Dipika Chikhlia returns to the screen after 24 years as the wife of a terrorist who is hanged and leaves behind a young son; the film is inspired by Afzal Guru’s family
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 2, 2018)

After becoming a household name with Ramanand Sagar’s epic television series Ramayan in which she played Sita to Arun Govil’s Ram, Dipika Chikhlia went on to feature in a few films, including Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989) and Rupaye Dus Karod (1991) with Rajesh Khanna, before disappearing into the blue. Now, Mirror has learnt that the actress is all set to stage a comeback with Manoj Giri’s Gaalib, 24 years after she was last seen on screen in Johny Bakshi’s Khudai. The film is reportedly based on Afzal Guru’s son Gaalib, with Dipika playing his mother, Tabasum. “It is not exactly Afzal Guru’s story but the character is similar to him. It’s a mother-son story, about what happens to a terrorist’s wife and child after he is hanged. I wanted to do something different and this role was worth making a comeback to the screen,” asserts Dipika who wrapped up the first schedule in Allahabad and Varanasi.

Is there a plan to meet Afzal Guru’s family? “Not at the moment but we plan to do so when we go for the Kashmir schedule. We are really keen,” she admits.

Dipika, who has been away from the film industry for over two decades, insists she didn’t really miss being in front of the camera. “I was so busy with my children and family that I didn’t really have the time. After I got married, I was a member of parliament for the first five years and then I got busy with my kids. They were growing up and I was completely focused on them. I also paint professionally and hosted several exhibitions. But when good offers started coming in, I didn’t want to miss out on them,” she explains, quick to add that she will only do roles that require a good actor.

She admits that she was a little nervous when she faced the camera again but the moment the director shouted ‘Action!’, she felt like she was back home. “Before that I was apprehensive about whether I’d look the part. This is why I even insisted on doing a look test and had a discussion on the script with the team well before we started shooting. I didn’t want to go on the set unprepared,” she reminisces.

Dipika exults that even after almost a quarter of a century, people still recognise her on the street. “I’m still called Sita. I have got used to it by now. It’s become my second identity. I’m still in touch with my Ramayan co-stars, Arun Govil, Sunil Lahri who played Lakshman and the Sagar family.”

Quiz her on her self-imposed hibernation and Dipika says that it was prompted because she didn’t want to get repetitive. “Then I got into politics, got married and just moved away from films. It wasn’t a conscious decision but now that I am back, I want to satisfy my needs as an actor. I’m really excited,” she signs off with a smile.