Dolcy D’Cruz
For first-time producer Hemanshu Rai, the decision to step into cinema came unexpectedly and at the eleventh hour. With no plans to enter the film industry, he found himself moved by a script and a first-time director’s passion, setting in motion the creation of Khoya Paya, a film that has since found its way to the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
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“It was December when Ashutosh Singh approached me in Goa with the script. At the time, he had a different cast in mind. He finalised the cast after I came on board,” recalls Hemanshu.
Director Ashutosh Singh, also making his debut, signed on acclaimed actors Seema Biswas, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and Anjali Patil.
With the Kumbh Mela approaching, time was a ruthless opponent. Travel arrangements, workshops, permissions, and accommodations all had to be secured almost instantly. “It was quite a task. I couldn’t even be there physically. Everything was coordinated remotely from Mumbai.”
Post-production became an equally swift relay, editing in Hyderabad, followed by mixing, recording, and grading in Mumbai.
The film was screened at IFFI, which opened new avenues. “Theatres depend on one good or bad weekend. OTT ensures the film reaches the audience it was made for across India and even in 92 countries,” says Hemanshu.
The story’s focus on a mother–son bond deeply resonated with Hemanshu. “In shaping my personality, it’s my mother who has done everything,” he says. His production house, Maa Badaulat Films Productions, is named in her honour. “The father gives you the name, but the mother gives you the character. So when this script came along, there couldn’t have been a better project to begin with.”
Film is only one part of Hemanshu’s expanding creative landscape. He is also developing a folk music festival across four states, beginning with Rajasthan. The goal is to discover 5–20 talented folk artists from each region and pair them with established musicians in jugalbandi-style collaborations—an “IPL of folk music,” as he describes it.
After IFFI, several local writers approached him, and he is enthusiastic about exploring Goan stories. Unlike many producers who hesitate to fund unconventional scripts, Hemanshu’s success in other business sectors gives him the flexibility to take risks.
