In an age where Hollywood releases No Strings Attached and Friend’s With Benefits just months apart, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would pay over ten dollars for a movie ticket. This summer, in New York City, I stumbled on When Harry Tries To Marry. It’s an unconventional plot that hasn’t been mashed up and redone by Hollywood’s recycling mills. I soon reached out to the writer/director Nayan Padrai to find out how this amazing movie came to be!

SR: What was your inspiration for the movie?
NP: I was interested in looking at the concept of marriage from a guy’s point of view, which led to seeing how films of arranged marriages are generally portrayed, and I decided to flip the story on its head. I can’t recall what was the precise inspiration, but I was tired of films on this theme, which never showed the guy’s perspective or the fact that tradition isn’t necessarily “bad”.

SR: When I first saw Chris Pine in the movie Blind Date, I thought, he’s going to be a huge star. Pine went on to Star Trek. I get the same goosebumps with Rahul Rai. Do you have a similar feeling?
NP: For sure. Rahul is a gem and I know he’s destined for stardom.

SR: At what moment in your life did you realize you wanted to be a film maker? Was it after watching a certain movie?
NP: Well I played Joseph in the Nativity scene when I was like 4! I idolized Amitabh Bachchan and growing up in India during my early childhood, films became like a second religion. I would dance to the songs from Yaarana constantly, well actually any AB film.

SR: When Harry Tries to Marry is really about the ebb and flow of love. Is any of it autobiographical? If not, how did you come up with the story?
NP: It’s not autobiographical. I think I should take that as a compliment, since most people presume it is. It’s about someone who is scared of falling in love in many ways, and there are lot of people who are like that. I just came up with the idea that what if a guy decides he wants to get an arranged marriage because its just safer and easier than falling in love and going through all that heartache to find the right person.

SR: New York City is the perfect backdrop for this movie and home to many aspiring filmmakers. Any core advice?
NP: This is a beautiful city home to a million stories! I’m mot sure what advise I am qualified to give but I’d say that there’s really no better city to start your film making career in. Everything you need is here! The resources, the locations, the talent pool…

SR: It’s a question I always ask artists. Your favorite book and favorite movie?
NP: My favorite movie – without a doubt is Scent of a Woman. I’ve seen that film like 500 times. My favorite book has to be The Secret.

SR: I read the movie was written over ten years ago! What motivated you to keep going to get you the film made?
NP: Yes. The first story outline was written in 1998 and then over the years the script was developed, put in a drawer, dusted off and worked on again… But in my heart I always knew that when I made a film, (not if), it would be this film. I’ve written a lot of script with my writing partners, but this script for many unexplainable reasons was perhaps my “first love”…

SR: Without giving too much away, do you have a favorite scene in the movie?
NP: Yes. And its not in the movie! I had to cut it. But my second favorite scene is when Nita sends Harry a teddy-bear for his birthday.

SR: What has been your most most jaw dropping moment since becoming a filmmaker? Have you ran into Angelina Jolie, yet?
NP: I think this whole process has been pretty amazing. I walked past Sean Penn at Cannes and did a double-take! I did get to meet and spend a little time with Oliver Stone at the Mumbai Film Festival, and that was pretty exciting I must say. But the most rewarding experience has been the kindness of strangers.

SR: Being first generation from an Indian family, this film especially speaks to me. Did you ever have ‘the talk’ with your parents where you explained to them that you were going into the arts instead of the sciences?
NP: Yes. I lied to my father when I went to college. I told him I was going to do Business Administration. The second day of the semester, I went and changed all my classes to Drama and had a heart-to-heart with him. It took time for him to understand but he was supportive when he knew that this wasn’t going to be a hobby, but a profession.

SR: Any upcoming project we can look forward to?
NP: I’m in the middle of writing a couple of new projects and am reading scripts that are sent to me on and off. There’s something that’s brewing but I can’t divulge just yet!

When Harry Tries to Marry is now available on demand via Amazon, iTunes, Blockbuster, Video on Demand and the soundrack via CDBaby.