'EVERYBODY REJECTED ME'

It is only fair that being around the industry has to rub off on its children.

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'I have been trying to make a movie for seven years. I got a chance only now.'

'I have taken my script to every office from Dharma to Tips to Eros.'

'I have narrated my script to every actor possible. Nobody believed me.'

'Because of OTT, people like me are finally getting a chance to make something.'

Jai Mehta started out playing production assistant on his father Hansal Mehta’s films, and even co-directed the acclaimed Web series, Scam 1992.

Now, he turns solo director for the gritty hijack drama, Lootere, which has been getting wide acclaim and has ended Jai’s long wait of seven years to helm a project.

“I have been taught to never say no to work. My idea was if I’m getting a job, even if the job is for a spot boy, I’ll do it. I just wanted to be on set for a movie, in whatever capacity possible,”

How did the idea of Lootere come along and what fascinated you about this subject?

The idea was not exactly mine. It was an idea developed by Anshuman Sinha and Shailesh Singh.

Anshuman had come with a story idea to Shailesh, who’s our creator and producer. Then Shailesh brought Vishal Kapoor and Suparn S Verma on board to develop the show. They had written one version of it. Then Disney+Hotstar was brought on board. It’s only after one year of them working on it, that they came to me.

Scam 1992 was released in October 2020, and Shailesh sent me a message in December. When he told me about this idea, my first question was: ‘Hotstar is on board with this show? I think that was my first surprise.