Producer Deepak Mukut has been around for three decades and in these years there’s a lot he has done. However, the last few years have surely been a highlight of his career as he worked with some amazing banners and names in the film industry. His most recent project is Dhaakad with Kangana Ranaut and as I catch up with the director for a conversation, he speaks about working with Kangana, his journey, and also about being a film producer these days.
Here are some interesting excerpts from his interview…
On his 30 years journey…
My journey has been very nice and fruitful. I have seen my father in this industry since 1970, so I also wanted to come into this industry. I wanted to act, but my father did not want me to become an actor. I would get offers from the industry, Mr. Rakesh Roshan, told my father that why he doesn’t bring me into the industry as an actor. I started a business at a very young age, but my journey as a producer started in 1991, I handled a film called Nargis that didn’t get released. I also got experience of assisting in films and how direction and production happen, so I learned everything.
On his journey as a producer…
In 2013, I decided to venture into feature films, Sanam Teri Kasam was my first film that was released in 2016. I introduced Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane. It was always my passion to make good films. Later in 2017, I did this film called Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana with Rajkummar Rao and Kriti Kharbanda. In 2018, I produced Mulk with Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu.
On working with Kangana Ranaut in Dhaakad…
Dhaakad has been a turning point in my journey. It was challenging for me because I heard in the industry that Kangana is very difficult to work with. We started shooting for Dhaakad and Covid-19 came in. Dhaakad is the first female-centric action film with a huge budget, so I wanted to make something different. And I am so happy about the film, it has been very fabulous, we even shot it in Budapest. We shot for a 12 minutes action sequence which we have kept before the interval, and it is something never done before. I was so comfortable shooting this film with Kangana, I had no problems, she has done a fabulous job.
On the changes, he has witnessed in the industry…
The industry has surely changed, pehle producer ki izzat hua karti thi, ab actors’ ki izzat zyada hoti hai (laughs). We have seen times when actors would come and touch the producer’s feet, and today a producer has to sit outside an actor’s office for 2-3 hours. This is a huge change.
On being a film producer today…
An actor and producer’s journey is very different, but nowadays actors have also become producers, so even they realize what being a producer is. But still, they act as an actor only, not as a producer. The producer takes all the pain to combine the project. Today agencies have come in, so first, they read the script and then send it to the actor, suggesting if they should do the film or not. So it is a very difficult journey for the producer. But it is all about how you manage things, I have been doing this well and I will continue to do this till I can.
Isn’t Deepak’s honesty wonderful to witness, well that is also what we see in the films he produces. His next Dhaakad with Kangana is slated to release on 8th April 2022, and I am looking forward to it.