Small talk: Prime time queen
She has four international projects lined up in 2015, but for Lillete Dubey, theatre comes first.
Reema Gehi (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 28, 2014)

A photograph of actors Roshan Seth and Lillete Dubey sits at the latter's sea-facing Colaba office. Dressed in traditional Parsi attire, the two seem locked in a particularly animated conversation. "Isn't it adorable," smiles Dubey. "It's us at the bazaar outside our house."

Dubey is referring to her home in the 10-part drama series, Indian Summers, set to premiere on Channel 4 in the UK, PBS network in the US and several major networks internationally including Canada and Australia, in January. Directed by Anand Tucker, who has previously helmed Leap Year (2010), the series is set in 1932 British India. The drama narrates the rich and explosive story of the decline of the Raj and the birth of modern India, from both sides of the experience. "It is strongly from the British point of view, but you see how Indian influences permeate, because it is affecting their lives," explains Dubey, who essays the role of Roshana, "a sheltered, gentle but strong woman of the early '30s." She is wife to Seth's character, Darius.

The 61-year-old's next international project, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, where she plays the sombre Mrs Kapoor has got women particularly excited, "and I wonder why," laughs Dubey, who plays the romantic interest of Hollywood actor Richard Gere. "I have older women come to me and ask strange questions like, 'did you get to kiss Mr Gere?'"

A question that, admittedly, leaves her amused.

"Of course, I got very fond of Richard. He's very warm, compassionate and an utterly charming person," she smiles. "But to me the entire process of filming was what was enjoyable."

What she cherishes is that working with mavericks like John Madden, Gere and Bill Nighy, "makes you step up because they are so darn good and professional." "I remember Bill, who filmed a part flawlessly, shot the same scene several times in various angles, and he performed each one precisely like the first. Watching him was like getting a masterclass in acting," she adds.

In contrast to her strict character in Madden's film, her role of Nelli (from Delhi) in the recently-released "rambunctious and raunchy" Canadian film, Dr Cabbie, is a "scream". While in the upcoming Indo-Italian film, that she'll begin shooting for early next year, her character is a, "dynamic, independent women, who is a bit of a cougar".

Dubey enjoys the medium, but much like her international television debut - Dubey's film trajectory too "was completely accidental".

It was filmmaker Shyam Benegal who offered her a role in the 2001 film Zubeidaa, which set her parallel film career rolling. "One doesn't think of starting a film career after crossing 40," she says. "I didn't hire an agency or manager to ensure that I get work in movies. One film led to another. From Zubeidaa, Gadar happened, then Monsoon Wedding..."

At last count, Dubey has acted in 40 films over 15 years. The actor, who moved to Mumbai from Delhi in the 1990s, says being the daughter to a gynaecologist mother and engineer physicist father, made acting "something you pursued on the side". "You didn't dedicate your life to acting or directing." But now, she hopes to direct a film, some day. "That would mean staying away from theatre for a good year and a half," she reasons. A task, the "dyed-in-the-wool theatre person" finds nearly impossible. "Theatre is and will always remain the cornerstone of my life," she says.

In fact, early 2016, her Primetime Theatre Company that has produced long-running productions like Mahesh Dattani's Dance Like a Man, Partap Sharma's Sammy, and Girish Karnad's Wedding Album, turns 25. She hopes to start the celebration of her silver jubilee year with a production inspired by Vikram Sampath's My Name is Gauhar Jaan, (based on the life and times of the eminent Hindustani vocalist). Next, she'd like to conclude it with a revival of the rock opera, Jaya - The Victory. "I had staged this mammoth production in 1998, and aged two years trying to get it on the ground. But the gentleman who wrote it passed away very suddenly and tragically, so we discontinued it after 40 shows," she says. "Theatre has allowed me to revive it and breathe new life into the production, and give the play its full run."