Filmmaker Mansi Bagla Discusses Goals, Challenges And Sushmita Sen Starrer Biopic

Mansi Bagla's transition from real life to reel life has been full of learning. Known for the crime-thriller Forensic, also her debut project as a producer, Bagla, is leaving no stone unturned to mark a significant presence in the world of films. As an adamant believer in multitasking and experimenting, she is trying her hands on and off the camera. Bagla, who helms Mini Films, marked a solid presence at the Cannes Film Festival this year, where she talked about her collaboration with author Ruskin Bond for an anthology series. The cinema enthusiast in her is chuffed when she talks about her ambitious project starring Sushmita Sen, a biopic which is currently underway. With a few more projects in the pipeline, Bagla has ventured into music too, which, she says, is the beginning.

In an interview with SheThePeople.TV, Mansi Bagla discusses her passion for films, her entrepreneurial journey, the Sushmita Sen starrer biopic she is producing, her aspirations as a female filmmaker, and the need for acceptance of calibre regardless of gender.

Filmmaking Journey

It may have only been three years since Mansi Bagla joined the entertainment industry, but she feels she has entered at the right time, when the dynamics are changing with diversity. As a cinema buff, who wanted to create content, Bagla decided to pursue a career in filmmaking after a successful stint at real estate. She marked her debut as a producer with Forensic starring Radhika Apte and Vikrant Massey. A pairing she knew would work agreeably, and it was well received. Bagla doesn't believe in doing one project at a time. As a creative multitasker she has widened her horizons, and it was musically evident after she directed and shot a song Tujhse Milne Ki Aas a day after her Cannes Red Carpet appearance in France. "The song is a teaser for the Ruskin Bond anthology series, and while we were in France, I realised it was the best location we could have. We cut down on our city tour and instead shot the song, which is an effort of several artists."

A Yash Chopra fan, while Bagla loves larger-than-life cinema, she is also aware of how important the content is in today's world and is working to bring unconventional stories on screen over the next few years. "Earlier it was entertainment, and now it's content, I'm looking to create a space where we can have content-worthy films that prove to be mass entertainers."

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Challenges as a female filmmaker

Bagla stresses her belief that creativity sees no gender. As a filmmaker in the business, Bagla has faced challenges she couldn't handle. "There is a reason I said I arrived at the right time. Today female actors, writers, directors, and producers are bringing huge shifts in how films were made and perceived earlier. Change won't happen in a day but we see a positive shift, and I have personally experienced creators in the industry who value the work regardless of gender," she reflects.

"Let's try and make more voices heard when it comes to women artists who rightly deserve opportunities." 

Bagla acknowledges that every woman, regardless of which industry she belongs to has a personal journey, and the decision-making cannot be generalised when it comes to women choosing to take up any work. She further explains, "What I mean is, women's journeys are challenging enough, and then there's this world where women are fighting for basic rights even today. We can see how it's been so deep-rooted that it has affected how even educated, driven and successful women think and behave. I truly believe we women underestimate ourselves. The 'can we, should we, would we' questions do spiral in our minds, and I'm sure filmmaking is no different. Now that dialogues have begun and there's change, it's even more important to talk about it like we're doing right now."

Sushmita Sen starrer biopic

An admirer of good biopics, Bagla is now creatively involved in the much anticipated untitled biopic starring Sushmita Sen. Withholding significant details about the film, she does share a piece of noteworthy information about it. "The Sushmita Sen starrer film will be a game-changer. The crew is excited to work with Sushmita. She is a terrific artist. We are working on the script, it is going strong, and I feel it will get its due, not just because it has Sushmita Sen but also because it is a story that must be told. What I will tell you is that the film brings all religious ethnicities together, it's one above humanity," she reveals.

Mansi Bagla

Strong female characters

We've seen how filmmakers in the recent past have not only been writing strong female characters, but they’re also taking risks and exploring social narratives. Bagla, citing Alia Bhatt's filmography, points out that it's happening rapidly. "Look at Gangubai, what terrific narrative and, more importantly, what a success. Look at Taapsee's films, they're all strong-driven characters, and well-received by the audience. Female actors are doing so well even financially and at them reigning the box office with unconventional roles and the audience is accepting this." When it comes to artists, Bagla adds, she respects those actors who do not hold inhibitions about the performers in front of them. "A true artist will always prefer a strong character opposite them, and because they're unafraid to share the limelight, regardless of the gender of the co-star," she conveys.

Entrepreneurial journey with Mini Films

Bagla is currently helming her production house Mini Films, under which she and her team have made a few films including Forensic, Sirf Ek Friday, and the untitled biopic. She launched her Mini Music Label with Tujhse Milne Ki Aas and is now gearing up for releases of diverse music videos. As a business owner, she feels the Mini label is the culmination of her fondness for the entertainment world alongside her sense of leadership. "While I'm a creative mind, I also believe I'm good with business, overseeing a project right from its seed to a full production unit, I get involved in the process and that helps me learn more about business. As a woman, I need to become more aware of where I am investing and what is profiting me creatively too."

"As a woman who is navigating her share of space in the industry independently and as a filmmaker who is working hard to bring unconventional, inspiring content to the viewers, my aspirations lie in creating a future where artists are valued for their work, and gender is never the criteria to determine talent."

There is one thing Bagla holds in her gospel: valuing calibre over everything. She is looking to create a space where there are more prominent roles for women, and films which can be solely carried by female artists, "because they can, they have potential," she adds.

Ask Bagla for advice for women aspiring to become filmmakers and she says she wants to only give one brief piece of advice rather than divulging what to do because everyone must navigate what works for them. "Everyone's journey is going to be different so I'll say do what works best for you in that creative moment and believe in your identity; owning who you are works big time, and originality wins at the end of the day," she signs off.