New York

shekhar

I go to NY today to shoot Anthony Minghella’s segment of the film., New York – I Love you. I go there with a heavy heart and with some unease. Apprehension. I am going to give my daughter a big hug before i go.

32 thoughts on “New York”

  1. Hey. Hope you’re doing okay. Lotsa luck with the shoot. And hope the apprehension’s vanished.

  2. good luck ! if anthony minghella trusted YOU with his film………..then YOU must trust YOU with his film too 🙂 ?
    bon voyage……….see you soon !

  4. Dear Shekhar,
    I am sure you will make a wonderful film as we all know. I hope you make it truly with the desire to make your dear friend Anthony, who was your great support in Elizabeth and with whom you shared a deep personal and spiritual relationship, proud and with deep love for New York.
    I’ll tell you a small story about my deep love for New York and my intentions turning into reality. I went to the US and 98 and I’d go to NY for the first time in 99 summer. I totally fell in love with the city and at Times Square I was so mesmerized that I made a promise to God (while looking at the big Mickey mouse of the Disney store at 42nd and 7th ave in 99 – the store has since moved to 5th ave) that I will live on this very street. I was in the middle of my MBA and at that point I didn’t even know how I am ever going to pay the rent to live on 42nd street but I promised to God. Six years later in 2005 fall I was living on 42nd St and 9th ave (exactly two blocks from where I promised). What is even more exciting is that the building that I lived in wasn’t even there in 1999, and God as if commissioned it in 2002 and I moved into it in 2005. During the last 2 yrs, living in Times Square has been great – I will be in India for a few months and then back in New York, the city I truly love, a city where everyone can feel at home. What a wonder!
    A great documentary was made about New York by Ric Burns in an 8 part series and now it’s time to make a great feature about New York.
    All the best wishes to you Shekar to make a short to remember.
    Best Regards,
    Himanshu

  5. Shekhar,
    Its my bad luck..!I just got back to london last night from Newyork.I would have met u there….any how some other time…Shekhar You are going to do better than whatever you have thought and concieved about Anthony Minghella’s series because you are a true artist.
    I wish you all the best and want to tell you that Your films do make difference to us.
    Wishing you all the best!
    Sanjay

  7. Have a wonderful Job .
    So sorry hearing about the Great Anthony Minghella , i loved” il paziente inglese” .
    Really sorry , two of Your friends ….it is so unfair
    Greetings from Italy

  9. Dear Shekhar,
    this old and forever young Lady New York with that slightly ironic smile creasing her face, with the shadow of sadness under her knowing eyes, with her arms always open to embrace those whose hearts have been wounded, with a generosity no city on this planet can match, with the incomparable gesture of an ancient sage to welcome all who are irresistibly drawn to her makes everyone’s pulse accelerate when greeted by her. There is always that slight fear that her face may have lost that twinkle of recognition when seeing the traveler returning to her but in almost 40 years of such encounters it was always an unfounded concern and I believe it will never be any different. Maybe your visit to New York may rekindle memories of sadness, of things that could have been, maybe touch upon a vulnerability you instinctively feel when returning to this great city. I can well imagine that in the end it will bring the inspiration you need to turn Anthony Minghella’s segment into a masterful footage.
    Himanshu,
    I sure share your love for New York. I remember those years in the 70s when I had gone to experimental theater performances in the basements of old brownstone buildings in the lower east side, when there was a reading in Harlem of a young South African anti apartheid poet whose name unfortunately I can’t think of anymore and when in the years to follow Hugh Masekela had brought African jazz to the concert halls of New York, when on summer Sundays in Central Park a sliver of Americana could be seen that was so endearing. In those days I became convinced that I had always been and would always be, a New Yorker, no matter where I live.
    Kind regards.
    Horst

  10. Hi Shekhar,
    I just wanted to say it was my great pleasure to meet you in person today at the JFK airport in the immigration cue this morning. Thank you so much for the autograph.
    This is so strange but anyways I ask for this huge favour I was wondering if I could get your personal email address. This not for me, my best friend is a budding director and he is working really hard and he would truly appreciate an advise from you on his work up till. I understand you are extremly busy person and it will be just awesome to hear back from you!!
    I wish you all the best for Anthony Minghella’s shoot and I hope your stay in NYC is wonderfull
    Cheers !
    Ameya

  11. Dear Shekhar,
    We all give you a {{{warm loving supportive hug}}}
    with you in spirit and love, my friend…
    You are the universe expressing itself, the love that will come forth from this journay of filming will transend the screen…I am sure.
    Love you,
    Cinda

  12. Sekhar – It was a pleasure flying with you from Frankfurt to Mumbai a few days ago. As I told you – you make all of us proud. On behalf of the over 1B people of India – thank you.
    Hari

  13. Quoting you from a previous post “I will direct the film now – with Anthony in my heart and in presence of his soul”
    All apprehensions melt away in the light of certainty. Your sentence above definitely reflects that poise and calm to dismiss any feeling of unease. Albeit, hugging your daughter can do wonders!
    I look forward to New York – I love you!
    Regards
    Aditi

  15. but aditi, certainty is what I run away from !I I l0ok for the panic and apprehension of uncertainty, so the mind can dissolve itself, and creativity can arise beyond the ego, from outside of the shell of my individuality. I do wish there was another way, but as long as the ego exists, it is the only way for me, Shekhar

  16. Dear Shekhar,
    Is it true that Isabelle Adjani appears in this short movie? If it’s true it would be great! One of the greatest actresses ever!
    Please, tell us more! This project is just exciting.
    Wishing you all the best!

  17. Dear Mr.Kapur,
    It may be divine intervention, a meaningful coincidence that all the years you met Anthony, it was for the purpose that you direct with Anthony in your heart and in presence of his soul.
    When Love, respect and feeling of void mix, I guess you make another masterpiece.
    Wishing you all the L.U.C.K

  18. No tazyzas, Isabelle Adjiani is not in the the film. And this is a series of short 5 minute films being directors from all over the world called ‘New York – I love you” – but thats all I am allowed to tell you right now, Shekhar

  19. Shekar,
    That’s a different perspective you add and i am for a moment at a loss of what i should say. The feeling of unease is deliberately addressed by simply letting go. Perhaps the uncertainty of a moment of complete lack of knowledge of what is to come gives birth to an acceptance beyond the ego.

  20. Dear Shekhar,
    Apprehension is the natural result of creative genius that you are…!!!Art gives you the advantage of being unsure and a master at the same time.New York is my favorite place too.I did my cinema studies there and its the most goodlooking and energetic city in the world.
    My best wishes to you!

  22. Dear Horst,
    Thanks a lot for you comments and New York is one city that continues to amaze the world with the wealth it has. While living in Manhattan I sometimes felt that I couldn’t even finish seeing and understanding this city in a life time – I walked so much all over the city as that is the best way to understand it’s greatness. As I am a member of MOMA, I went there very regularly and saw over 200 films in 2 yrs, loved going as well to the MET and the Museum of Natural History. I always kept on thinking what was the best way to see the city – what places should I focus on, and I was always walking and thinking, love the 5th ave boulevard, the penguins in the New York zoo, just walking in the park, feeling the air on my face, the new apple store in the corner, Martinis at the Pierre which is now owned by Taj Hotels from India. Sitting on the top floor the Marriott Marquis (the view) or Rainbow room and looking at Manhattan was a sight to remember forever. Concerts at Carnegie Hall where I loved watching Zakir Hussain and Ravi Shankar (I hope he performs this winter – he is not keeping too well so Anouska is doing solo performances).
    Sometimes in a big city a great musical performance can raise you to the level of extreme joy, a place where you can understand the true beauty of life (the music, audience, the ambience, people in beautiful clothes, the chilly wind outside the concert Hall as you wait to get in, the glass of champagne before the performance, all add to the glory). That’s what I felt in Ravi’s last performance there.
    Also love downtown and those chic shops in soho, the great restaurants all over the place, my favorite King Cole bar at the St. Regis, or my 24hr starbucks at Times Square. That’s where I read most of my books from 11 pm to 3 am and met lots of people who worked in Broadway, visitors from far off lands and just fellow New Yorkers. And as you said, it is indeed a state of mind and you get it when you are there and the more you see the more you say “New York, I love you.”
    I hope Shekhar is enjoying making the film and I am really looking forward to it.
    Best Regards,
    Himanshu

  23. I watched Paris, je t’aime recently, is this movie on similar lines? That’s a great concept, I loved all stories in that movie, all so unique but tied by the same thread..

  24. Dear Mr Kapur,
    I know it is not the best place to talk about this but I did not find any other means.
    My name is Alex Tuis. I am a freelance artist specialized in movies conceptual designs and illustrations.
    I write to you because I am very interested in Larklight. It is a very good story and I will be happy to work with you.
    To introduce myself further on, I did creature designs for W- a confidential project-, from the well known matte painter Deak Ferrand
    and I worked as first concept artist on Blood The Last Vampire, live version of the cult animation movie, as creator of vampire designs and transformation process.
    I am involved in next Xavier Gens’ horror movie, Vanikoro (Hitman the movie s’ French director).
    I have been lead artist on the sci-fi Chris Noonan’s project The Crash Dummies in the gone far away.
    I have also created for an attraction park in Spain (The Katmandu House), characters as well as accessories and places.
    For Vincent Guastini Productions, I designed strong characters for two slasher movies.
    I also did some designs for Amalgamated Dynamics on Dragon Ball‘s creatures in the movie adaptation of this cult manga and Red Riding Hood,
    a blade runner fairy tale.
    I am currently on very cool designs for Spider Baby, remake of the cult movie.
    I recommend you my creature section:
    http://a.tuis.free.fr/creatures.html
    Many thanks for your attention. I hope you will appreciate my work.
    You can contact my agent for more information, Mrs Marie Gossent at: marie-gossent@hotmail.fr
    Regards,
    Alex Tuis

  25. Hello. I live in New York and would very much like to see you there and interview you (I work for the Pel Mel newspaper). If you would tell me where and when we could meet, that would be great.
    Thank you very much, Mr. Kapur. I love the Elizabeth films!

  26. Hello, POSTING #9 by Horst Vollmann. Could anybody arrange it, that he get´s in contact with me. I´m an old friend of Horst and Astrid of the time when both still were living in Cologne and Munich, Germany, about 40 years ago. My adress is mnoethen@cablemail.de
    Love to you all
    Manfred

  27. Hi Mr. Kapur, I had the opportunity to meet you today at the JFK airport. Strangely, your limo driver didn’t even know you. When I read your name on his placard, I was hoping it was you. I could not believe my eyes when I saw you walk in the other direction out of the arrival gate and the driver just yapping away on his mobile. I had to tell him that you had gone in the other direction. It was a pleasure (and some courage) to come up to you and shake your hand. I was quite pleased to see your casual down to earth demeanor. Not sure what brings you to NY but if you ever want to go out for a bite or coffee, feel free to drop a note – not that you are any short of company, but for me it will be the first ever high profile friendship. Let’s see if it materializes.
    Regards,

  29. Hi Shekhar,
    was TV browsing sitting in my hotel room, and came across this interview that you had in NDTV good times…awesome..words fail me right now – just a bit emotional – wish you the best and may your fantasy really be true – “physically” – though I belive that you are already there “mentally”…{{big warm tight hugs to you – hoping that some of that divine spirit – brushes off on me too}}
    tons of love

  31. hi shekhar,
    i have been a fan of ursn but for a very long time we r unable to keep atrack of u as u just seems to disappear from the rador, where have u been n wat r u doing these days ? pl ans us bak so that we feel the connect is still there

  32. dear shekhar, the site search feature in your blog does not function well for keywords of the responses. please include them as well.

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