So what are the kind of films you have grown up watching?
I have grown up on old Hollywood classics. Films like The Sound Of Music and stuff because my father was very fond of such films. It was only in the ’90’s that my love for Hindi cinema started and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai triggered it. I was hardly 15 when I saw the film and it changed my life. There was a time when I would go to the theatre, buy a ticket in black and watch the film. I did that for really long.

I am not someone who claims to have seen Sholay ten times, not because I didn’t like it, but because I never sat down to see it. I have grown up on Dil Chahta Hai and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. But now I want to watch all Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy and Manmohan Desai films.

How cool is it to be working with Karan Johar, who made the very films that you grew up watching?
Frankly, very cool! It was a great moment for me when Karan decided to produce my film. It was all so quick because I have assisted him before Wake Up Sid and when I went up to him with my script he loved it and I was on board. It feels great to be a part of a reputed production house like Dharma Productions. When I saw Karan’s films I was star-struck and I still am. But to be working with him in Wake Up Sid has been an amazing experience. There are certain people and because of their work they have a certain star quality about them. If I like their work I am little star-struck and that is exactly what I feel about Karan. I was always attracted to the idea of Karan Johar films.

From whom do you draw inspiration for your films?
I draw inspiration from people, but for my own film I don’t have a particular person who I consider to be my mentor. I really want to try and find my own voice. Wake Up Sid is not borrowed from other films but from life.

So is Wake Up Sid your story?
Wake Up Sid is a lot of me. It’s not like I sat down and said “Boss, let’s write a story about me.” I was very keen to express the characters and feelings that I really understood. I didn’t cheat myself at any point. Things that excite me are in it, bits of me are in it, but it’s not entirely my life.

Was Ranbir always your first choice for the film?
Ranbir was tailor-made for the role. He has that movie star vibe about him which I am in awe of. He talks, eats and sleeps films. I guess that happens when you have films running through five generations in the family.

Did Ranbir and you being from the same age-group actually make a difference?
It’s not the age group but the personality. It would be a different thing to work with Imran or Neil, though they are of the same age-group. Certain personalities just jell together. When we met, I didn’t know him but his personality attracted me to work with him. And now I would like to believe that we are friends.

How did Konkona come into the picture?
We hadn’t called her, but Karan and me had Konkona in mind for the role. The energy that she brought in was perfect. Koko and we were friends, so it was all chilled-out.

Quite unlike what she is perceived she is totally opposite. She is a brilliant actress and she just comes on the sets, does her work and goes home to party. She has a natural flair for acting.

Now that the film is up for release, what are your expectations?
To be honest, I do have high expectations, in the sense not lots of money, big openings or awards. I just want people to connect with the film. I just hope they relate to it as much as I can. I am very happy with the film and it is something that I have set out to make and I have high expectations. I have worked so hard.