It's a responsibility, can't afford to play with people's emotions: Rakeysh Mehra on ‘Karna’

A filmmaker has a certain responsibility towards millions of cinema goers, who turn up to watch movies, and he cannot afford to play with their emotions, says director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, whose next film ‘Karna’ is reportedly based on the iconic Mahabharata character.

According to reports, Mehra's ambitious project will see Tamil movie star Suriya in the titular role, with Janhvi Kapoor playing the role of Draupadi.

The filmmaker, known for ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, ‘Delhi-6’ and ‘Rang De Basanti’, was in Abu Dhabi to attend the IIFA Awards 2024.

“I don’t see a film as big or small but it’s a responsibility to tell a story. You are responsible to millions of people who watch the movie because I can’t afford to play with the emotions. I have to invest in the emotion,” he said.

“Fortunately, I've been blessed with the audience, they've given me a lot of love, and that gives me a lot of strength,” Mehra.

Asked if he was spending a lot of time on research, the filmmaker said, “I wake up at 3.30 in the morning and start working.”

“We need to honour real-life heroes, whether they are from sports or politics, or they are social activists. I think a lot needs to be told (on screen) about social activists,” he added.