Filmmaker Kevin Macdonald has scooped up an Oscar and built a career exploring the lesser-known side of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. His latest documentary, ‘A Beautiful Obsession’, brings another fascinating public figure to the screen – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.Macdonald has also found himself drawn to some of the world’s most influential cultural and historical figures, celebrities and politicians. One of his recent subjects was Oprah Winfrey, for whom he made a four-part documentary that was ultimately shelved. In a chat with ETimes, he revealed the fate of the much-anticipated docu-series and also discussed the possibility of making a documentary on Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.In a freewheeling chat, he lets us in on his projects and explains why Bollywood’s King Khan continues to fascinate him. Reflecting on the possibility of making a documentary on another Indian figure, Macdonald also offered an interesting pick – Prime Minister Narendra Modi.ExcerptsYou’ve made documentaries on several Hollywood stars and I believe your next documentary is on Oprah?Kevin Macdonald: Unfortunately not. I actually made a documentary about Oprah. In fact, it was a four-part series. But Oprah decided she didn’t want it to come out, which was very annoying to everybody who spent a lot of time making it.And it’s a long story, which I won’t go into now, but it was a battle of control.Is there someone you’ve recently become fascinated by?Kevin Macdonald: Well, I did talk a couple of years ago to Shah Rukh Khan, one of the biggest actors in India, about doing a documentary. We talked about it, but the time wasn’t right. But he totally fascinates me. So I would like to do something about him and to understand why he is such a huge, such a huge star, beloved by so many people. That really intrigues me.So maybe he’ll read this and get in touch? (Laughs.)What happened to the documentary?Kevin Macdonald: He was interested. I met with him and we talked about it. But I think the time wasn’t right. Maybe in the future.Are there any other Indian stars who have caught your interest?I’d love to make a film about Modi. Because I think, you see, someone like him, to see the human being behind the figurehead would be fascinating.And that’s, I suppose, for me, always the most interesting thing: how can you show the human being that we can all relate to in any great star or politician? I don’t think he’s going to do it.You’re also moving back into narrative filmmaking with ‘The Runner’, starring Gal Gadot. Do documentaries and features feed into each other, or do you enjoy the challenge of switching gears?Kevin Macdonald: I love the variety. And I think I’m a person who’s easily bored. So variety is a good thing. I think they’re both two sides of the same coin, because they’re both about telling stories, just using different tools to do it.I think when I make a documentary, I’m trying to make it, in some ways, as much like a drama as possible, to involve you with the characters, to engage you with a strong story that you want to know what happens next, but using real material.‘A Beautiful Obsession’, streaming on Lionsgate Play in India is Macdonald’s four-part documentary chronicling the final two seasons of Guardiola’s historic decade at Manchester City. The series begins at the height of City’s dominance, following their fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2024, before documenting the dramatic downturn that followed and the club’s search for their winning formula.
