Prakash Jha's Pleasant Surprise: Daughter Disha's Unexpected Filmmaking Journey
In a candid conversation at his Andheri West office in Mumbai, National Award-winning filmmaker and producer Prakash Jha shared a heartwarming revelation about his daughter, Disha Jha. The acclaimed director admitted he didn't realize when his daughter grew up and developed a passion for filmmaking until she approached him with a story idea one day.
From Costume Assistant to Filmmaking Professional
Disha Jha first stepped into the world of cinema as a costume assistant on her father's political drama 'Raajneeti'. Reflecting on her growth, Prakash Jha told IANS, "I didn't even realize when she grew up. I didn't even teach her anything. I picked her up on my own. Yes, I realized one day, when she came to me with the subject, that she has grown up. It feels good. And we all learn. She's also learning."
The filmmaker expressed particular pride in how Disha has developed essential professional skills. "She's learning well because people on the set, people outside, they love her, they talk so well of her, which is good, which is the main essence," he explained. "As a producer, you need to communicate and you need to understand what everybody needs. And of course, the whole mechanism, the timing, the scheduling and all those things, and you need to get the work done, budget, etc. All those things are there. Most important is that, you know, you have a rapport with everybody. That's important."
Jha's Perspective on Revolution and Society
Earlier in the conversation, the veteran filmmaker shared his philosophical views on the relationship between society and revolution. He described revolution as a natural consequence of oppression reaching critical levels. "Revolution is natural. It's natural. A volcano will erupt. Similarly, when an oppression takes place, a lot of things get bottled then they erupt. It's a natural process," Jha explained.
He elaborated further with a powerful analogy: "We don't rise from our sleep. Revolutions keep smouldering slowly, when we can't handle the oppression anymore, it erupts like a volcano. Time is the greatest teacher, if we look at time or live through time, he teaches us everything."
The Responsibility of Cinema to Society
When asked about his responsibility to both cinema and society, Prakash Jha emphasized the importance of sensitivity and constructive engagement. "Well, we must understand the sensitivity of every dialogue that we try to convey, every image and every story. The idea is to entertain, the idea is to engage. The idea also is to be able to stir certain emotions," he stated.
The filmmaker added crucial advice for content creators: "If there is something that you could say, you try and say it, but always say it with sensitivity. You don't have to avoid people, you don't have to destabilize. So the idea is to constructively negotiate and say what you want to say. Keep it engaging, keep it interesting."
This comprehensive interview reveals not only a father's pride in his daughter's unexpected career path but also provides valuable insights from one of Indian cinema's most respected voices on the intersection of filmmaking and social responsibility.
