In an era where cinematic worlds are increasingly intertwined, Hamisha Daryani Ahuja stands out as a dynamic force merging the vibrant storytelling traditions of Nollywood and Bollywood. A celebrated filmmaker and businesswoman of Nigerian-Indian descent, Hamisha’s latest project, the groundbreaking Netflix series ‘Postcards,’ promises to captivate global audiences with its heartfelt narrative about four Nigerians navigating love and self-discovery in India.
Notably, Ahuja’s trailblazing debut, ‘Namaste Wahala,’ showcased her ability to break barriers, becoming the first Nollywood film to enter the top 10 lists of Netflix in the US, UK, Canada, India, and Nigeria. As the CEO of Forever 7 Entertainment, her visionary approach not only revolutionizes cinema but also exemplifies her multifaceted career that spans motivational speaking and entrepreneurship. In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, let’s delve into the creative mind behind this genre-bending visionary and explore the rich cultural exchanges at the heart of her work.
Here are the excerpts:
Can you share with us the inspiration behind your upcoming Netflix series, “Postcards,” and how the concept of showcasing Nigerians in India came about?
The inspiration for ‘’Postcards’’ came from a realisation that Nollywood had not been to India before neither had a production been shot there. It is interesting to note that Indian content has been such a big influence here in Nigeria. Zee shows, Hindi movies, Amitabh Bachan, Hema Malini are all household names here. This is what had inspired me to shoot ‘Namaste Wahala’ My Indian/Nigerian Rom-Com that released on Valentine’s Day on Netflix 2021. It is where I brought Indian actors to Nigeria and shot a 90’s style musical with the backdrop of Lagos. Hence with Postcard’s I decided to switch it and take the top Nigerian actors to India to shoot a Mini-series.
As someone who has experience in both Nollywood and Bollywood, what unique challenges did you face in merging the filmmaking styles of these two cinematic giants for “Postcards”?
I wouldn’t call it challenges as much as opportunities to grow and learn. Both industries are similar in nature in regards to their growth trajectory just at different time lines. However, what is matched is talent, vigour, and discipline. This to me is the recipe for success when bringing two super powers together. In regards to differences of course there were some and these come as a function of economics and infrastructure, and economies of scale, but I feel the gap is getting bridged quite quickly.
“Namaste Wahala” was a groundbreaking success as the first Nollywood film to enter the top 10 list of Netflix in various countries. How did this achievement influence your approach to directing “Postcards”?
‘Namaste Wahala’s success gave me a lot of confidence to push the boundaries and go bigger and more intense with ‘Postcards’ The success and reach also relayed to me that this is what the audience wants, Cross-cultural, borderless content that can travel! I chose to take a different path in genre though and focused more on drama and a ‘slice of life’ story where people could relate to more then just escape.
Your career spans across filmmaking, entrepreneurship, and motivational speaking. How do you manage to balance these different aspects of your professional life, and how do they complement each other?
The more you do, the more you can do’’! I love and follow this ethos. Balance is an
interesting word, it depends what you prioritise and how you dispel and protect your energy, time, and focus. In regards to complementing each other. I genuinely feel I could not have one without the other. My entrepreneurial side helps with the business side of filmmaking as it is a business after all and the more impact, reach, and ROI you have the more future business can be attained. From creative perspective, the better the stories the more well-received they will be, and hence since the story/production is the product we are selling this needs to be top-notch. And finally, Motivational speaking and the spiritual side of my work helps me stay grounded. It also helps with handling of people, and in fact picking the right team to work
with both in front and behind the cameras. Having some calm on set doesn’t hurt either.
With your background in motivational speaking, how do you incorporate themes of identity, self-discovery, and empowerment into your storytelling, particularly in a series like “Postcards”?
The feedback I am already getting on ‘’Postcards’’ is the amount of messages or learning people feel they are gaining from the stories. People talk about the little golden eggs, or nuggets that are woven into the storyline. Themes of reality, human nature, following your dreams, living in the moment, looking after one’s self, are all major themes in the workshops I conduct called ‘’’The Pursuit of Happiness’’ Business’s have reported growth in profits and better employee and customers relations after undergoing these workshops. So, I am happy to say there seem to be tangible and intangible benefits from applying these tools.
Could you tell us more about your journey from being a businesswoman to becoming a successful filmmaker and actress, and how each of these experiences has shaped your creative vision?
I believe experience is everything. The more life you live, the more stories you can tell, the more you can use your experience to grow. The growth I feel have gone through in this journey has only helped me grow in my career in all the above aspects. Being able to learn on the job is something that requires both discipline and confidence. Then being able to transfer these skills and learnings into you work also takes vision. I can only say I am thankful and excited about this journey and when once mixes passion with work the question of failure does not come up as if you are doing what you love, doe sit matter where it lands?
“Postcards” features a talented cast including Sola Sobowale, Tobi Bakre, and others. What was your experience working with such a diverse and skilled group of actors, and how did they contribute to bringing your story to life?
My actors were phenomenal. As mentioned, I had the best actors come to India, all have years of experience but beyond that, talent and discipline. Their commitment to the art is truly remarkable and their effortless way of translating their role to camera blew me away. Each character had their own unique way of bringing their character alive and I always subscribe to the idea of ‘natural’ acting. Bringing out the feelings and understanding from the actors perception and translating it into their character rather then forcing someone to ‘act’ they should just ‘be’!
As a visionary bridging the gap between Nollywood and Bollywood, what do you hope audiences will take away from “Postcards” in terms of cultural exchange and storytelling?
I hope audiences see how similar we can be as people, but how unique we can also be. How novelty is exciting, but being able to relate is also heart-warming. How we as humans all have different perspectives, emotions, feelings, and nuances. But how we are all just that! Human!
Your entrepreneurial ventures, such as founding Bistro 7, show your versatility. How has your background in business influenced your approach to filmmaking and storytelling?
I feel I have answered this earlier.Hospitality, like Filmmaking is a business that requires creativity and passion. Wearing both these hats are very important for both these industries, the difference with my film making journey is I threw in a pinch of happiness, gratitude, and dreaming big as well!
Looking ahead, what future projects or collaborations can we expect from you, and how do you see your influence continuing to evolve in the world of entertainment and empowerment?
The sky is the limit! I have quite a few projects lined up, varied in form, however similar in the idea that I will constantly commit to bring cultures together, and borderless content that can travel. I hope that my passion and determination will continue to entertain and empower people on a global level.
