From directing Cate Blanchett to seven Oscar nominations for Elizabeth, to warning Hollywood and Silicon Valley that their empires may not survive artificial intelligence- Shekhar Kapur sits down with Subodh Gupta, Editor of Journalism News Network. The BAFTA-winner, Cannes alumnus and 2025 Padma Bhushan recipient offers a candid view what makes a successful film director.
Recently, the Journalism News Network UK team met with BAFTA- and Academy Award (Oscar)-winning film director Shekhar Kapur at a charity event in London. Following are the excerpts of an interview in which Shekhar Kapur shared his thoughts on what makes a successful film director and how one can become famous, in conversation with Subodh Gupta, Editor, Journalism News Network UK, in London.
(Q) Is there any secret formula to becoming a successful film director like yourself?
Ans) 3 Ps — Passion, Perseverance and Patience, and that’s it.
(Q) If somebody wants to become the next Shekhar Kapur, what do they need to do?
Ans) It will take you many years (laughing). When I started there was nothing. Earlier somebody needed to have expensive cameras, expensive actors, but now you don’t need any of that.
Today you take your smartphone, you shoot something, and you can edit it with the simplest editing machine/software. So you are your own story writer, you are your own cameraman, you get some friends, you make some drama, you can edit it, it’s so easy and then you become your own distributor. You can put it on Vimeo, you can put it on YouTube. There are so many options available. So actually you can start tomorrow.
#ShekharKapur Interview with Editor Subodh Gupta @jnewsnetwork -What makes a successful film director @shekharkapur https://t.co/WM16MG9jdU pic.twitter.com/p61km4XZUz
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(Q) How do I become famous?
Ans) Anybody can play tennis, but you need to be really, really good to become Roger Federer. It takes a little bit of luck, but it takes a lot of hard work.
(Q) What advice will you give to the young generation?
Ans) If you have passion, then don’t doubt it. Don’t be afraid and don’t fear your passion. Nothing will happen immediately, but then perseverance and don’t give up. Passion, perseverance, and patience.
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