Ria Lawrence (MID-DAY; May 25, 2016)

When one of the most revered actors, with over 50 international acting awards and more than half a century reign on film and stage comes to India, it is a given that movie stars and film enthusiasts alike would be drawn to the event like moths to a flame. Sir Ian McKellen shared an inspiring conversation with Aamir Khan about the life and works of Shakespeare and world cinema in general at the debut of Mumbai Academy of Moving Images’ (MAMI) Film Club at NCPA. Among the Bollywood brigade were Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Kangana Ranaut and Imran Khan with Sonam’s endearing exchange with the 77-year-old leaving the audience delighted.

We want to refrain from commenting about Sonam’s attire for a change because what impressed us more was her endearing exchange with McKellen. When the actress, a self-confessed literature junkie, got an opportunity to pose a question to him, she chose to delve into why Shakespeare didn’t sketch as many striking female characters in his works. She went on to say that if she could, she would love to portray the character of Portia (The heroine of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice).

“Well, I don’t know you much at all, and I can only see your legs from up here; you could probably play Lady Macbeth,” the veteran responded cheekily as they went on to discuss the Bard and the role of women in his writings. He later shared that his favourite female character from a Shakespeare work was Lady Macbeth from the 1611 play Macbeth.

Sonam also shared an anecdote from her childhood, saying, “When I was in school, we did a play on Shakespeare where all the main characters were women.” At this point, Aamir jumped into the conversation asking her if she went to an all-girls’school, leaving the audience in splits.

The Lord of the Rings star also made a dig at Section 377 of Indian Penal Code which criminalises homosexuality. When Aamir pointed out that the British made our laws, the actor with his signature waywardness said, “We changed it long back in England but you are holding on to it to protect yourself from Western culture.”