Filmmaker Sinha: 'Some things must be unbearable'

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha clarified that his film choices are not categorized as 'socially relevant' but stem from subjects that personally and emotionally resonate with him. He stated that stories which stay with him and cause him concern are what he eventually films. The genesis of his latest film, 'Assi,' was not a single headline or event, but rather the cumulative impact of various incidents that deeply affected him.

Sinha expressed frustration at feeling unable to act on the wrongdoings around him, which led him to use filmmaking as a medium for expression. He highlighted that key actors, including Supriya Pathak, Seema Pahwaji, and Naseeruddin Shah, agreed to participate without much persuasion. Taapsee Pannu was an early choice for the lead role, identified during the writing process.

The director also discussed the visual representation of the statistic that rape incidents occur every 20 minutes in the film. This concept, suggested by DOP Ewan Mulligan, involved fading the film to red instead of black every 20 minutes to create an unbearable reminder of the issue, reflecting Sinha's intent to make audiences uncomfortable with long-ignored realities.

Regarding the film's reception, Sinha noted that 'Assi' started slow but showed encouraging growth over the weekend. He is now contemplating his next project, with several passionate ideas in development, expecting to finalize his decision within a month. He also emphasized that addressing the justice process in rape cases is beyond his scope, focusing instead on societal actions beyond the judiciary.