Meet Rohit Relan | Film Director & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rohit Relan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rohit, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
I enjoy experimentation. That’s really at the heart of why I became a filmmaker. Art lets you live multiple lives, see the world through different lenses, and constantly reshape how you understand things. I want to make films all over the world, in different languages and across formats, always chasing new ground. I love the idea of starting over, reinventing myself with each project, and taking risks that might not always land but mean something. By the end of my career, I want to be known as someone who never played it safe. Someone who kept exploring, kept evolving, and was never afraid to fail in pursuit of something bold.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Finding my voice was such a big thing. I made movies in a lot of genres and formats, including music videos, commercials, and short films. I wanted to make every kind of thing because I was trying to land on a sensibility that just felt right. Recently, I have started to believe that my movies feel most comfortable when they are weird and honest. When there is a bit of me in there trying to channel an unusual opinion I would usually be too ashamed to talk about.

It is a blend of genres, drama and dark humor, with a focus on raw emotion and experimental sound design. That mix gives me room to explore things I do not have the words for in real life. I am proud that my work can hold contradiction. It can be painful and funny, grounded and surreal. That balance is something I have worked hard to reach.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting, the first thing I would do is introduce them to my circle. They are all filmmakers with great taste, better stories, and the kind of conversations that spiral into strange, brilliant directions. That is the real LA experience for me.

We would start the week at a flea market, probably Melrose or Silver Lake, flipping through dusty records, vintage posters, and the kind of things that feel essential in the moment but never make it home. Then maybe Griffith Park for a hike or just to sit and watch the light shift over the city.

One night would definitely be a screening at the New Beverly or the Los Feliz Three. Another night, a play. And at some point, I would take them to a bunch of art galleries, partly because they are inspiring but mostly because I am always looking for an excuse to go.

Dinner would be somewhere loud and comforting, maybe Korean barbecue. Drinks at a bar where the lights are low and the music is good. No hard itinerary.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think my parents deserve the loudest shoutout. I quit computer engineering to become a filmmaker, which in my home country is far from a traditional path. That leap would not have been possible without their support. They believed in me when I barely believed in myself. They are the reason I could choose the arts, and more importantly, stay with it when things got hard. They are not just proud of my work. They walk with me through the lows as well. They talk to me, help me rebuild, and quietly send me back into the world when I feel like giving up. Knowing they are there gives me a sense of safety I do not take for granted. Whatever happens, I know I can fall and still have a place to land.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rohitrelan/