For former beauty queen and model Jasmine Dsouza, directing a film was a natural choice. Married to filmmaker, Tony DSouza, Jasmine has in the past assisted her husband in music videos and films including ‘Blue’. In conversation with News18.com, Jasmine explained that while directing her first film ‘One Night Stand’ she realized that direction is tougher job than facing the camera.
“You are the captain of ship. You are responsible for every single person who is part of your film. As an actor, you just tend to take care of yourself and improvise yourself. But as director, you have to think for everyone,” said Jasmine. Her directorial debut ‘One Night Stand’ featuring Sunny Leone and Tanuj Virwani releases in theatres on Friday. Any goose bumps, we enquired? “No, I am not too nervous. Just keen to find out how the audience reacts to the film,” said the confident director.
Considering the film features Sunny Leone in the lead there are certain pre-conceived notions about the film being an erotic, raunchy tale. “My film is in the drama phase. It’s about a woman and how she decides to take a stand on a matter. It’s about a woman who is not apologetic about her desires.” Jasmine also mentions that the film also briefly touches upon the gender-issue and questions the society and its set norms. “If a guy has a one night stand, in all likelihood he is called a ‘stud’ but if a woman has it, she is called a ‘whore’. So we try to question the society which is most often judgmental towards women,” said the director and added, “Aren’t we judging the film because it features Sunny Leone in the lead?” Well, point taken.
Jasmine mentioned that Leone was her first and only choice for the film. “We had narrated her a rough sketch and only when she said yes to the film, that we started writing the script. Tanuj on the other hand was a last minute choice. Rana (Daggubati) was supposed to the film initially but because of his schedule with ‘Baahubali’, we couldn’t work out the dates. Tanuj gave an audition for the role and then he came on board.”
Does she feel women in Bollywood are objectified? “No one talks when Salman Khan takes his shirt off onscreen?” replies Jasmine and adds, “Yes there are certain films, where women are merely used as props and not just in India but outside as well. But we also now have women playing very strong roles in films. Like Deepika in ‘Piku’, Kangana in ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ or Swara in ‘Nil Battey Sannata’. So things are changing.”
Did she ever face any prejudice being a woman director? “Not from my crew. I was blessed to work with a wonderful team. But yes certain people had inhibition about my abilities. They though Tony is actually the one who is directing the film. I did face certain prejudices but not a lot.”
A well known face in commercials in the early 2000s, Jasmine acted in ‘88 Antop Hill’ before quitting it all for marriage and motherhood. “Someone had to take care of my child. I was happy to do it.” Now, a mother of an 11-year-old boy, Jasmine says she will take her time before she decides to direct another film. “Story is of utmost important. Sure, big stars help your film get noticed, but if the content isn’t good, the film won’t work. Making a film takes a lot of my time. I will only invest it when there is a strong story in place.”
Her husband’s next directorial venture ‘Azhar’ releases a week after her film. Does she never want to face the camera and get back to acting? “I am better off camera” quips Jasmine and signs off.
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