Abhishek Bachchan's 'Kaalidhar Laapata' director Madhumita talks about her upcoming international horror film: 'I would love to bring together Aishwarya Rai, Taapsee Pannu, Deepika Padukone...'

Time of India

20 hours ago

From Tamil cinema to a Hindi-language debut featuring
, director
is steadily carving her own space across industries—with heart, humour, and honesty at the core of every story she tells.
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In this candid conversation, Madhumita opened up about dream collaborations, her love for ensemble storytelling, navigating Bollywood sets, and why empathy—not ego—is the true engine behind her work.
Excerpts...
Your first Hindi film features Abhishek Bachchan — was he on your dream list of actors to work with? Who else in Bollywood would you love to collaborate with and why?
Honestly, I was a bit nervous about working with a star like Abhishek, but his professionalism and down-to-earth nature put everyone at ease—including Daivik and myself. I'd love to collaborate with him again. Directing
sir has always been a dream—like many, I'm a true fan! But then, there are so many talented actors in India, and I'd love the chance to work with all of them. Can't blame a girl for dreaming, right?
Is there a Bollywood actor or actress whose work you deeply admire—maybe someone whose choices or craft you find especially inspiring as a storyteller?
I deeply admire anyone—actor, director, or technician—who puts the film above themselves.
That selfless dedication to the story and the craft is what truly inspires me as a storyteller.
If you could cast any two Bollywood actors in your next film—no budget constraints—who would you pick and what genre would the film be?
That is a really tough one. So I'm going to say this. If it is from Bollywood, and I had zero budget restrictions, I would love to bring together a powerhouse ensemble of incredible women for this international horror film that I am developing. Imagine a band of fierce, talented actresses like
ma'am,
ma'am,
ma'am, Shefali Shah ma'am, Tillotama Shome ma'am,
ma'am, and
ma'am—all in one film. Just the thought of that energy and talent on screen gives me goosebumps!
As someone now straddling industries, what's something unique you've observed about Bollywood sets compared to Kollywood ones?
Regardless of where I am making the film, being on set is magic and that is magic I love and hope to be creating for a very long time.
You have a strong emotional signature in your work—be it Vallamai Tharayo, K.D., or Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa. What personal experiences or values shape your storytelling lens the most?
I'm drawn to human stories and spend a lot of time observing people, understanding them. At the core of it all, I believe it's important to be a kind and empathetic human being; everything else comes after that. You can always learn and refine your craft as a filmmaker, but for the kinds of stories I want to tell, empathy is essential.
Someone I once deeply admired told me that filmmakers are like surrogates. As someone who is naturally sensitive and emotional, I'll admit that comment stung.
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Every film I make feels like a child to me. I truly believe that our sensitivity is what makes us creators—if we don't connect emotionally with our stories, how can we expect audiences to connect with our characters? Ultimately, my hope is that the characters I create linger in the minds of the audience, giving them something meaningful to take home.
You're now part of a rising wave of South Indian women directors entering Hindi cinema. How do you hope your voice adds to the larger landscape?
I recently read about Jiro Ono, the legendary sushi chef who runs a small restaurant in a Tokyo train station.
Every day, he wakes up at 4 am, carefully selects his fish, and dedicates himself to perfecting his craft—one piece of sushi at a time. His routine never changes, but his passion and commitment shine through in everything he does.
That's exactly how I see my journey as a filmmaker. I just want to keep making films, honing my craft every day, and loving every minute of it—one story at a time. If my voice adds anything to the larger landscape, I hope it's that quiet dedication to storytelling and the belief that, with consistency and heart, every story can make a difference.
For me, it really is as simple as that.
With increasing collaborations and remakes, the lines between Bollywood and South cinema are blurring more than ever. As someone who's now worked in both industries, how do you view this shift?
As I mentioned earlier, human emotions are universal, so language is no longer a barrier. With the rise of OTT and digital platforms, we now have access to stories from all over the world and find ourselves resonating with narratives from places we've never even visited. I see this as a positive shift—it allows us to learn from global perspectives while also sharing our own culture-specific stories with a wider audience.
I truly believe that if you keep your story rooted in its local context and stay authentic to the emotions, it will naturally find a global audience. Authenticity transcends language, and that's what makes storytelling so powerful today.