Mahesh Bhatt slapped me the first time we met: ‘Khamoshiyan’ director Karan Darra

Mumbai: Karan Darra may have served as an assistant director in Bhatt-camp films like ‘Blood Money’ and ‘Aashiqui 2?, but he says being approached by the production house to helm their upcoming ‘Khamoshiyan‘ was a surprise for him. The 22-year-old is making his directorial debut with the supernatural thriller, which has been produced by Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt.

“I always wanted to direct a film for them. It is nice that it came my way. I was assisting Bhatt saab when he was writing ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani’. It was the first one-on-one contact with him. To be honest I never expected the film to come my way. I am so glad that I am making my debut with them,” Karan told PTI during a visit here. ‘Khamoshiyan’ stars Ali Fazal, besides Gurmeet Choudhary and Sapna Pabbi, who will make their Bollywood debut with the movie, which releases on January 30.

The young filmmaker revealed he would get screamed at a lot on the sets of the film by Mahesh Bhatt, who is also the presenter of the movie, but has no complains about it as he couldn’t have asked or a better mentor.

“He slapped me the first time we met. I would also get screamed at a lot but I think he is the best guide on the sets. I have learnt a lot from him,” he said.

Derra said that he had to face a lot of opposition when he suggested Ali Fazal’s name for the film to the production team and Bhatt, who felt the actor will not be able to do justice to the role of a brooding lover.

“Ali is very different from what he has done before in this film. I knew he has this image of a sweet, boy-next-door, but I have seen him in his plays and noticed that there is a is a darker side to him. That is why I cast him despite oppositions,” he said. Darra added that he chose Sapna Pabbi after he saw her in Anil Kapoor’s action TV series ’24’ while he was recuperating in hospital from dengue.