Three of her five films were turned down by every studio she pitched. Two of those three won at international festivals.
Ishani Rao has produced five feature films from a small office in Versova, under the name Kaagaz Pictures, which she started in 2014. Three of the five were refused by every studio she took them to.
"If everyone says yes, someone else should make it," she says.
She raises money one film at a time, mostly from people who have never put money into cinema before: two doctors, a textile family, a pair of chartered accountants. Each of them sees the script, the budget line by line, and the date they will be paid back.
"A budget is a list of promises. I read it every night."
Every member of the crew is paid before she pays herself. "The crew eats first. That rule has cost me money and saved every film." Two of the films nobody would fund went on to win at international festivals, and the most recent, Machli Bazaar, opened on 60 screens and stayed for nine weeks.
“If everyone says yes, someone else should make it.”
