Meghna Gulzar’s debut directorial Filhaal (2002) was not a success, which the filmmaker says made it harder for her to make her next film.

“You guys think that Filhaal was ahead of its time, but when your film does not work, it becomes a little difficult to make another film. I did make a few films after that, but its better to be ahead of times then be outdated. It didn’t work, but today I am an experienced filmmaker,” she explains, adding that she had to balance work with her personal life as well.

“I took a gap merely because I had to raise my son, and I did not wish to remain absent while he needed me. An absentee mother was not something I wanted to be. Now he is old enough, so I could go out to work. I have given a few years to my son which was important for him. Now he is in Class 4 and he understands me very well,” Meghna smiles.

The Chhapaak director at the same time is grateful for her son’s understanding nature. “I am so grateful that my son also understands why his mother has to leave for work. He respects it a lot, and this elicits loads of happiness within me. Whenever I am leaving for work, he wishes me ‘all the best’ and hopes I have a good day,” she says. Elaborating with an example, she shares: “I remember while I was leaving to get the censor certification of Chhapaak, I informed him before leaving and I told him to pray for me as I was going in for my censor certification. Then as soon as I received the censor certification, I called Samay (son) first.”

Meghna also credits her husband Govind Sandhu for helping her transition back into the workforce. “I am grateful I have a husband who supports me especially for what I do and also respects it. Most importantly, he looks after my son in my absence. This enables me to feel comfortable and excited to keep working peacefully and keeps me cool about things on personal and the home front. I do not visit home for months together, so in such times my husband brings my son to the locations during the middle of the schedule. Meeting my family on the sets is refreshing,” she says.

Sandhu made his debut as a producer on Chhapaak, which Meghna is elated about. “I did not need to force him at all,” she shares, adding that when they decided in 2016 to make this film, they decided then itself that they will co-produce the film. “His back-end support as a producer is very helpful because he understands business and administration better than me. Yeh sab meri samajh mein kam ata hai (My understanding of these things is more limited). He is from the business world, so his experience is hugely helpful,” she concludes.