Currently in production for her first Hindi film, which is based on the life of freedom fighter Neera Arya, Roopa Iyer, who has transitioned from acting to directing, appears to be someone who has faced her own battles. The narrative of Neera required extensive research, and navigating the casting process and working with a male-dominated team that may underestimate a female director, has been a journey filled with challenges and growth for Roopa. In discussing her project, she emphasizes the importance of sharing Neera's inspiring story.

Neera served in the Jhansi regiment of the Indian National Army under Subhas Chandra Bose, who regarded all the women in the regiment as Rani, recognizing their strength and determination in fighting for their nation. Roopa's adaptation of Neera's story includes her extreme sacrifice for Netaji, where she even kills her own husband to protect him. Neera's bravery and loyalty lead to her imprisonment and enduring physical torture. Roopa acknowledges that while her film is inspired by true events, there is some fictionalization involved in the storytelling process.

Roopa encountered difficulties in casting actors for the film, particularly because of her background in the southern film industry. Despite numerous attempts to communicate with potential cast members, she faced unresponsiveness. Only through the help of a senior journalist in Mumbai was she able to connect with suitable actors. Finding the right actor to portray Neera's husband proved to be a particularly challenging aspect of the casting process.In his portrayal of a villain, I am pleased to have Priyanshu Chatterjee on board for this role. After auditioning numerous individuals for Netaji's character, we ultimately selected Shreyas Talpade, who we believe resembles Netaji. Suresh Oberoi takes on the role of Neera's father in the film. "I felt compelled to create this movie in Hindi," as it is a patriotic story with national significance. It recounts the inspiring journey of a courageous woman who overcame obstacles to share her story—a narrative that deserves a wide audience. This decision to film in Hindi was driven by my proficiency in the language, although there are moments of hesitation when searching for the right words due to infrequent use. "It is disheartening to observe the lack of professionalism among many individuals in various departments of the Kannada film industry." Despite the success of Kannada films on a national scale, there is a fundamental lack of professionalism at the grassroots level. Many industry professionals, whether in makeup, costumes, art, lighting, etc., lack proper training and rely on on-the-job learning, leading to inefficiencies and increased production costs. It is imperative for the film chamber and heads of these departments to ensure that individuals sent to sets are adequately trained. Just as a police officer requires training before deployment, the same principle should apply to film industry personnel. The indiscriminate hiring of untrained individuals, often based on nepotism or entitlement, contributes to inefficiency and inflated costs. In an era of technological advancements where filmmaking costs should be decreasing, these practices hinder the industry's potential for future growth.The progress is hindered by their apathetic approach to their work. As a director, my role is to provide support to workers and individuals in the film industry. However, when they fail to appreciate this support, it becomes a challenging struggle.