Lights, Camera, AD!

They may be unsung, but they’re the hottest assistant directors on the block.

If you are on a film set, it is difficult to evade a flurry of young men running amok, some managing lights, some manning the stars and others calling out the juniors. The lifeline of any film, they are assistant directors, referred to as ADs, who are the real commanders in control. We profiles four young ADs.

Tarun Mansukhani, 30

Assistant on: ‘Mohabbatein’ and ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’
Background: “I left books to come into movies,” says Tarun laughingly. He studied commerce from HR College and his earliest experience was with director Anand Mahendroo for the soap ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’. And then Karan Johar came calling. “I was more interested in enrolling at the FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) but I later dropped the idea.”
What ADing means to me: “Once an AD, always an AD; and Karan remains my teacher.” 

Nitya Mehra, 28

Assistant on: ‘Don’ and ‘The Namesake’
Background: Nitya has had no connection with cinema. From a BA student in Delhi to one of the top-ranking ADs today, Nitya’s journey has been eventful. “I was into audio visuals in school and I would slip into film appreciation courses,” she says. Nitya has extensively worked with Farhan Akhtar and has even directed a short film, titled ‘The Cherry on the Top’.
What ADing means to me: “This is the closest I can get to what I eventually want to do.”

Shawn Arranha, 28

Assistant on: ‘Ek Ajnabee’ and ‘Shootout At Lokhandwala’ 
Background: Shawn has travelled all across India as a student. “I have studied in Nainital, Mussoorie and even Dubai,” he says. He started his production career with MTV, but his first film as an assistant was ‘Saathiya’. Sanjay Gupta-produced ‘Shootout At Lokhandwala’ is his latest project. 
What ADing means to me: “A step towards understanding filmmaking better.”

Kapil Sharma, 32

Assistant on: ‘Being Cyrus’ and ‘The Fall’
Background: A mass communications graduate from Pune University, Kapil has been walking a tightrope between international work and Hindi films. Once he served as a light-man on ‘Bollywood Calling’ and today his work includes films such as ‘Outsourced’, ‘The Fall’ and commercials such as the one for Powerade during soccer World Cup.
What ADing means to me: “A challenge to manage chaos while still allowing the creative process to happen.”

s_ayaz@dnaindia.net