Kareena Kapoor is an underrated and underutilized actor, says The Buckingham Murders director Hansal Mehta – EXCLUSIVE

National Award-winning director Hansal Mehta has returned to the silver screen with his new offering, The Buckingham Murders, starring none other than the very gorgeous and talented Kareena Kapoor.

In an exclusive conversation with Money Control, Hansal Mehta said that Kareena Kapoor was his first and only choice to play the role of a grieving mother and detective Jaspreet Bhamra. He further opened about the art of storytelling and the importance of the authenticity of the script.

Hansal Mehta, who is on a small break away from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai after his film’s release, said he feels that Kareena is the most underrated and underutilized actor.

"I always felt Kareena is a vastly underrated, underutilized actor. She is a big star, but as an actor, there's still a lot to be tapped," he told Money Control.

Hansal Mehta also highlighted Kareena's dedication to her craft, saying, "I always felt Kareena is an actor who can bring a certain depth to the character."

When asked about how he finalizes his casting and if he is involved in the entire process, Hansal said: "I enjoy casting, and I really like when you see your character suddenly coming to life. Casting is the process; in writing, you give the characters a life, and in casting, the characters come to life!"

When discussing the challenges of filmmaking, the director noted, "People have preconceived notions. Many people said the same about 'The Buckingham Murders,' that you have made it in English, and how will it reach a larger audience?" The director countered, "If people are getting an authentic story, then the audience will love it."

We also quizzed Hansal Mehta about his decision to push boundaries with his creative choices, such as his bold move to feature a male chef, Sanjeev Kapoor, in the pathbreaking cooking show 'Khana Khazana' in 1993 and his decision to create the acclaimed series 'Scam', which tells the story of the infamous Harshad Mehta.

The director shared his insights on what drives his unconventional approach to storytelling and his commitment to showcasing complex characters and topics on screen.

Hansal said he had to face a lot of challenges and was not spared by the makers for getting Sanjeev Kapoor for the cookery show.

He also spoke about his record-breaking show Scam, which became a rage and broke many records when released on OTT in 2020. The Aligarh director said he loves to make shows and movies that interest him, and he will continue doing that.

On being quizzed about audiences' reluctance to step into theatres post the pandemic, Hansal nodded in agreement and said "We have to admit that there is an alteration in the landscape. The ecosystem. There is an alteration, and we are, you know, all of us have embraced it."

Hansal Mehta also spoke about his battle with depression and alcoholism. He said it does 'raise its ugly head many times' but he also clarified that he never got into clinical depression and sought help at the right time.

Excerpts from the Interview:

Away from Mumbai ahead of the film’s release

It's a tradition that before my film releases, I always set off somewhere for films or shows. I always set off somewhere, you know, slightly away from the noise surrounding it. So I'm sure this is no different. I am right now in London on a break. And but whatever I'm hearing is like, very, very heartening. The film is being received very, very well. And you know the love that we are getting from the audiences and from your fraternity is really heartening.

Kareena Kapoor is an underrated actor. Kareena came on a Zoom call with me, and she had already decided to do the film. You know. I think things always fall into place when the intentions are right. So, I signed this film in 2019. I heard the story way back in 2018, and during the pandemic, it was Ekta (Kapoor) who spoke to Kareena (Kapoor). They'd done films before that. They'd done a couple of films. Before that, Kareena came on a Zoom call with me, and she had already decided to do the film, you know. So, she liked the story. For me, I always felt Kareena is a vastly underrated, underutilized actor. She is a big star, but as an actor, a lot is to be tapped. So, here was an opportunity to bring Kareena, the actor, to the people, and it just happened. I don't think anybody else could have been Jaspreet Bhamra.

Authentic and honest with casting for my films

Just be authentic and honest with the casting. All the characters in this film are, you know, they have been cast from a place of authenticity. There's no motive that, oh, by having this person, I will get more audience, or I will get this. I think the first thing is that the integrity towards the story you're telling and towards the characters that you're portraying on screen is important. I've always worked with Mukesh Chabra and Shakyra Dowling, who worked on the casting of this film as well; they've been exemplary; I mean, they gave me the correct people.

I made a very conscious decision when we started the film; I said I'm not going to make a British film with characters from India, you know, all speaking in an alien language in an alien land. So it's almost like they've landed on an alien country in a spaceship. So I will not make that. I will make a film about people who live here. People who breathe here, people who you feel like you have been thrown into their world.

Also Read: The Buckingham Murders Review: Underwhelms As A Crime Drama, Impresses As An Exploration Of Communalism Among Immigrants

Always felt chef Ranveer Brar was an actor

I always felt Ranveer Brar was a very good actor. I used to see his videos during the pandemic. I made a lot of his recipes during the pandemic and watched a lot of his videos and the recipes. There are snippets of him talking into the camera about history and food, and in the video he used 100 different ways of saying, "Phir aap kahoge Ranveer aapne bataya nahi.' So I saw him, and I realized that there's an actor within him. When I approached him, I was pleasantly surprised to know that he wanted to be an actor. It was an absolute joy to work with him, you know, especially Buckingham murders; not only did he perform so perfect for the character, so authentic. You know that Punjabi man; he somehow fitted into that character, though he is not the same in real life. He fit into the character so well, but the bonus was that he was with us for nearly 3 weeks. He cooked for us. He cooked a lot of food for us, so that was the bonus.

I enjoy casting for my films

I enjoy casting, and Mukesh gets tired of me because we fight a lot. We argue a lot, and you know, until we get the right person. Even if you look at Buckingham murders, for example. The actors that I have cast for even one scene are all good actors. If you look at the other characters. The guy who has played Saqib, he's in drama school in London. So, all those characters—I mean, those actors—have been cast very carefully. I really enjoy the process of even casting, and I really like when you see your character suddenly coming to life. Casting is the process. In writing, you give the characters a life, and in casting, the characters come to life! You start seeing all the faces, so it's a lovely process.

Fought to get Sanjeev Kapoor on Khana Khazana in 1993

The challenges remain the same as they were back in 1993. Challenges jo hai logon ki aik fixed soch hai jo log bana kar baithtey hai na usse ladna is a main challenge. People from Zee were against having a male chef on the show Khana Khazana. They told me a lot of things that whom have you got for the show when we needed a female chef? I had shot with Sanjeev and didn’t inform the people at Zee. People have preconceived notions. Many people said the same about The Buckingham Murders: that you have made it in English and how will it reach a larger audience? I said if people are getting an authentic story, then the audience will love it. Though there will be a limited audience, it will still come to the theaters, and people will appreciate it. It was more necessary for me. The same happened with this movie, and the kind of appreciation the movie is receiving breaks the preconceived notions set by some. People are saying that this film looks like an international movie.

Never had clinical depression or clinical alcoholism

It raises its ugly head many times these. I never got into clinical depression, or what they call clinical alcoholism. I had almost reached that point. I had reached that point, but somehow I sought help at the right time. I found comfort in my close ones at the right time and recognized that something was going wrong. So at that time talking to people, you know, recognizing it, finding help, and not being shy about seeking help is very important.

Struggle is still on after 3 decades

The struggle period is still on. I have issues with this word struggle as it is romanticized. What I have been doing for the past 30 years—I think I've been born to do this. So, I can't call it a struggle because you have loved the work, and I think I've been born to do what I love.

Audience reluctant to return to theaters post-Covid

Well, yes, there is. I mean you. We have to admit that there is an alteration in the landscape. The ecosystem. There is an alteration, and we are, you know, all of us have embraced it. you know. I think what is important is that we keep telling those stories, and these stories keep finding their audiences, and the people who invest in the stories get a return on investment on what they have done. You know that the money is kept safe, so that's a balancing act that you have to do. Har film ka achcha bura box office ki wajah se hona na hona is demeaning an art form. It is a choti soch. From where do the makers recover their money is their lookout and there are various avenues of recovering money. Those who are spreading this that numbers are the say all then it is wrong. You can't compare the talent with height. If that would have been the case then Aamir Khan, or Salman Khan would not have been superstars.

The advent of OTT has broadened the horizon

Mujhe lagta hai ki maidan bada ho gaya hai. Films find their audience either in the cinema halls or in the OTT, or in both. I think it's not one against the other. The audiences have far, many more choices, and yes. Many times, people say that it is eventually going to release on OTT, so they skip going to theaters, but this will also change slowly. Markets correct themselves on their own.

Signed Scoop before Scam

I make those stories that I want to tell. I had signed Scoop before Scam. It was a comment on media and what it has become. You know, especially the print media, which is now forgotten. I was able to examine things. I make stories, which I find fascinating, and also the social reality, which I can show through my characters and story. I will keep telling those stories.

Didn’t glorify or demonize Harshad Mehta

The only thing I did with Harshad Mehta was neither demonize him nor glorify him. I think what we did in the scam was we humanized a character around who there was a myth.

People, like an anti-hero, somebody who goes against the system. But nowhere in the show did we try to make him into a hero. You know, he tried to trick the system and tried to go against the law of the time, the system of the time. And apparently he paid for it and paid for it very dearly. I think the overall messaging was correct. People take their own messages from these stories—what they like to see, you know. So he was a fascinating character. And I think that became popular. The character became popular, not his deeds.

On making Gandhi and comparisons of The Buckingham Murders with Mare of Easttown

Comparisons aren't new for me. Now for The Buckingham Murders too, it is being compared to Mare of Easttown. So, I dont think too much about it. People make different films. It is the story of the grieving mother, so it doesn't become the same. The plots can be somewhat similar but not the same.

Hansal Mehta has given hard-hitting movies and shows like Shahid, Aligarh, Scam, Scoop, to name a few. Hansal Mehta is now working on Gandhi.