Your last film Barfi! Was back in 2012. Why such a long break for Jagga JasoosIJ

It was a personal thing for me. I’ve been continuously working for so many years since the TV show Tara. I made thousands of episodes. Then I did back to back films. I needed a break and Barfi! earned some money, so I could afford to take the break! Before that, I had to worry about EMIs, my children’s school fees, etc.

Is that why you are counting on Ranbir  for your next film as wellIJ

Not really. Ranbir was supposed to do two films with me. And Anurag (Kashyap), Imtiaz (Ali) and I mutually decided that my film would release after their films with him.

Has anything changed in Ranbir since you last directed himIJ

He has become a little more serious with his work. He didn’t do much homework during Barfi! Nothing has changed except that. Or maybe I didn’t realise because we’ve been shooting in installments for a while now.

What other projects are you working onIJ

I’m starting the sequel of life in a Metro in December. It’s still being scripted but casting is not locked yet. There will be multiple stories but not the same ones from last time. And this time, there will be four metros — Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

Kangna Ranaut got her big break in your film Gangster and she’s come a long way. Any plans of making another film with herIJ

We’ve been planning for a while now, it’s been pending for long. I want to come up with something very special for her, but I don’t have a special script for her.

Do you think directing a script you’ve written is better than directing someone else’s scriptIJ

It is, but it takes so much time. I’m still waiting for someone to get me a great script that is ready to be directed. There is fun in that too because you try to get into a different person’s shoes. But there is definitely a dearth of writers in the industry.

You’re originally an actor, but now your focus is on direction…

I come from theatre where I used to do acting, writing, directing, everything. But I always wanted to direct because then you get to live so many characters. An actor can only live that one character.

Have the song and dance sequences in Bollywood films become more scanty with content taking overIJ

Personally, my films never had those. However, the reason for that could be that the revenue from music has changed. Everything is available digitally. Without CDs, there is not as much money from music as there used to be. That’s why, it’s importance is declining.

Which are the actors you’d like to work withIJ

There are so many and some of them are really good friends whom I’ve not worked with. Deepika (Padukone) and Vidya (Balan). Then there’s Ranveer (Singh) and Shahid (Kapoor) whom I love as people as well as actors. And, of course, Bachchan sahab, top of the list.

You cast a lot of Bengali actors and shoot in Bengal as well. What’s your connect with the placeIJ

I’m lazy as a director, that’s why Bengal. I am a Bengali and I know that culture. If I place my story in Punjab or Haryana, I’ll have to study that culture first. I’m too lazy for that. 

You’re a judge on Super Dancer on Sony now...

When they called me, I was too scared as this is a dance show. I didn’t know what I could contribute. What if I tell the children they didn’t dance well and they say, “Aap karke batao”IJ I will do what I do on my set. I’ll go with my gut feeling and personal likes and dislikes as a filmmaker. I also get worried about the psychological aspect and the effects on the children. I will be there to take care of them like I did on my last reality show and how I take care of my two daughters.   

Shilpa Shetty, with whom you’ve done life in a Metro, is also one of the judges. How’s your rapport with herIJ

I was glad she’s there and that was one of the reasons I said yes. But when we were travelling for the promotions, I thought: “Ye toh bhaari pad gaya mujhe.” She’s been lecturing me about my weight and keeping an eye on what I eat! I think they took me as a judge to balance the panel. There is Geeta Kapur on one side, so there had to be someone to balance the weight.

Do you feel the young people and their parents have seriously started considering careers in acting and dancing due to these showsIJ

It was always there, it’s not the reality shows that are doing this. like the Shiamak Dawar classes have been there for a long time. For children, I would tell them not to take this as a stepping stone for a bigger dream to Bollywood. They are too young to decide what is their future. They should just treat it as a discipline and an opportunity to meet different people and talent, much like a scout camp.