A Conversation With Ronnie Lahiri

In this episode, Pooja Bhatt sits down with producer Ronnie Lahiri for a conversation that traces the journey of a true cinematic nomad. From his early years in Shillong - surrounded by music, nature, and quiet observation - to navigating the dynamic landscape of Indian filmmaking, Lahiri reflects on the experiences that shaped both his worldview and his storytelling voice.They trace Lahiri’s upbringing in the Northeast - where nature, sound, and solitude created a language of observation that continues to define his cinematic lens. Raised in an army household, he reflects on a childhood of shifting landscapes and perspectives, where real-world experience became his greatest education. From football fields to film sets, he speaks about the unlikely threads that connect discipline, collaboration, and creativity.Pooja and Ronnie revisit his early years in advertising, where the grammar of filmmaking first took shape, and the leap of faith that led him toward independent cinema. Together, they examine the challenge of representing Northeast India with authenticity, and the responsibility of telling stories that hold emotional truth over commercial expectation.As the conversation deepens, Lahiri reflects on risk, patience, and the cyclical nature of both cinema and life itself. Films like Vicky Donor, Pink, October, and Sardar Udham emerge not as milestones, but as expressions of conviction. Ronnie confesses that for him it’s not the film collection that determines success but it’s the number of lives it touched. With a character forged on the football field, Lahiri brings a sportsman’s grit to the producer’s chair. He is a man who remains remarkably unaffected by success, staying grounded even when his films soar. He understands that a producer's true power lies in the capacity to claim both the hit and the flop with equal composure—backed by a radical faith that says, “If it doesn't work, I’ll sell my house.”In this episode, Pooja Bhatt doesn’t tell the story of a nomad, she simply travels with him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.