raghuvir Yadav and Annu Kapoor make for the rest of the cast.

“For the very first time, I am looking forward to how people would respond; I have really given a lot to this one. I was even without work for a while, and then Bachchan sir stood by me to make my film.” Writers are seldom taken seriously as director, he points out. “I wanted to prove that I am a good director too.”

A thriller, according to him, has scope to show one’s craft as a director –how the shot is created, play with lighting and background music etc. That he gets to direct the legend is another high. “I have been fortunate that I got to work with Bachchan ji not just once but for the fourth time. I wrote Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi and God Tussi Great Ho and now Chehre.”

Originally from Bhopal, Rumi came to Mumbai in the 80s when he was barely 19. To begin with life was challenging. “People would laugh when I said I was a writer. They would advise – go first live life, have relationships, ishq karo, phir likhna’. My standard response was ‘Writer hoon, actor nahi that I have to look like one.” But post the initial period, life’s been smooth.