'Josh' director Mansoor Khan on moving to Coonoor: 'I wanted to be a vagabond, that's why my heroes are like that'

Filmmaker Mansoor Khan may have appeared destined to continue his family's successful cinematic journey. As the son of veteran filmmaker Nasir Hussain, many expected him to remain deeply involved in the film industry. Over the years, he delivered memorable films including 'Qayamat Se QayamatTak', 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar', and 'Josh'. His work earned appreciation and established him as a filmmaker with a distinct style. However, away from cinema, Mansoor always felt drawn to a quieter and less conventional lifestyle.

The desire to leave city life was always there

In a chat with Variety India, Mansoor recently reflected on the choices that shaped his personal journey. The filmmaker, who completed his engineering studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explained that he had long wanted to move away from city life. He also revealed that his interests extended beyond films to include music, nature and travel experiences. Speaking about his outlook, Mansoor said, “I wanted to be a vagabond. That’s why my heroes are like that.” He further explained that his wish to step away from urban surroundings had existed for years. Mansoor said, “We bought a plot of land in Mandwa in 1991 because I was sure I wanted to give up films. I enjoyed being there. By 1997, my land in Mandwa (coastal village in Raigad) was being acquired by the government for a proposed international airport. Mandwa did not work out and so, I shifted to Coonoor (Tamil Nadu) in 2003.”

Life in Coonoor brought a new experience for Mansoor Khan

After relocating, Mansoor built a life in Coonoor surrounded by greenery and wildlife. The filmmaker later operated an organic cheese-making farm called Acres Wild for nearly two decades. He described the experience as one that brought him closer to nature and offered a very different lifestyle compared to Mumbai.

Speaking about the surroundings, Mansoor said, “There are a lot of species there. We have elephants and leopards coming in along with ducks, chickens and geese. They all co-exist. Elephants go down to the plains, but return. The leopard is actually a timid cat. In fact, the elephant is far more dangerous than a leopard. Our guests have seen the leopard drinking water at night from the pots kept for them.”

Farmstay became an important part of Mansoor Khan's journey

Mansoor and his wife Tina also spent several years running a farmstay in Coonoor. The filmmaker shared that the experience allowed him to connect with visitors in a more personal way.

Writing has become Mansoor Khan's current focus

Speaking about the farmstay years, Mansoor said, “We ran a farm stay between 2010 and 2022. I spent time with the guests because it’s a home-stay, not a resort. I’d have breakfast with them and share conversations. Music is a deep passion, so I’d tell them about the music I’d composed. I play instruments, too. We even began cheese-making courses. Tina taught cheese-making to about 250 people. We closed the farmstays in 2022 as I needed time to write. Now, we’ve moved to another house in Coonoor.”