Will take 'Paani' overseas if don't get Indian makers: Shekhar

His ambitious project "Paani" has been in the making for almost 11 years now and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has finally set himself the deadline of 2016 and he says if the film does not see the light of day in India by next year, he will make it with international producers.
"Paani", which will star Sushant Singh Rajput and Ayesha Kapoor in lead roles, deals with water scarcity.
The 69-year-old internationally acclaimed director says "big Indian producers" do not feel strongly about the subject of the movie and he cannot take the risk of making the film with such makers.

"I think if the film is not made by next year, I will just go overseas and make it there. It is time to take it away I think. Big producers in India who are funding films do not know about water shortage. I met one guy he said 'What do you mean by water shortage' because in his house he has never experienced it," Shekhar told PTI on the sidelines of IFFI.
"'Paani' relates to the current issue that affects people's lives. Unfortunately people, who have 25 million dollars to spend, for them it is not an issue. The problem is that I need two kind of people (as producer)- one who has courage and also someone who has commitment to the cause."

Shekhar, who has directed films like "Bandit Queen" and "Elizabeth", said there are enough financiers in the west, who are passionate about the project and want to back it.

"I am looking for a producer, who says 'I believe in you'. It is not just about the money. I believe in the issue and I think this film should be made. The problem is there are enough people in the west who want to make it but I want to make it out of India."
Shekhar is, however, hopeful that even after all the delays that "Paani" has faced so far, his passion project will take off soon from his home country. The director says even sci-fi Hollywood thriller "Gravity" took 13-long-years to complete so he is ready to go the distance with his film.

"I am hoping that we will get out here. It took 'Gravity' 13 years to make. None would back it. I completely understand that 'Paani' is a new kind of film.
"I want to make it out of India. It is more relevant in India as it is based here. Otherwise nobody is going to call it an Indian film."
"Paani" will star and has its music composed by maestro AR Rahman.