Big stars want to work with me for my shows give them creative satisfaction: Producer Vikas Gupta

He has emerged as a cult figure in the Indian television industry. He is a young force which has showed the world that with hard work, persistence and creative burst, one can redefine the workings of a business. We are talking about the good looking, tall and immensely talented producer Vikas Gupta, the founder of the production house The Lost Boy Productions. Under the banner, he has produced some genre benders like Gumrah (Channel V), The Serial (Channel V), Yeh Hai Aashiqui (Bindass) and MTV Webbed. And his all three current shows on television, Yeh Hai Aashiqui, MTV Webbed and Gumrah season 3 are top rated in their respective channels. Although he is a formidable force in the industry now, with big stars knocking on his door everyday to work with him even for free, Vikas maintains a very low profile. But talking exclusively to Tellychakkar.com, the maverick producer for the first time lets his hair down and opens up his box of candid confessions. Here’s presenting a ‘no holds barred’ Vikas Gupta interview. Enjoy. Vikas, let’s start from the beginning. What’s your story? Ahh…phew it’s a long story. Okay, let’s see. I was 18 and after I finished my 12th standard exams, I shifted to Delhi and enrolled in a college. But sadly the college shut and I had nothing to do. But in Delhi I did make a hot girlfriend and she came down to Mumbai (after the college shut) to enter the world of glamour. I followed her. I was young, hot blooded, and I wanted to have fun and basically fu@#. But soon I started liking the place and began writing for Bhimsen Khurana who made the movie Gharoanda. I learnt a lot and then someone told me to make more money by getting into television and working for Balaji. I went to Balaji, got a trainee job but was fired in 4 days time. I was too outspoken to fit the bill there. Later I joined DJ’s A Creative and grew a lot under the tutelage of Deeya Singh. And one day, the same person who had fired me from Balaji called me back and thus began a whirlwind of a journey. Go on….sounds interesting… At Balaji I met Nivedita Basu and she put me onto Ekta Kapoor. They loved my work and at the age of 19, I became the youngest and one of the successful creative heads. I was helming the biggest shows on television back then, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Mahabharat, and Kis Desh Mein Hain Mera Dil. It was a different high altogether…but it all came crashing down one day. Crashing down? Any specific incident you are talking about? One day after a late night meeting at Ekta’s home I was walking on the road and I saw a bunch of young kids having fun. Something snapped in me and I thought I also should have fun. I went back to Ekta and said I want to quit. People were shocked. Why would anyone quit such a nice position? But I wanted to live life and learn more. Thus commenced another important phase of my life. Was the phase exciting enough? It was enlightening. After I quit, I had some cash stacked with me so I travelled around the world, met people and finally started spending days after days in Prithvi Theater. I got engrossed in the art and literally lived there. But there was also a part of me which was very hurt. Hurt due to the detachment from the industry and the people I loved. What do you precisely mean by being hurt? My friends from the industry Kritika Kamra, Karan Kundra, Raj Singh Arora all were very close to me and we met regularly when I was working in Balaji. But when I went back to being nothing, I stopped getting even invitation for dinner parties. It’s not that they were at fault but such is the nature of the industry. When you stop, others run pass you and no one cares. That’s when I went to Ekta and said I want to prove to the world that I can also be an actor. That’s how Pyaar Ki Yeh Ek Kahaani happened. Did you enjoy the experience? Not at all. Acting is a not an easy job. Hats off to all actors. I got bored in four days and wanted to get out of it. But once I got out, I was stereotyped as an actor and no one was really willing to give me work behind the camera. Then with the love and support of Ekta and Shobha aunty (Kapoor), I got my first show commissioned, Gumrah on Channel V. And it opened new doors for you? Absolutely. We were doing something new. I just called up Karan (Kundra) and asked him to host it. And he said yes without asking me any question or monetary issues. And the rest is history. Gumrah led to The Serial and now Yeh Hai Aashiqui and Webbed. You are also the one who has brought technical changes in the way shows are shot? Yes, we use 5D cameras the most. One reason was that initially we did not have huge budgets to use costly technology and depiction of reality needed a certain degree of candidness. So 5D cameras were the best for use and now many have started following our style of working. Right now your three shows are top rated in three different channels? How do you feel? It’s a different high. It’s like attaining nirvana. All the hard work has paid off but now we have set a benchmark and every time we have to deliver a better product. Lot of A-list actors want to work with you and at low rates. Reason? First of all, I have a great relationship with everyone and secondly I give them creative satisfaction. They work with me to get out of the daily mundane scheme of things and explore as an artist, which is what makes our products special. What is the mantra of your success? For me, first of all my loved ones and people who have helped me. They are like angels in my life. Ekta has taught me about vision, Nivedita has taught me about hard work and Myleeta Aaga has taught me about values. Rest would be my hard work and luck. You did not mention your very good friend Karan Kundra? Karan is not my friend. He is a narcissist and too self obsessed a person to be my friend. Yes, we are close and we are brothers. As brothers, the attachment will be there forever, but we can’t really be best of friends. They say you are very possessive about him? I am possessive about everyone I am close to. He is not the only one. But since he is a star, our relationship comes into the fore more I guess. Are you in a relationship with someone? Yes I am, but there is nothing serious at this point of time. I am focusing on my career as of now. Coming back to your work, most of your stories emanate lot of dark emotions? Why is that? Such is life. We as humans and especially on television like to say goodie goodie stories. But life has darkness in it. I depict them and people connect. But we never propagate it, we say this is the reality, be good and stay safe. So what’s next for Vikas Gupta? More shows and then movie production. Finally I want to get into some college and study more about the art. That’s my ultimate dream.