Four years ago, Vikas Bahl penned a cross-cultural love story about two people from two countries speaking two different languages and unable to comprehend or communicate with each other despite their heart connection. “The idea germinated from my interactions with Majid Majidi who I was helping with a film he wanted to make in India. The Iranian filmmaker is a fascinating person and we loved conversing with each other but without an interpreter we couldn't go beyond a 'hi',“ reminisces Vikas, adding that when he was shooting for his National Award-winning directorial debut, Queen, in Paris, once again he faced language problems with the local French crew who didn't speak English.

He admits that when he wrote the story he hadn't imagined it as a film because for the concept to translate on celluloid, he needed to cross borders. “I didn't know actors from my own country, forget actors from another,“ he chuckles.

Then, last December, through a common friend, he connected with Kev Adams, a French actor, producer and stand-up comedian whose films include Les Nouvelles Aventures d'Aladin, Les Profs 2 and Amis Publics to name a few. They chatted on the phone and through Whatsapp. Vikas narrated his story to Kev before flying down to Paris to meet him around eight months ago. “He loved the idea even though Kev himself adapts to languages and their nuances easily. And we decided to collaborate on an Indo-French co-production, tentatively titled The Interpreter, with him in the lead opposite a mainstream Bollywood actress,“ informs Vikas.

The story is currently been scripted by the trio of Chaitali, Paula and Sarang while Vikas is busy prepping up for his biopic, Super 30, on Bihar's educational coaching institute and its founder Anand Kumar who over 14 years has been grooming students from underprivileged families for the competitive Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination. He'll start on Interpreter after he wraps up this film.

Kev is on his second visit to India for stand-up comedy shows and another Indo-French collaboration.Vikas has been treating his 'hero' to strictly vegetarian food. He adds that the Frenchman loves Mumbai, Delhi and dal, and can't wait to shoot with him. “It's a travel film so our foodie will be able to sample different cuisines. The French love food but when they say 'hungry' it sounds like 'angry'. Maybe we can incorporate that into our script,“ Vikas signs off with a laugh.