I came to Mumbai to achieve something and not to get married: Divya Khosla Kumar

Talk about Bhushan? He is a very down-to-earth person, practical and very hard-working and I really admire the fact that he has dedicated his whole life to paying tribute to his father. He keeps so busy that till date, we have never had lunch or dinner together. Sometimes I tell him, ‘Why can’t you take an off?’ As a wife, I am very adjusting and want to give him his freedom and let him live his life the way he wants to. I don’t like that he doesn’t take me on a holiday. I would like him to be more loving towards me. For instance, when we are at home, he will only talk about Yaariyan even at 11 at night and that irritates me. He will tell me, ‘But it is your film I am talking about.’ Even though it is my film, I cannot discuss it anymore. He is emotional, but will not show it. He is strong and I have never seen him cry till date. I cry at the drop of a hat though he doesn't like it. He has a temper, but the good thing is that he will make up soon after and will say, ‘I am so stressed, so please understand.’ I also don’t like to stretch things too far. If he is rude, it hurts me. On Karva Chauth, I was fasting for him and he said something very rudely to me in his room and it hurt me. I cried, but I’m adjusting. He will never continue a fight and that is his quality. I think he likes my innocence, my honesty and simplicity.
Talk about your mother? My source of inspiration are the women in my life. My mom has faced numerous adversities, but she is brave and I look up to her for the way she handled it. The kind of faith she has in God is amazing. My nani was an army man’s wife and ran her own jewellery business from home. I get my creativity from her. I also respect my mom-in-law a lot. She comes from a normal middle-class family and despite the fact that she did not know a word of English, she has risen so much and now she handles T-Series in Delhi. I like her more than I like Bhushan. As a woman, she is understanding and I discuss all my issues with her. I always tell her, ‘You understand me more than my husband.’ It’s difficult to find mom-in-laws like that. I have always been a good daughter and try to be a good daughter-in-law and always listen to whatever she says. Both my mom and mom-in-law are strong women. I am too sensitive and have a long way to go vis-a-vis them.

Who are you most attached to? My son. I can sleep without Bhushan, but I can’t sleep without my son.
Does Bhushan ever discuss his father Gulshan Kumar with you? His father was a genius and it is not possible to be like him. Bhushan is nowhere close to his father. Post his father’s death, when he was 19, he changed his lifestyle and worked extremely hard. He doesn’t talk about his father or show his feelings. And I don’t touch upon it as it is a sensitive topic. I don’t think he discusses it even with his mom. If there is something coming on TV about his father, I immediately look at his face and get troubled. His father was a visionary. His vision was also to grow T-Series into films and reach every house and that is what Bhushan wants to do and is his tribute to his father.

Why did you take to direction? I came here to achieve something in life and not to get married. I came here to satisfy my creative thirst. And I am really proud that I have made this film without assisting any director. It’s a fact that the industry is shell-shocked seeing my trailer and they will be more shell-shocked when they see the film. My husband is also flying these days as he has seen the film. If he didn’t like it, he would not promote it. Sometimes I feel very bad when people say, ‘Oh, she is Bhushan’s wife and it must be so easy for her’. But I want to say that it has been eight years since my marriage and had it not been difficult, it would not have taken me this much time to make a film. It’s been a long struggle. After I married Bhushan, I felt that the best way to channelise my creativity would be to make a film. I did a course in cinematography from Mumbai because he did not want me to go away to New York, as he would then have to stay without me. Also, he did not want me to assist anyone, so I started doing editing at our office. One day I told him, ‘Give me a music video. I want to direct it.’ He gave me Agam Nigam’s video (Sonu Nigam’s father) and I did it and it became a blockbuster hit. I then did many videos and landed up doing 20 of them before I got trained in direction and production.

How was it to work with Salman? Salman was very nice to work with. He is a very sweet person. He has gone through so many ups and downs that has made him strong and deep. He is a very good human being.

What does Yaariyan mean to you? I am ambitious. And more than pretty, I consider myself talented. I would often hide my looks behind my specs. My son Ruhaan was on the set with me and he was just one when I started directing. Bhushan came for only four days during the shoot. So I feel that my son is the true producer of the film. It’s difficult to be a mother and even tougher to be a director. I was doing both together. If it succeeds, it will not just be the success of the film, but of the principle that a girl without stooping down and compromising on her morals, keeping her dignity intact, can do it in this man’s world. And that if you are intelligent and talented, every woman can reach where she wants to. We women are stronger than men and need not feel insecure. Even if it takes longer, your destiny will always come to you. I consider myself God’s child. I came to Mumbai to achieve my destiny and I have to achieve it with this film. There is no other way.