Nandita Mehra is a name which is an inspiration for many in the industry. From being a director to a producer, it’s been an interesting journey for her having seen many ups and down in life. So much so, there was a point in her life when she was clueless about things but today, she is someone who knows exactly what she wants from life. She went ahead to launch her production company 24 Frames in association with Bhairavi Raichura. The house’s first show is Chhal-Sheh Aur Maat on Colors.Tellychakkar.com gets into a candid conversation with this lady for its Behind the Lens segment. How did television happen to you? After I moved out of college, I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do, but was sure of not wanting to do a 9 to 5 job. So, there was this point in my life when I seriously had no idea of where I was heading to. And that is when a very close friend asked me to join Zee TV. Though I wasn’t qualified to become an Assistant Director (AD), I was taken as an AD by the channel on a non-fiction show in 1994. During my stay at Zee TV, I worked in almost every department. And then there was this juncture when I wanted to move out of non-fiction and do fiction. But then Zee TV was only making non-fiction shows. Hence, after three years, I moved out of Zee TV and joined director Ashok Pandit. So this marked your journey in the world of fiction genre in television? I joined Ashok Pandit as an AD again. I am saying again because I had become a director during my stay in Zee TV but since, I wanted to do fiction, I had to get back to becoming an AD. I did Tere Mere Sapne with Ashokji for Zee TV. This show had some well-known faces like Aruna Irani among others. I remember while I was doing the project, Arunaji had told me that if I ever leave Ashokji I could join her. Hence, when after a year, when the show went off-air, there was not much to do for me there, I left Ashokji and joined Aruna Irani’s production house as an AD. Here, I did shows like Mehendi Tere Naam Ki with Arunaji which was for Zee TV again. Arunaji has been my mentor in the true sense while I treat Ashokji as my boss. Whatever, I have learnt today, has been because of her. Further, I went on to do many more shows like Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand among others. After having worked there for six years, I was compelled to move out as the production house did not have any show. This is the time when you decided to go independent? Yes, Astitva was my first show out of Arunaji’s production house after which I kept getting many offers. But, whatever little name I have in the industry has been because of Uttaran. I was a part of the show as a director for two years and after it climbed up the steps of popularity, people got to know me. After Uttaran I set another show for Rupali (Guha). Later, I launched my own production house. When and how did the journey of your production begin? While I was doing Uttaran, the then Programming Head of Colors, Ashwini Yardi, came up to me and narrated me a concept that she had in mind for quite some time. In fact, at that time I too was struggling to become a producer. In this regard, I was meeting channels with my concept. So, when Ashwini talked to me about her concept and asked me if I would come up with it in a couple of months, I forthwith agreed. And when I started my own production house, I quit direction as since it was my first venture, I had to give it more time. Has this journey been a smooth one? Ups and downs are a part of everybody’s lives. I too had ups and downs as a director and as a producer too. But, becoming a producer was an altogether different learning experience for me. In fact, when I had joined as an AD in Zee, I did not know what high band and data tape looked like. I learnt everything through practical knowledge. So, it’s been a lot of hard work. How are you as a director? I am a task master, but at the same time I like a healthy atmosphere at work. I am also very short tempered; hence everybody who works with me has to deal with it. This is one reason why everybody who has worked with me, wants to work with me again. What are the things you like about direction? I like the creative part. Direction is my passion and I would like to continue with it even though I have become a producer now. I know of a lot of directors who give up on direction after becoming producers as the responsibility increases tremendously. I hope that doesn’t happen here. (pauses) Hmm… I know of a lot of people who say that a television director does not get to use his creativity. But, I have been lucky enough to be associated with producers and channels that have never interfered in my work but instead have always supported me. What are the things you’ve learnt as a producer? I turned a producer two years ago but my show Chhal went on-air only just six and a half months back. This has been a different experience. I have learnt a lot of things that I did not get to learn as a director. Now, I feel that it’s very easy to be judgmental and predict why certain things aren’t happening. But, only when you’re there that you know it. I am still learning a lot of things as a producer and making my own mistakes but there is nothing to regret. It’s all a learning experience. Are you contemplating doing films? I am very fond of TV and will never quit the scene. But I am working towards making a film. However, there is nothing to talk about it as it’s still in the process. But that’s next. Tell us something about your family? We are three sisters. My elder sister Nishi Prem is the Editor of Cineblitz while my younger sister is a housewife. I used to stay with my mother four years ago but, later I shifted in my own flat as I felt I wasn’t giving enough time to my mother. I am a workaholic and have irate work timings. There have been times when I have worked for 60 and 70 hours at a stretch. So, we sisters decided that we will divide work. Currently my mother is staying with my younger one. How is it staying alone? I like my space and love the fact that I have a house of my own which is so much fun. But then there are times when I am home sick and want to get back to my mother. I think everybody feels the same at some point, whether one is married or not. What did you foresee for your future when you were a kid? I wanted to become a pilot; in fact I had even applied for it but at that time there was a two year waiting. And during that waiting period, suddenly the rules changed and then the course was available to only science students and I was a commerce student. So, I bought a truck with a friend and we started giving it to people for transport purpose. I have done a lot of things in life; so many that I do not even remember most of them. But, I was fortunate enough to get a job in Zee TV. Have you made friends in the industry? I have made a lot of friends. I am friends with my producers (Rupali and Pintu Guha) of Uttaran. I also respect them a lot. I am also friends with my cameraman of nine years, Sadanand Pillai. I am also friends with Sangeeta Ghosh, Ayub Khan, Pragati Mehra and many more. I am friends with Sarita Tanwar who was the editor of Bombay Times. And my business partner Bhairavi Raichura. These are all my 3 am friends. It’s not like I make friends to socialise but they are my true friends. But, I also like socialising and partying a lot (smiles).