Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: I see risk as an opportunity

Bollywood's famous and well-known director, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra conducted the first Master Class of the year at Whistling Woods International (WWI) where he shared his passion for filmmaking.

''I see risk as an opportunity to go where no one has been before'', said Mr. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra an articulate filmmaker, to the students of Whistling Woods International for the new semester of the year. Rakeysh Mehra has made spectacular movies like AKS, RANG DE BASANTI and DELHI 6. He is also an active member of the Academic Advisory Board (AAB) of WWI.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra started the session in a very informal way by asking the students, 'Why do you make films?' While talking to the students at WWI, he also dwelled upon his own fascinating journey where he said, 'Cinema was the joy of my youth. I was completely blown away by it. But now on the other side, it has become a tool for me to tell stories'.

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Rakeysh Mehra noted that the students at WWI would soon be equipped with the art and technique of storytelling. He emphasized that every film begins with a vision, be it the producer, the director or the writer. When a curious student questioned him if he had to make compromises as a film-maker, Mr. Mehra said in a very clear tone, 'There should be no fear. When you feel insecure about finance, actors, time and other elements; you defeat your purpose.' He stressed on the collaborative nature of film-making saying, 'You borrow from the sensibilities of others like the cinematographer, the sound recordist, the music director, the actors; but it remains the director's medium.'

To a student's question on the role of the editor, Rakeysh said, 'It is important to make sure that the story comes out the way you want it. I hold the editor in high esteem and today, a good editor is also a good 'sound editor.' Editing is the most dynamic of any art in film-making and the only discipline born from Cinema.'