"Kickass team" Nagesh Kukunoor and Elahe Hiptoola discuss their new film Mod, the nature of their relationship and why they are still going strong, 12 films later

After 14 years and 12 films together, the banter between director Nagesh Kukunoor and producer Elahe Hiptoola brings a smile to the face.

The two describe themselves as yin to the other's yang, analytical to the emotional, head to the heart, organiser to the executor. Yet, their distinct roles bind them and make them a formidable team that is now ready to bring out their 12th film, Mod. It stars Ayesha Takia Azmi and Rannvijay Singh.

Over an evening cuppa at their stark suburban office, the duo discusses films.

One expects original stories from Nagesh Kukunoor. Why did you adapt the Taiwanese film, Keeping Watch, into Mod?
(Nagesh) I had said that I would never do a love story, because I had nothing original to offer. Every year, more than 100 love stories get made. I saw Keeping

Watch at a film festival and I was attracted to the relationship between a mismatched pair. You want to see the outcome of their relationship. It is not a standard, commercial setting where the hero sees the heroine and love is sealed in a second.

Besides production, what kind of inputs do you get at the scripting and casting stage from Elahe?
(Nagesh) I write a solid, first draft and no one gets to see it, except Elahe, who gives me her inputs. When I write my scripts, I am free to go wherever I want.

But when I was working on this adaptation, I felt the restrictions of the earlier script at every stage. I realised that was foolish; I never wanted to bring Keeping Watch 'as is' to India -- I only wanted to bring the soul of the story. This is the first time I have written eight drafts.

(Elahe) I didn't know what to make of the first draft of Mod. It didn't leave me satisfied. I always get very scared to sit and talk to Nagesh about his scripts, because I react as a member of the audience. A question and answer session follows. He fine-tunes his script.

I am never part of auditions, but I meet the stars and crew to work out payment and other nitty-gritties. In our films, there is only one hero and that is Nagesh. It takes a lot of conviction to stick to the path.

Do you put relationships above work? You work repeatedly with Elahe and, for that matter, Ayesha Takia.
(Nagesh) Unequivocally. It makes no sense to invest that kind of time if you do not truly believe in that person. If I can repeat actors, I will repeat them. For the longest time, my core team has not changed. All the members will give their life and soul (to a project).

(Elahe) Relationships matter in life, and filmmaking is not just a job. It forms part of your life.

How would you describe the relationship the two of you share?
(Elahe) We are a world-class team. We not only understand the process, but each other too. That's very important. Of course, egos come in the way. But there is nothing that spoils this relationship.

The lucky part is that we do such different things within the working zone. Our roles don't overlap. It's fun. Both of us enjoy doing what we do and we enjoy working with each other.

(Nagesh) When we decide to go ahead with a film, there are no ifs, ands or buts. That madness at any cost is what we have brought to the table for every film. We have managed to survive all these years while making films a lot of times without stars, without any backing.

(Elahe) For Rockford, we had no money until three weeks before the shoot. You would not survive a day if you are not working with me.

(Nagesh) Mod is our 12th film. It is no accident that 11 of our films (other than 8X10) were shot in 40 days or less.

(Elahe) And I was not producing 8X10. So, there you go. You will not be able to make a film without me. 8X10 is proof.

Does a personal and professional relationship between a man and a woman raise eyebrows?
(Elahe) The whole world has thought that we are seeing each other and, later, that we are married. They even named our children for us. Then they got bored. Both of us are single. We are together 16 hours a day, we just go to our separate homes to sleep, and wake up the next day to be together. We are really close friends.

(Nagesh) We are the greatest of friends, our families are close. There is a history of 14 years; there could not be anyone closer. But it need not end up as a romantic relationship. It's as simple as that.

Who has the last word if you two have differences?
(Elahe) Always Nagesh. That hopefully might change in the next 20 years when we do another interview but I am not so sure (laughs).

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a team?
(Elahe) Nagesh is more analytical. There are no feelings involved; he is cut and dry. He is the head, I am the heart in many matters.

(Nagesh) I am the organiser and she is the executor. Her strength lies in her ability to interact continually with the team and keep them happy. I like to shoot and go back to my room. I am not interested in creating the camaraderie all over again.

The tagline for Dor, 'How far would you go to save the one you love' has been used in the trailer for Mod. Personally, how far would you go to save the one you love?
(Nagesh) I don't know. I don't think I have loved that deeply and that emotionally.

(Elahe) I'd go to any length -- in all relationships, whether it is my brother, nephew or boyfriend.