<b>‘ASH IS NO PRIMA DONNA’</b>

Was it difficult to move away from your forte and attempt something new?
It was a very different exercise. Usually, I bring the subject in my own fold and work my way through it. This film demanded that I change with it. It’s a funny, adventurous story that required a warm and colourful ambience. So my usual techniques had to merge with the mood. For the first time, I have shot outdoors extensively in north Bengal. There are songs in the movie, another aberration in my films, though I did have music in Raincoat. It’s a very interactive film. In fact, I would say this film has greater mutual transaction between me as a director and my actors instead of my telling them how to go about things.

This is also Manisha Koirala’s first Bengali movie. What made you cast her?
The role demanded someone feminine with a quiet grace and not very young. Manisha blended in to the character totally. I have always heard how she is undisciplined and not good to work with, but she brought a certain discipline to the set. Ajay (Devgan) had long ago told me that Manya was a great actor and almost like a man on the set. She changes on the set and is ready in five minutes. It’s actually true. No late reporting on sets or drunken stupor at work.
She dispelled all media myths and gave the character the experience of a veteran and the freshness of a newcomer.

Now that you have worked with Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta, Soha Ali Khan and Manisha Koirala, who is your favourite?
All of them are dedicated and have their own specialities. They were all great to work with.

That’s being diplomatic.
I think what helps my equation with them is that I give them a clear idea of the kind of set-up they will be in. They are treated as professional equals and not worshipped, as someone from Bollywood usually is. For instance, for The Last Lear, Preity was a little hesitant about how a serious movie like that would affect her image. She had to be convinced as an actor.
Once she saw the point she was fine. But in all honesty, I think I share a special bond with Aishwarya. We have done two films together and we connected very well. Soha, Koko (Konkona Sen Sharma) and Abhishek are like kids to me because I am so close to their parents. But Ash is different. She is practical, understanding, sensitive and very, very intelligent. Nowhere close to the fancy prima donna she is made out to be.

... contd.

Ads By Google

Message*	Maximum characters allowed

Name*		Email ID*
Subject*		Country*

TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

I agree to the terms of use.

Mail this page