Writing a Gujarati film happened by chance: Raunaq Kamdar

Raunaq Kamdar, who is also an architect, has now forayed into films as a writer. The Kasoombo actor shares, “I used to write plays during college and for our online channel some years back. However, writing a feature film was completely unplanned.

”Raunaq talks about how he took this plunge and more in a chat. ‘I am inspired by the writers I have worked with’ Raunaq says he was “always inclined towards writing.” Talking about co-writing the upcoming Gujarati film Over and Out, he says, “The film’s producer, who is based in Mumbai, wanted to venture into Gujarati films and reached out to us with a concept. I heard it and suggested the name of Abhinav Vaidya, who has done some good work in Gujarati. While discussing the story with him, I got into it too, and we began writing it together.

” Raunaq adds, “As an actor, I have been fortunate to have worked with some of the best writers in Gujarati cinema. I always observed their writing styles, which helped me while working on this script. Also, working with Aatish Kapadia, who wrote Happy Family: Conditions Apply, was inspiring, as he is a phenomenal writer.”‘A writer has to balance the story and characters’ When one writes a film and also acts in it, is there an underlying bias towards one’s own character? Raunaq shares, “It was the opposite for me.

The film also stars Mitra Gadhvi, and I had so much fun developing his character that I sidelined mine (laughs). But that is how I learned to balance the story and the characters. As a co-writer, I realised my strengths and aspects that I need to work on.” Talking about how writing is a constant learning process, Raunaq shares, “I realised that I am a writer who focuses more on how the characters will be in the story. Being an actor myself, I get to hash out the characters and write what we know will work. I was given a genre and the seed of the story, and we worked on it.” He adds, "Co-writing a film happened by chance, as I was looking to get into production.

But fortunately, I got to do a little bit of both in my next film, so it is a very exciting phase."‘There is no pressure of expectations’ Talking about the pressure of expectations, Raunaq shares, “I don’t feel any pressure right now. As a writer, yeh meri pehli film hai. I am sure I have made mistakes, but that is how I am going to learn. All those who got to know I am writing a film have been very encouraging. So, I am waiting for their feedback and inputs once they watch the film.” Raunaq shares, "Acting still remains my first priority, and I will write more films if an idea or concept excites me. I think I will still co-write it with other writers; I am yet to learn how to format a story. I believe in the idea of storytelling, and it can be in any form. It is just that I got into acting first. I want to get into production, maybe direct a film too. Not necessarily act in them—but I want to tell a story in the way it is envisioned.

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