Director Arjun Raj Opens Up About the Harsh Realities of Bollywood on Qaseem Haider Qaseem’s Life Lessons

Breaking into Bollywood is a major hurdle, but building a lasting career and maintaining your foothold is a completely different challenge. Having spent more than twenty years in Mumbai, Director #ArjunRaj understands firsthand just how demanding that path can be. In the 16th episode of #LifeLessons, he joins host Qaseem Haider Qaseem to reflect on his humble beginnings, his years spent mastering the craft of filmmaking, and the unique obstacles faced by directors operating without big-banner backing.

Before films became his world, Arjun worked as a newspaper reporter and sub-editor. His entry into the industry happened through a chance meeting, but he soon realised that direction was what he wanted to pursue. He spent years working behind the scenes, assisting on around 35 feature films and watching directors like Prakash Jha, Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunil Darshan at work. Those years gave him a closer look at how films are made, long before he got the chance to make one of his own.

His first film as a director, Black Market, starring Kashmera Shah and Deepak Shirke, did not have a smooth journey to release. And that is something many aspiring filmmakers may not think about when they dream of making a film. Getting a project off the ground takes effort, but finding someone willing to invest in it is another challenge. Even after a film is made, getting it into theatres and earning back the money can be a struggle of its own. Arjun speaks about these realities from the perspective of someone who has experienced them firsthand.

For anyone hoping to become a director, Arjun has some practical advice. He believes newcomers should spend time assisting on at least 10 to 12 projects before directing a feature film. Knowing how to handle a camera, understanding editing and learning about VFX can also help. Filmmaking has changed a lot since the days of 35mm cameras, with digital platforms and shorter formats opening up new ways to tell stories. But learning the basics still matters, no matter how quickly the industry moves.

Arjun has several projects to his name, including Black Market and Khel Passport, with Mission Bharatham, Raghavpur and Har Har Mahadev among his upcoming films. His conversation with Qaseem is a chance to hear about the side of filmmaking that people do not usually see, from years of working behind the scenes to the difficulty of getting a film in front of an audience. Episode 16 of Life Lessons brings that part of his journey into focus.

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By Keerti Kadam