'Sex scenes in my films are a transaction of emotions'

Filmmaker Kanu Behl talks about his upcoming investigative thriller Despatch, working with Manoj Bajpayee for the first time, and whether he thinks about an audience while making films

- SHREYAS PANDE

WITH his new film Despatch, which had its India premiere at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival this year and is streaming soon on ZEE5, Kanu Behl decides to steer clear of genre tropes. His crime journalist Joy (Manoj Bajpayee) is not someone who has the sole goal of uncovering the truth or ensuring justice. Joy doesn't flaunt a badge of idealism. Rather, he is incessantly human, with his own desires and shortcomings. It wasn't smooth for Kanu to arrive at this insight.

In 2016, Kanu and his co-writer Ishani Banerjee were immersed in extensive research. This involved reading reports of journalists' deaths, observing the changing nature of media, and speaking to lawyers, scribes, cops and gangsters. That's when they hit a roadblock.