Unplanned trips are the best holidays: Rensil D' Silva, Film Director, Screenplay Writer
Rensil D’Silva who dons many hats is one of India’s finest script writers. His career took off with his script for Bollywood film Aks in 2001. He has worked with known and diverse Bollywood directors such as Karan Johar, Mani Ratnam, Shoojit Sircar and David Dhawan. He is also known for his scripts written for films like Rang De Basanti (2006), Shoe Bite (2006), Kurbaan (2009), Student of the Year (2012) and Unglee (2012). His recent project includes the ongoing show 24 on Colors. To him goes the credit of writing and directing the Indian version of the international TV series.
Apart from feature films D’Silva, has been an advertising Creative Director for nearly two decades. He has worked in Agencies like JWT, Rediffusion, Saatchi & Saatchi, Mudra DDB, Ogilvy and Mather and started O&M's second agency Meridian in 2008. He is also an ad filmmaker of repute. During the course of his two decades in advertising he has won numerous international and national awards.
A fact little known about this talented personality is his passion and fondness for travelling. In an exclusive interaction with Rensil D’Silva, Adgully tried to know more about his preferences of the best holiday destinations and travelling tips that he would like to share with others. He is not in favour of answering official calls while travelling as he considers it to be a dampener during holidays which are meant for enjoyment and not work.
Following are the excerpts from the interaction:
Fox Travellers Diary (FTD): If there is one place you can keep going back to for a holiday, where would it be?
Rensil D' Silva (RD): London.
RD: It expands your mind, you can put off your cell phone and can have the best time with your family. I love spending time with my daughter and wife.
FTD: When you travel, what is a must carry for you?
RD: I am simple as a person and I don't like carrying anything with me especially a cell phone.
FTD: When and where did your best holiday happen?
RD: Trip to Maldives with my wife for a week was the best holiday for me.
FTD: As a traveller, what is your tip for others?
RD: Don't plan your holidays, as it keeps you interested. Planned holidays can sometimes become the worst holidays.
FTD: A colleague/co-worker from your industry with whom you would like to go on a holiday.
RD: I would not prefer to take any of my colleagues with me as they would discuss work, and that would be the end of my holiday.
FTD: Have you ever been surprised by the taste of food, outside India? Where?
RD: I do remember when in Italy and I was feeling hungry in the middle of the night and was wanting to have Chinese food. When I ordered it I realized that their Chinese food was not similar to that which we get in India. I was clueless about what I ordered.
FTD: What and where has been your best bazaar bargain so far?
RD: I bought five DVD's in London at a very low cost and I think that was my best bazaar bargain.
FTD: Which do you consider to be the most unique destination that you ever visited. When and why?
RD: It is yet to happen but I would want to visit Australia.
FTD: Tell us how you have managed to make a journey fun.
RD: The best part is that till date I have never travelled alone hence travelling with my family has always been fun.
FTD: An incidence during your holidays that has left an imprint on your minds that you would like to share.
RD: My wife and I were travelling to France where we saw an old man in his 80's. He smiled at my wife. On close observation I found that he was a World War II survivor as German numbers were tattooed on his wrist. He was a smuggler of alcohols. He predicted a bad storm on the 18th of that month the day we would be returning from our trip He directed us to a hotel and asked us to stay put there or else we would never be able to reach London. His prediction came true and saved us from a calamity. Later, we were informed that he had not visited that particular hotel since years.
FTD: What has been your worst travel moment? Why?
RD: It was in France where they pretend that they don't understand English and want us to learn French. I told them that we would certainly learn the language but they too would have to learn Hindi when travelling to India.
FTD: What is the best souvenir you ever bought for anyone?
RD: I bought a teddy bear from Bangkok for my daughter when she was five years old and I just cannot explain how happy she was after seeing that teddy bear.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are purely in the personal capacity of Rensil D' Silva as a travel buff and has no bearing and/or correlation with his official role; Images, courtesy: Rensil D' Silva