'Kho Gaye Hum Kahan'director Arjun Varain Singh is all praise for Ananya Panday for her performance in his film. He also shared his experience on making his directorial debut with Zoya Akhtar and team.
Let's appreciate the young lad, Arjun Varain Singh for directing so well in his first outing, 'Kho Gaye Hum Kahan'. Arjun who worked as assistant director with Zoya Akhtar in 'Gully Boy' and 'Ghost Stories' served us an original story with the Netflix film backed by Tiger Baby and Excel Entertainment.
'Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’ revolves around the lives of three best friends Imaad (Siddhant Chaturvedi), Ahana (Ananya Panday) and Neil (Adarsh Gourav). The movie has a potential minefield of themes like urban loneliness, emotional intimacy, anxieties, insecurities, etc in the digital age and how the characters navigate through it.
Helming his first feature film with Zoya Akhtar's production was a dream come true for Arjun. Opening up about his working experience with Zoya and her team, he said, ''I learned a lot from Zoya, the way she brings out the best from her team, the crew and the actors. She allows everyone to be comfortable on set and that is something I really try to imbibe in my own team and crew so that everyone feels comfortable and inspired to make the film their own. I think only when people are comfortable they can bring out the best of themselves and also they feel ownership of their work. That's the beauty and Zoya does it so well,'' he said.
Arjun also recalled sending his first mail to the 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' director when he returned from abroad, finishing his course in filmmaking. He shared, ''Even before I started working in the industry, I always wanted to work with Zoya and Excel Entertainment. I liked the films they made, they resonated with me, especially Zoya's work. I remember when I just came back from film school, one of the first people I emailed was Zoya. That time she was getting started on 'Dil Dhadakne Do' if I am not wrong. She already had a team, so, I didn't get the opportunity to work with her then. But she took time out and mailed me back and it was so kind of her. After a couple of years, I had the opportunity to work with her but it was always a dream to work in this environment, with these creators, producers who back you up so well and people who really want you to succeed''.
In 'Kho Gaye Gaye Hum Kahan', all three- Siddhant, Adarsh and Ananya did their best. But, looking at her previous films, Ananya fully did justice to her character. It was one of the most mature roles she has portrayed so far. All thanks to the writer and of course, Arjun for bringing out the best from the 25-year-old.
Singh was all praise for Ananya's work in his film. He said, ''I just have to say that she is incredibly hardworking. She is very sweet and lovable. The version of Ananya is also different from who she is when the camera is on. She is very humble and vulnerable. I think what she beautifully brought to her character was that vulnerability''.
''I was fortunate to be able to have the time to work with her, understand the script and discover the character with her that we eventually found together. That's why it was a fruitful experience. I think that's why she was able to bring such an honest part of herself into the character,'' he added.
Arjun further said, ''I have noticed people saying that the character is similar to Ananya. He credited the actress for making the character her own and bringing so much to it''.