Nandita Das: “I Decided Not To Have A Fear Of Failure”

Filmmaker Nandita Das says she is not afraid of facing failure as it “allows her to try out new things”.

Her upcoming film “Manto” is making the right noise and travelling to different film festivals. Nandita says she just wants to live up to everyone’s expectations.

“Very early in my life, and largely thanks to my parents, I decided not to have a fear of failure. It frees me from pressure and allows me to try out new things,” Nandita told IANS.

“Having said that, many people — producers, cast and crew — have put a lot of faith in me and I just want to live up to their expectations. And now with the buzz, I feel the audiences are also expecting something special. I hope all our intent and hard work will translate into an experience that they cherish,” she added.

“Manto” will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where she last went with her directorial debut “Firaaq” a decade ago. The movie, on the life of late Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, will be screened as part of a Special Presentations section. TIFF will be held from September 6-16.

“Manto” follows the most tumultuous years in the life of iconoclastic writer Manto and those of the countries — India and Pakistan — which Manto inhabited and chronicled.