Gurinder Chadha is set to bring her British musical comedy, Christmas Karma, to Indian theatres on December 12. Ahead of its release, the filmmaker screened the Kunal Nayyar-starrer for her friends in the Hindi film industry. So, when we met her, we couldn’t help but ask if she had plans to make a Bollywood film. The bad news is that she doesn’t have an immediate plan, but the good news is that she already has an inspiration, should she make one.
“I enjoyed Rocky Aur Rani [Kii Prem Kahaani, 2023]. I even messaged Karan [Johar, director], saying, ‘Karan, I spent 13 pounds to see your film. I loved it.’ He sent me a voice note thanking me. I would be happy to do something like that. But I always have some Western panga [in my films]. So, I will put that in the story,” she laughed.
A still from ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’
In Mumbai, the filmmaker met many Bollywood artistes, some of whom she keeps in touch with when she is at home in the UK. The director shared that she messages her Bride and Prejudice (2004) actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan “time and again”.
There’s another Indian artiste the filmmaker couldn’t stop gushing over — Diljit Dosanjh. Chadha shared that she recently met the singer and actor for the first time, and the two bonded over mutual admiration for their work. “Diljit asked to meet me the last time he was in London, so I did. It was lovely. He had watched all my films. He is another diaspora force. It doesn’t matter what you throw at him, he [bounces] back,” she said.