One would think directing A-listers like Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor would make first-time director Rensil D’Silva nervous.

But the filmmaker claims he’s not as he has got 18 years experience as an ad-man. Plus scripting films like Aks, Rang De Basanti and Mani Ratnam’s upcoming film Raavan, must have helped calm the nerves a bit.

Nervous or no, Rensil’s directorial debut Kurbaan is generating a lot of buzz for it’s terrorism theme and it’s real-life romantic pairing of Saif-Kareena.

Here’s what the filmmaker has to say of his experience when he got to chat with his fans on Tuesday. For those who missed the chat, here’s a recap.

RENSIL says, Hello folks, I’m Rensil and we’re logged on to rediff chat!

Ameet asked, After joining Ogilvy my one dream came true & now the second is to meet you.

RENSIL answers, Thank you.

ty asked, Hiii…. this is your first time directing a movie… were you nervous?

RENSIL answers, Yeah it is my first time and I wasn’t nervous at all because I have over ten years of ad filmmaking behind me.

srajkumar asked, How did u shoot this movie?

RENSIL answers, Bravely, I hope

mjk asked, Hello, it’s mentioned that you are an ad man… which ads, man?

RENSIL answers, McDonalds, Perk, Ulta Perk, Anand Rathi, and plenty of work for rediff since I spent four years in the agency. Mont Blanc and Ruchi/Nutrela spots on air are also mine.

hello asked, did you really script mani ratnam’s movie?

RENSIL answers, I have been working with Mani on three scripts over the last two years. Lajo was one of them. We have another untitled screenplay that Mani should begin next year. And I have helped him on Ravaan.

mani asked, Hi, what can you tell us about Raavan?

RENSIL answers, Ravaan is a contemporary update on the myth set in today’s times. But the characters and the plot line don’t change very dramatically from the original.

zmxkasldxa asked, Hello there, Why did you zero on Kareena and Saif for Kurbaan?

RENSIL answers, Because Saif and Kareena fitted the roles I had written. Also they are fabulous actors, easy to get along with and they responded very strongly to the script. I think now when I view the final cut of the film there could be no other actors who could have played these protagonists.

Shabnam Al Fatwani asked, Hello Rensil, how was it working with a real life couple on reel life???

RENSIL answers, I don’t think there was any difference as such. I responded to them more as actors than as a couple. It did help in the more intimate scenes though because I think Indian actors always have difficulty with intimacy on the big screen. It just made things easy. Apart from that the advantage of working with a couple like them is that they are foodies. So my evening dinners were ensured!

{Source: Rediff Movies}