AshwinY Iyer Tiwari | Getty Images
Her first film, Nil Battey Sannata (2015), was a sleeper hit. The second, Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), became one of the most loved films of the year. Now, on the eve of the release of her third, Panga, filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari is hoping to hit a hat-trick. The film, starring Kangana Ranaut in the lead, follows the life of a national kabaddi player who returns to the sport after a break.
Q/Is Panga inspired by a real-life story?
A/ Not at all. It is actually inspired by every woman in every household—a mother, daughter, wife, sister.... This is about that woman—whether young, middle-aged or old—who foregoes her dreams because of her circumstances.
Q/ What led to the story and its development?
A/ The core idea emerged after a brainstorming session at Star Network about its property, the Pro Kabaddi League. While researching the women’s kabaddi league, they had interviewed many women, and some footage [of the interviews] came to the notice of Fox Star Studio’s creative team. When they came across stories of women athletes who had to give up the sport, the team contacted me and we spoke about how universal the theme was. Even in corporate offices we face the same dilemma. Somewhere, the social conditioning is such that guilt seeps in [if you do not fulfil your responsibilities as a woman]. During the filming of Panga and later, its promotions, I kept calling my twins to apologise for being [home] late. I do not think Nitesh (Tiwari, husband) ever did that. He has been telling me not to do it, but it comes naturally to us [women].
Q/ The casting in your three films has been really interesting.
A/ When I cast Pankaj Tripathi as a goofy principal in Nil Battey Sannata, after all the dark and edgy roles he had done earlier, he said he was not sure about it. I had to convince him and take him back to his school days to remind him that his character was just from everyday life. Kriti Sanon had not done anything like her role in Bareilly Ki Barfi. I asked her how she was at home and she described it. I told her that was how she needed to be in the film as well. I have always tried to challenge myself in terms of the actors I work with. The whole world [was surprised] and asked me, “You want to cast Kangana?” I was fine with it. I do not want to be judging anything. It is like a relationship—sometimes you get along with people and sometimes you do not. For me, it is important to let people be. And also to concentrate on their positive [qualities] rather than the negative ones.