Ravi Rai to direct a film The TV director best known for his sensitive portrayal of complex relationships is all set to make a light-hearted film

Ravi Rai to direct a film

The TV director best known for his sensitive portrayal of complex relationships is all set to make a light-hearted film

Director Ravi Rai, best remembered for his serials Sailaab and Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai is all set to make his film debut with Maaya, Vanilla and Strawberries. The film is about five friends who come to Mumbai to become rich and famous. Ali Fazal, who played Joy Lobo in 3 Idiots, has been finalised to play one of the protagonists. Says Ravi, “I am in talks with an established male actor to essay an important character in the film. He will be playing six roles.” Ravi has culled moments from his life when he had landed in Mumbai (from Delhi) with the same dream and stayed with two friends. “Everybody has a set of friends and has moments a la Chashme Buddor in their lives. My film is about people discovering relationships with the bottom line being, life is beautiful.” As a TV director, Ravi was known for his sensitive portrayal of complex relationships and had the then big names of television like Renuka Shahane, Sachin Khedekar and Mrinal Kulkarni acting in his serials. However, with the advent of daily soaps, Ravi who was comfortable making weeklies did not find takers and he was unwilling to give in to the diktats of a daily. Later he turned producer with Marathi film Tingya, which was critically acclaimed and won several awards including the National Award. His next production is again a Marathi film Aat Paat Nagar Hota. Incidentally, Ravi’s brother Anand Rai has already made a name for himself with the hit film Tanu Weds Manu and is now directing Raanjhana with Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush. “I am like a father figure to him and I am extremely happy for him. He needed and deserved a hit.” About his late film debut, Ravi says that God had ordained that for him. “I don’t sit and figure out why something has happened, I am happy with what I have,” he smiles.