Chef Vikas Khanna on his decision to direct a film based on his book, The Last Color
He’s one of the first Indian chefs to be conferred the Michelin Star in the US. So, when Chef Vikas Khanna turned filmmaker with The Last Color, it naturally created curiosity among his peers and fans. Based on the book by the same name, which Vikas has himself written, the film will be shown at the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2019 in the US in January. The story of Chhoti, a nine-year-old tightrope walker and Noor, a 70-year-old widow and their friendship, is a tale of the triumph of the human spirit that unfolds on the banks of River Ganges. Working with Neena Gupta, who plays the role of Noor, was a dream come true for Vikas. “She was extremely patient with me,” said the first-time director, who was on his way to the Golden Temple in Amritsar when we spoke to him. He was taking the film’s Blu Ray with him to seek God’s blessings, ahead of the film’s showing at the festival. “There will be three screenings of the film, which I’m told does not usually happen. So, I’m quite happy about that,” he said. The chef-turned-filmmaker spoke to After Hrs about his shooting experience...
How did the idea of the book strike you?
I had no idea that this book would become so big. I had only written food books and children’s books off and on, but never a work of fiction. I used to come to India and interview the widows in the ashrams at Varanasi. That’s a back story, the main story is about the tightrope-walker. The little girl, who plays the role of Choti, was found by me after auditioning 1,800 girls. I had the memory of a little girl who inspired me to write the novel. She was a tightrope walker, who I had met at the Kumbh Mela a couple of years ago. When I asked her why she doesn’t go to school, she told me that she won’t be able to survive without working and making money. She wanted to become a lawyer when she grew up. This was around the time my father had passed away and I was spending some time in Varanasi. I was looking for a closure after his death, but I didn’t know I would be inspired to write.
Writing a book is one thing, but directing a film is a huge task. How did you decide to helm the project yourself?
I had narrated the dialogues to a guy I had shortlisted to direct the movie. I was narrating it and crying, but this person wasn’t even feeling it. I couldn’t be dishonest with my thought process. It was hard for me to give my baby to someone else. I don’t care how wrong the movie is in the technical department, I just wanted to maintain the honesty and emotions. Like cooking, filmmaking is also about observation. I understand the framing part. I have shot all my books myself. I thought, even if the film is technically weak, it will not be emotionally hollow.
Cooking, writing, directing — what has been most challenging for you?
Making a movie is possibly the most difficult thing I have done in my entire life. That’s the reason filmmakers are so revered everywhere. It’s so hard and challenging.
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 "Vikas Khanna (left); and Neena Gupta in The Last Color")
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