Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 1, 2017)

While scrolling through a slate of projects set to release under Aanand L Rai’s production house, a particular outing, Mukkebaaz, called for attention. A collaboration with Anurag Kashyap fuelled speculation that the director would pull out of Phantom Films, a firm he co-owns with Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl and Madhu Mantena, although Motwane had dismissed the rumours with a pithy, "We boys are rock solid."

However, that Rai convinced Kashyap to work on a production away from his firm still demands notice. Rai says the decision to approach Kashyap was instinctive. "When I read the script, his name was the first to come to my mind," Rai says, adding that filmmakers falter in approaching a producer-director of their choice fearing he won’t work for another production house. "Such a move could be a conflict ofinterest for businessmen, but, we are creative people," he adds Rai celebrates the fact that his relationship with Kashyap is devoid of strain. "We chill, talk and brainstorm," he says, adding that he is invested in those he works with. "I choose storytellers, not just stories."