Kussh S. Sinha Breaks Silence on ‘Nikita Roy’: From Sonakshi’s Script Rejections to Paresh Rawal’s Surprising Role

In an interview with Pinkvilla, debutant director Kussh Sinha reveals the long journey behind his first feature film, how Sonakshi once turned down his earlier scripts, and why the UK was the perfect backdrop for this supernatural mystery.

Kussh Sinha, the lesser-known twin brother of actor Luv Sinha and son of legendary actor Shatrughan Sinha, is finally stepping into the limelight—just not in front of the camera. His directorial debut, Nikita Roy, starring his sister Sonakshi Sinha, hits theatres on June 27. But the path to this moment has been anything but easy.

While the rest of the Sinha family has primarily stayed on the acting side of cinema, Kussh always felt drawn to directing. “It was instinctive,” he says. “While others focused on performance, I was fascinated by how everything—from the script to the music—was stitched together.”

But for someone who made his short film Khoon Mein Hai in 2017 and directed Design HQ Season 2 (nominated at the Asian Television Awards), why the long gap before his first feature? According to Kussh, a mix of waiting for the right producer and the pandemic played a role. “COVID hit us hard, but I used the time to refine the script,” he explains. “Every film has its own destiny.”

Nikita Roy is based on an original idea by Phobia director Pawan Kripalani. But due to Pawan’s scheduling conflicts, Kussh and his team of writers—Neel Mohanty, Ankur Takrani, Bilal (dialogues), and creative consultant Abhinav Kashyap—took over and reshaped the story. Kussh himself handled the final rewrite. “I don’t believe in the director being the be-all and end-all,” he admits. “Cinema is a collective effort.”

Kussh has assisted industry veterans like Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Saawariya) and Abhinav Kashyap (Besharam). Both films bombed, but Kussh values the experience. “On paper, they were brilliant. But every film is a learning ground. I believe in seeking feedback regularly—there’s no ego in improvement.”

When it came to Nikita Roy, Kussh made sure to screen it for trusted insiders. “My father, who’s done over 250 films, liked it. My mom, Luv, and Sonakshi too,” he says. “And Abhinav sir was happy with it—that means a lot.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Kussh has approached Sonakshi for a role. “She’s turned down earlier scripts,” he reveals. “She has her own taste and professional judgement.” But in Nikita Roy, Sonakshi saw a substantial, layered role that appealed to her.

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal plays a key role—though Kussh is quick to clarify he’s not the “antagonist.” “He plays a spiritual leader settled in the UK. Not a godman or a religious figure,” Kussh explains. “The fact that he reached out after the film was completed to praise it meant a lot.”

As for the growing trend of thrillers shot in the UK (like Savi and The Buckingham Murders), Kussh says it wasn’t a conscious choice. “Our producers picked it, and the story fit the setting. We didn’t even shoot in London city.”

Nikita Roy is a genre-blender, combining mystery and supernatural elements. “These genres are exciting because they’re unpredictable,” he shares. And while Kussh is keeping his next projects under wraps, he promises there’s more in the pipeline.

So, nervous before release? “Not at all,” he says with calm resolve. “I’m just grateful. This film is the result of sincere effort from many talented people—and I’m happy it’s finally ready.”

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