Adhyayan turns director, but just for a minute

By Joginder Tuteja

Mumbai, June 26 (IANS) Budding actor Adhyayan Suman has done a course in direction and has always nurtured a desire to call the shots for a film. And his wish came true when producer Mahesh Bhatt let him go behind the camera for shooting a crucial scene for forthcoming film "Jashnn".

"Yeah, it was great to make my directorial debut with 'Jashnn' even though the scene is just about a minute and a half long," said Adhyayan, who admits he was extremely nervous when suddenly given this responsibility.

Featuring Anjana Sukhani, who plays his girlfriend in the movie, the scene is part of a romantic sequence. "Jashnn" is being directed by Raksha Mistry and Hasnain Hyderabadwala.

"The atmosphere on the sets was such that I could walk up to anyone and share my suggestions. I used to have long conversations with Mahesh Bhatt-saab who was usually present on the sets. Since I've studied direction, I used to share my point of view about approaching a scene," said the young actor, who debuted with "Raaz - The Mystery Continues".

"During one such conversation, Bhatt-saab simply got up and told me to direct the next scene on the sets," he recalled.

"I was completely flabbergasted as I didn't see it coming at all. I wasn't too sure but Bhatt-saab instilled confidence in me. He told me to shoot the scene the way I would have envisioned it," he added.

"The scene has Anjana conversing with me through SMS. It's a romantic scene and while Anjana was having all the fun, both on and off the screen, I was really nervous. But once I was through with my lights, camera, action and cut routine, I felt so high about life. It was a dream come true," he said.

Does he worry that the scene may be chopped off at the editing table?

"Fingers crossed," he laughed. "Because as far as I know, the scene is very much there in the final cut."

Tell him that he now can share at least one percent credit as director for the film and he just shrugs it off.

"Direction can wait; first let me establish myself as an actor with 'Jashnn'. It is the most important film of my career as of today and I have to prove a lot to the world," Adhyayan said.

"I have to be first accepted as an actor and after 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues', I know that people have good expectations from me. I have to live up to them," he added.

Also starring Shahana Goswami, "Jashnn" is set for a July 17 release.

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