In 2015, Vikram Phadnis completes a silver jubilee in the entertainment industry and will celebrate it by turning director. The film, an emotional drama stars Bipasha Basu, who the fashion designer has known since she came to Mumbai to be a model. “Bipasha plays a modern mother and the film is the journey of a family that learns to celebrate life,“ says Vikram, recalling that as soon as he finished with his narration, she asked him how many dates he was looking for.

Vikram has lived with this story for three years. Recently, he signed a two film deal with an Australian company. The yet-to-be-titled film will roll on January 25. It will be shot with an all-Austalian crew in Melbourne in one 50-day schedule. The second film, higher in entertainment and glam quotient, will roll post Diwali.

“Many have asked me why I didn't debut with the second subject. I wanted to tell a simple, straight-from-the-heart story first. I'm confident it'll strike a chord and establish my credentials as a director before I enter a space people don't expect to see me in,“ Vikram reasons, adding, “I believe content is King... and Queen, going by the success of Vikas Bahl's film.“

Rana Daggubati, seen with Bipasha in Dum Maaro Dum, will play the role of her husband as the director wanted a tall, broad-shouldered man who would compliment Bipasha 's strong personality. And they are in the process of casting a girl who will play their 13-year-old daughter.

Meanwhile, composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have already recorded the first song in Shankar Mahadevan's voice. “Ever since I heard their compositions in Kal Ho Na Ho and Karthik Calling Karthik, I have wanted them to score for my first film. Their songs are not a visual break but they take the story forward,“ Vikram points out. He makes a special mention of lyricist Sameer who put the project together for him after being hooked with a one-line narration.

Vikram will style the classic, English look for the film but won't design the costumes. “I need to focus on direction,“ he says but adds that he's not giving up fashion designing. “That has given me my identity. I may take a break but I will be back to expand my brand.“