Today we’d like to introduce you to Aashish Chanana.
Hi Aashish, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Have you ever heard of driving South and ending up going North and still getting to your desired destination? That’s what I was doing… by following my heart!
After all the success, name and fame that I achieved, being just a high school kid when I designed and invented the first electric car in India and was awarded a gold medal from the President of India. The natural next step for me was to pursue Automobile engineering and maybe bring EV’s like TESLA’s to the world a long time back. Even after I was awarded scholarships from major colleges, I followed my heart and pursued a career to make movies!
I started my career as an actor. I was fortunate to have been offered lead roles and the opportunity to work with some amazing people in the Bollywood Film industry. It’s the journey that made me realize that my true calling was to be a Director, someone who could creatively tell stories and touch people’s hearts. I was always impressed with Bollywood Directors Raj Kapoor, Mahesh Bhatt and more recently Raj Kumar Hirani and while I was waiting to someday work with them as an actor, I enjoyed studying their films and their lives.
At that time I may not have realized, even though my friends would say it all the time, but now I do… that my passion was extreme… more like an obsession. That’s how much I wanted to make movies and tell compelling stories.
What’s interesting is, like I said above… it’s a journey… from an actor to a Director and now a Director who wants to make an impact on people’s lives. And that’s why subjects like anti-terrorism and now human trafficking affect me and in turn, I want to help those who have been victimized.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My life motto has always been ‘Nothing is impossible, because even the word ‘impossible’, says “I.. am.. possible”.
It’s about always moving forward in life and just ‘never ever give up’. That’s the only way I look at life and that’s what I would encourage everyone to do. Undoubtedly, there would be obstacles and speed bumps in life but we should stay focused and importantly, optimistic and we would overcome most of them.
I believe;
– Obstacles are just roadblocks – go around them.
– Learn from your mistakes and better yourself.
– Yes – you can do it – believe in yourself and do your best.
– Never stop dreaming – build the courage to pursue them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Technically, I am a Film Producer & Director, a storyteller but I would rather call myself a ‘Dreamer’ when it comes to making films. Bringing my vision/s to film – seeing what I have imagined or dreamt off is the biggest Motivation for me. But, it doesn’t just end there – After I shoot for a film which may take a month or 2 or more, I may invest a full year working on the post and visual effects of the film. That’s something I specialize in and have worked on many productions as a Visual Effects Lead/Supervisor. I see my film as a canvas and go over and over every frame to make it look ‘gorgeous’ just like a painter would. That’s my ‘high’!
What are you most proud of?
I would say my recent feature, AFREEN was an overall challenging experience – A timely film about the roots of terror and the price of revenge. An unconventional and gripping story: that of a young former refugee, brutalized years ago in the Iraq War, who seeks revenge on the West by joining a local ISIS terror cell that’s planning a major urban massacre. One of my most difficult projects to date. In short, there were way too many obstacles that I would have to fight with on a daily basis but, at the end of the day, it would probably be my most favorite film which has won 65 Awards and Nominations, including National Awards. It was such an overwhelming and absolutely a gratifying experience, like none other so far.
What sets you apart from others?
Positive energy, motivation and the insatiable fire to prove it again and again!
Passion, dedication, the excitement and the total gratification of creativity. Filmmaking on the whole, is a form of art that consumes me unconditionally.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Growing up the only person I idolized was my father and I just wanted to be like him in so many ways. He was an economist, a professor and later a Senator. His knowledge about everything, even when we did not have computers was beyond measure and that’s probably why he was nominated into the Indian Parliament and then became a Minister/Senator. When I said idolized him, I did not mean I wanted to be any of the above… but… the person he was. His energy, his love, his kindness and his patience in the most difficult times… His selfless desire to help the poor and the underprivileged just cannot be put in words… that’s the kind of person I wish I can eventually be… At times I think it’s aiming too high… but then, he was my father and I will never give up trying and hopefully, get somewhere!
The second individual who has and will always inspire me and show me direction is Sylvester Stallone. I’ve never had the opportunity meet him, as yet but I WISH I do someday. If you’re able to study cinema, scripting and whatever it takes to make the so called, ‘movie magic’, you would see beyond just a Rocky or a Rambo and see that ‘underdog’ that he created in his movies and how well he was able to relate to everyone in the audience. Sylvester Stallone even after all his success, is way undervalued as a ‘genius’ and moreover as the ‘amazing human being’ that he is and how much he has impacted people’s lives all over the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aashishchanana.com, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2602927
- Instagram: @aashish_chanana
- Twitter: Aash_0005
- Other: https://bit.ly/3Pgn8bi
