Saurabh Shukla's Jab Khuli Kitaab brings theater magic to ZEE5 Global
Actor-writer-director Saurabh Shukla took a break from his busy acting career to direct Jab Khuli Kitaab, a film adapted from his namesake play, which is currently streaming on ZEE5 Global. Saurabh, who played the central character in the play, chose to stay behind the camera for the film adaptation, directing screen veteran Pankaj Kapur in the role.
In a recent interview with our platform, he opened up about his creative choices, career journey, and why he wasn't the best choice to play the lead in the film.
Saurabh, who has starred in some of India's most iconic films like Bandit Queen and Satya, said he prefers collaboration over doing everything himself.
"Theatre and cinema... it's a collaborative art. And that's the beauty of it," he said, adding that Pankaj Kapur brought unexpected depth to the role, which he himself may not have been able to add.
The film also stars Dimple Kapadia. Saurabh revealed that the actress surprised him by agreeing to the project soon after finishing work on Christopher Nolan's Tenet. "In two days she called back... and said she is doing the film," he said.
On directing experienced actors, Saurabh said that he avoids instructing them on how to act. Instead, he focuses on understanding their interpretation of the character.
Speaking about confidence and nervousness, Saurabh said, "I really miss that feeling now... that feeling of butterflies in the stomach was there and it was wonderful." He added that life experience has made him calmer and more sorted in his approach today.
Saurabh, whose mother Jogmaya Shukla was India's first female tabla player and father Shatrughana Shukla was a vocalist, shared that despite growing up in a musical family, he chose acting to find his own identity.
He also fondly remembered interactions with screen icons like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, describing them as humble and warm personalities who make others feel comfortable.
Looking ahead, Saurabh is busy with acting projects, including a film produced by Anubhav Sinha and a project directed by Sudip Sharma. With Jab Khuli Kitaab, he hopes audiences connect with a story that excited him deeply, regardless of current industry trends.
Watch the full conversation here.
