Gupte came to the limelight for
penning the critically acclaimed 2008 movie "Taare Zameen
Par". Initially, Gupte was directing the film, but Aamir
Khan later took over the reins and debuted as a director with
the movie about a dyslexic child.
Asked if he had to undergo any research for his
screen comeback, he said: "Thirty years of cinema study has
got me a good experience and that is exactly the form of R&D
that has gone from my side into the film."
Also starring Shahid Kapoor in a double role
along with Priyanka Chopra, "Kaminey" releases Aug 14.
In the crime thriller, Gupte will be seen as Priyanka's elder
brother who is a small-time gangster and later turns into a rogue
politician.
Being a director himself, Gupte revealed he had
no problems following Bharadwaj's instructions.
"You have to see what position you are taking
while you are on the sets of a movie. If I'm on the sets as a
director, I'd like my actors to be fully committed to the project...
I gave the same position to Vishal. I exploited myself as an actor
and he did so in direction," said Gupte.
The writer-director was also all praise for Shahid
and Priyanka.
"They are extremely dedicated and have no
ego issues with anyone. I never saw them disappearing to their
vanity vans after a shot, unlike other actors... that shows their
commitment," he said.
" 'Kaminey' is a caper which is galloping
on the first gear at a 100-km- per-hour speed. Come and have fun,
it's full of energy," he added.
Gupte's brush with acting is not new. Not many
know that he has acted in National Award-winning film "Chakar
Chandu Ka Chameli Wala" (1982), Ketan Mehta's "Holi"
(1984) and Dayal Nihalani's "Guru Dakshina" (1986) apart
from starring in numerous student films for the Film and Television
Institute of India (FTII).
"As a student of cinema I've kept facing
the camera till 1993. I used to work at Rs.30 per day. I spent
most of my time in FTII either watching world cinema or in the
canteen or under the wisdom tree, where I sat for 12 years,"
he said.
Gupte also hosted a talk show for Sony called
"Bindaas Bol" in the 1990s. He is a man of many talents
-- apart from acting and writing, he is also a painter and musician.
Asked if he would continue with acting, he joked:
"I'm not here to promote myself as an actor but ya...if (Quentin)
Tarantino comes down..."
Gupte is now set to wield the megaphone for "Sapno
Ko Ginte Ginte" - a children's film written by him.
|
BOLLYWOOD 
