Swara Bhaskar, who is playing mother to a 15 year-old in Nil Battey Sannata, says that she interviewed her own mother to understand the role better. The film, set in Agra, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and produced by Aanand L Rai, is about a mother-daughter relationship and their dreams. Swara says, “When I got to know about this role, I told Ashwiny that I have three cats who bring out my maternal instincts. She gave me a disgusted look and suggested that I talk to my mom. I interviewed my mom for one-and-a-half hours. First, she complained about me and my habits, then she spoke about how she felt when I achieved success. That's how I unlocked Chanda (my character), I hope I got it right.“

Adds Ashwiny, “We referred to our relation with our parents to bring real emotions. Swara is playing the role of a maid, and she spoke to many maids to get her tone right for the role. We also did a three-month workshop with Swara and Riya (who plays her daughter in the film) and completed the film's shooting in two months.“

Nil Battey Sannata, presented by Eros International and produced by Colour Yellow Productions and Jar Pictures, releases today.