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| I never thought I’d be on reality TV: Shalini Kantayya | | **** Shalini Kantayya is a filmmaker. She was picked by Steven Spielberg to be a contestant on the reality show On The Lot.*** | |
How much a part of your identity as a filmmaker is being an activist?
I strive to share stories about the issues I care most about. I think what moves people to make changes in their lives is more than intellectual knowledge, but feeling something viscerally.
Does that get you typecast as a ‘liberal activist filmmaker’?
People always want to push you into a box, but there are moments when my art and activism are at odds with each other.
Which filmmakers have influenced you?
Wong Kar-Wai and Almodovar. I also love American, ’70s era filmmaking—Kubrick, Scorcese, Coppola.
Any Indian filmmakers?
I grew up watching Mani Ratnam films, and I love the Bengalis—Satyjit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Aparna Sen.
One artist who used his medium as a platform for awareness?
George Clooney’s cutting commentary on the current American political climate by portraying the McCarthy era in Good Night and Good Luck.
What’s one film you would want to make?
Star Wars. The first three.
Actors you look forward to working with?
Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, George Clooney, Konkona Sen, Saif Ali Khan and Om Puri.
What drew you to the problem of clean water?
While at the Kumbh Mela, I began to question throwing trash into the river as offerings.
On the show you have to make a film every week. How are you surviving?
One has to continually be creative. The best directors would find it challenging.
Are you the next ruler of the Brown Vote? Shilpa-Sanjaya-Shalini is catchy.
I never thought I’d be on reality TV. I’d be grateful to have the support of millions of desis.
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