Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; September 12, 2020)

Rajat Barmecha, who was noticed for his acting debut in Udaan (2010), is now exploring other creative aspects of filmmaking. He has penned the script of a film, which he claims will be India’s first backpacking movie. In a chat with BT, he talks about the inspiration behind his script. Excerpts...

While you have had outings in the digital space, one has not seen you on the big screen for a long time. And now, you have penned the script for a film. Tell us about it...
It’s a travel film. In India, we have never had an authentic backpacking film. Yes, we have had an iconic movie like Dil Chahta Hai (2001), which is about three friends who travel to Goa, but that’s about it. Anyone, who has heard or done backpacking, will completely relate to this film.

How did this story come about?
For the first year after Udaan, there wasn’t much happening, and things didn’t shape up the way I had expected them to. During that time, I saw a film called Into The Wild. It motivated me so much and made me realise that there is life beyond just cinema, work and money. So, I started backpacking solo. This was in 2015, and since then, most of my trips have been solo. The script comes from personal experiences — the people I have met, and the stories they have told me.

What inspired you to give writing a shot after acting?
The credit for it goes to Vikram’s (Udaan director Vikramaditya Motwane) mom, Deepa aunty. After the film, whenever she would meet me, she would ask me, ‘What’s happening next?’ And I would tell her that while I was getting offers, nothing interesting had come up. So, she told me, ‘If you can’t find the work that you are looking for, create it for yourself’.

Have you finalised the cast for your film? Will you act in it?
At its core, this is a love story. I would like to essay the lead character, because I created it for myself. The girl opposite me has to be a foreigner because that’s the demand of the script. I have a couple of Spanish actors in mind, but I haven’t approached anyone yet. I am in the process of registering the script, which has been delayed because of the pandemic.