Getting into Bollywood is one thing, but finding your footing and staying there is a different story altogether. Director Arjun Raj has spent over two decades in Mumbai learning just how tough that journey can be. In episode 16 of Life Lessons, he sits down with host Qaseem Haider Qaseem to talk about his early days, the years he spent learning filmmaking and the struggles that come with making films without a big name backing you.

Before films became his world, Arjun worked as a newspaper reporter and sub-editor. His entry into the industry happened through a chance meeting, but he soon realised that direction was what he wanted to pursue. He spent years working behind the scenes, assisting on around 35 feature films and watching directors like Prakash Jha, Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunil Darshan at work. Those years gave him a closer look at how films are made, long before he got the chance to make one of his own.

His first film as a director, Black Market, starring Kashmera Shah and Deepak Shirke, did not have a smooth journey to release. And that is something many aspiring filmmakers may not think about when they dream of making a film. Getting a project off the ground takes effort, but finding someone willing to invest in it is another challenge. Even after a film is made, getting it into theatres and earning back the money can be a struggle of its own. Arjun speaks about these realities from the perspective of someone who has experienced them firsthand.

For anyone hoping to become a director, Arjun has some practical advice. He believes newcomers should spend time assisting on at least 10 to 12 projects before directing a feature film. Knowing how to handle a camera, understanding editing and learning about VFX can also help. Filmmaking has changed a lot since the days of 35mm cameras, with digital platforms and shorter formats opening up new ways to tell stories. But learning the basics still matters, no matter how quickly the industry moves.

Arjun has several projects to his name, including Black Market and Khel Passport, with Mission Bharatham, Raghavpur and Har Har Mahadev among his upcoming films. His conversation with Qaseem is a chance to hear about the side of filmmaking that people do not usually see, from years of working behind the scenes to the difficulty of getting a film in front of an audience. Episode 16 of Life Lessons brings that part of his journey into focus.