I love Karan Johar, says Anurag Kashyap

Bombay Velvet - a period drama that took over eight years to make is finally releasing this Friday. From having no takers to play the lead role to infrastructural issues, Anurag Kashyap has taken all challenges head on and emerged victorious. Here, he chats about the film, his hero – Ranbir Kapoor and his film.

Is Bombay Velvet your biggest film?
It is my biggest film. Budget wise, it is one crore more than all the films that I have directed and produced all put together.

Would you be upset if this film doesn't work?
Yeah. I would have a lot to think about if this film doesn't work but I don't think that will happen. I know it will work. I am sure. It is a film that will work. Anybody who see's it once will want to watch it many times.

You have always spoken about not having any stars in your film? How did you fall into the trappings of having a star in your film then?
I was never anti-star. I was always very wary of stars because I had this fear that all the stars will come and take my film away from me. But that fear has gone now. Also, the casting is very important. This film, if I need people to buy all this – the world, the glamour, and the money to do the film – it will only come with stars. When you put out a film like this, how else will the audience buy the film until and unless they see the person behind it? Ranbir came in the very end. Today, when I look back, I can't imagine anybody else except him. When it started in 2006, Ranbir was not even in the scene. He hadn't even done Saawariya. Nobody knew him. Anushka came on board in 2011, since I saw her. In 2006, there was no Anushka and no Ranbir.

What about your love-hate relationship with Karan Johar? How did you think of him?
I love him. There is no hate anymore. There was no hate. There was just resentment and that has also completely gone. It went away when I discovered him. I still can't make the kind of films he makes. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna I liked. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, I didn't like it at all. He is quite aware of that as well. As for how I thought of him for the role, the logis is very simple. When you see the character, you won't ask that question. He was such a fit. It is a character of an elite, Parsi, South Bombay man. With Karan, I don't mean to sell that, but the audience knows that he is South Bombay and he is elite. He is outstanding in the film.

Did you watch Margarita With A Straw? Would you work with Kalki again?
I really liked Margarita With A straw. Kalki was extraordinary in that film. This has been her best performance but I always knew she was a great actress. She is a very physical actor and she had been waiting for a role like this. Margarita gave her what she wanted as an actor. This has given her satisfaction. Yeah, why not? If there is a role, for sure.