Actor Nandita Das' directorial debut 'Firaaq' -- that has won accolades at the toronto film festival is ready for release and the actor-turned-director talks about her first time experience to TIMES NOW. While actors seek limelight, their creative side sometimes culminates in direction, which is why acclaimed actor Nandita Das donned the director's hat for 'Firaaq'.A confident Nandita said, "It has been a huge learning experience, but also very challenging and very consuming. You realise that it is just not your creative skills, but your managerial and spiritual skills are also coming into play."Firaaq is a feature film shot in the docu-drama form with powerpacked performances from Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal and Shahana Goswami. Tying up five different stories woven with consequences of the 2002 Gujarat riots, the film blends reality and fiction.Nandita said, "It is a work of fiction based on a thousand true stories. So somewhere it is inspired from life and true stories. But basically it is a work of fiction. When you say its based on a true story, that means you take someone's life, give it a dramatic setting and then show it." While the Gujarat riots inspired many films, most of them, even the award winning Parzania, have run into political trouble. But Nandita clarifies the movie's motive and said, "This film is not a pointing fingers film. It is not even about the riots. Its not about the politicians or anyone out there. It is really about us. The onus is on us and we have a choice of reacting in the way we want to react to the predujice and violence that is going around."With accolades from Telluride and Toronto film festivals one can only hope, that lobbying games doesn't come in the way of this film hitting Indian screens. ... read more »