Saurabh Shukla: I have revealed some true characters in RAAT GAYI...

After a hiatus of almost 5 years, director Saurabh Shukla has a film release to his name. After making his debut with MUDDA - THE ISSUE (2003), he had followed it up with CHEHRAA (2005). Unfortunately for him, none of the two films worked at the box office and it took him some time before he could embark upon RAAT GAYI BAAT GAYI. However, he didn't opt for a safe route as far as the plotline and storyline was concerned. He decided to tell a story about one night and took references from quite a few real life incidents that had happened around him. With the film now playing on screen and quite a few skeletons out of the closet, Saurabh Shukla is having a hearty laugh. He talks about feedback and comments that he has gathered from quite a few of his friends who are 'after his life' due to their 'real character' being revealed, courtesy some real life incidents being brought on screen for wider consumption.
So did he also become a victim of an all around temptation a la Sophia (the name of the character played by Neha Dhupia in the film) at any of the parties that resulted in the making of RAAT GAYI BAAT GAYI?
At once, Shukla questions back, "Why just me?" He further continues, "I am sure even you would have been in parties which are not necessarily sleazy but boast of an open environment. It does happen, especially in urban centres. I remember being in a party and drinking with my friends. There were quite a few women around and I was set thinking that do you really become a bad person when there is so much temptation around."
CHECK OUT: RAAT GAYI BAAT GAYI Movie Review
So he eventually became a bad person?
Laughs off Shukla, "I don't remember; it was a long party and I had a hangover! Jokes part, when I woke up I was set thinking if I had done anything wrong? Or if I had said something unruly to any fellow film maker? There were actually quite a few doubts that resulted in me going the whole hog and write an entire story around it. This is where I took references from all those people who I keep meeting in parties."
Now that the film has released, there must be quite a few reactions from those who are familiar with the situations and the incidents... "Oh yes, definitely there have been. In fact a couple of friends of mine are anyways running with daggers around the town to kill me. Their real character has been revealed and now they want to get even with me (laughs)," quips Saurabh.
How about his stint in front of the camera? As an actor, doesn't it become disappointing for him when he comes up with a tremendous act in a film like CHINTUJI but no one notices it because of such a poor release? But is it really so easy every time?
Saurabh gets modest here, "One has to apply himself for that and condition accordingly. This is why whether it is CHINTUJI or any other film of mine for that matter, I feel good when I am doing it. After that it is great if any acknowledgment comes by. I get richer emotionally. But if that doesn't happen, I am ok because I would have already enjoyed a high during the shoot. Yes, recognition is something that everybody needs but then you can't base your work on that; you should not think about that."
And Saurabh is pretty content with that... "Aur kya chahiye life mein yaar? Some sufficient amount of money to eat, to drive a car, a couple of ACs and that's all? You can have ton loads of money and go on a cruise but then who has that kind of time? Personally, I would get damn bored doing that. I like to make movies. I may not be floating in crores but when I look back, I think that it has been a fair enough journey."