Kangana, Ranbir, Arjun, Varun
While many helmers are facing the camera today, there are few Gen Y actors who want to sit in the director’s chair…
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; September 19, 2015)

Bombay Velvet might have been a washout, but Karan Johar definitely made heads turn with a rivetting performance in the period-noir film. Similarly, Tigmanshu Dhulia had left an impactful impression on the audiences with his Gangs of Wasseypur act. Even Farah Khan jumped on the bandwagon and debuted with her light-hearted Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi. While many directors today are trying out different avenues and opting to face the camera, there are also few Gen-Y actors who want to try out direction in the future. Previously, too, there have been Bollywood actors who have donned the director’s chair — Aamir Khan, Sunny Deol, Nana Patekar and Ajay Devgn to name a few. While few have been successful at pulling off a great directorial venture, many had failed to connect with the audiences.

With more Gen-Y actors zooming into the A-list and ruling the roost, some of the young actors have set bigger goals for themselves. Yes, just like an Aamir or Ajay, Ranbir, Arjun, Varun and Kangana, too, want to venture into direction. Someday.

Kangana Ranaut
Previously: Has already directed a nine-minute short film called The Touch and has also done a scriptwriting course last year.
She said: “Well, yes, I did a course, but it was just a screenplay writing course. And yes, I did a short film all by myself. I loved the experience because to me, anything that breaks the monotony of my life is good. I am looking forward to doing a lot more and learning a lot more than what I have right now, but I don’t have any concrete plans to write or direct. But I have written a script though and I would love to write more. I would love to direct a film soon and the best thing about it is now my directors encourage me. Aanand (L Rai) and Vikas (Bahl) want to produce my films and they’ve told me that once I am done directing my own film, they have scripts ready for me to direct. You know how Ben Affleck, George Clooney and Clint Eastwood maintain a healthy balance between their acting and direction. I also see something like that happening in my life soon.”

Ranbir Kapoor
Previously: Was an AD to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Black.
He said: “I have always wanted to direct. I have been an avid follower of my grandfather’s films. But after working with such great directors, I have realised one thing — direction is possibly the hardest job in filmmaking. As an actor, you’re just working for yourself; but as a director, you need to be totally selfless. You have to work for everybody who takes the credit. Also, I don’t have a story to tell. The day I have the story I would want to tell the audiences, I will definitely direct. But right now, that seems like a far-fetched idea. Yet, I am sure it will happen someday because I definitely want to make a film for the longest time. Maybe, someday when I will be bored of acting in films, I might seriously take it up.”

Arjun Kapoor
Previously: Been an assistant director for films like Salaam-E-Ishq
He said: “When I joined the film industry as an assistant director, I was fat and I had only one dream — to become a director someday. That has and will always be the bigger goal for me to achieve. Now, I am doing reasonably well with my films, but someday in the future, I will take up direction. I love cinema and have always been very engrossed in learning all aspects of filmmaking. I have started off as an AD and I am sure one day, I will direct my own film.

Varun Dhawan
Previously: Has been an AD to Karan Johar on My Name is Khan. His friends suggest that he already has few scripts in mind which he wants to make…
He said: “I have two directors at home already. My dad and my brother makes their own kind of films. So, I feel I have it in my genes. Right now, I am engrossed with acting in movies. But there will be a time whenI will reach a saturation point and will like to break away from the mould and try out something new. So why not direction? But as of now, there are no concrete plans. Someday in future, definitely there’s an idea. I have seen my father and my brother make films. I have worked with some really talented filmmakers. So hopefully, the knowledge I am getting by working in films will come in handy.”