To what do you attribute the success of Page 3?
To the teamwork, detailing and honest approach towards the subject. And the casting was perfect. Initially, Kareena Kapoor was under consideration for the journalist’s role. Madhur had even met her, but I thought she looked too glamorous to play the part of a scribe who travels by train. Konkona Sensharma was the right choice — she fitted the character perfectly.

Why didn’t you repeat Madhur this time?
There are two reasons. He has signed two films to be produced by SaharaOne.

Secondly, I don’t want to be a namesake producer. I want to be hands-on producer, involved in every aspect of the film — scripting, casting, directing as well as production. It is always the director who gets the recognition, never the producer.

Were you peeved that Madhur walked away with the credit for Page 3?
That is what normally happens to a producer, it is the norm. The director walks away with the credit every time.

You live in London, but work in Mumbai…
London is barely a few hours away. In Mumbai, I live in the suburbs, and to get to South Mumbai takes me two hours. So what’s a few hours more?