My connection to India goes way back to over 20 years. But to be precise, after my first feature film ‘Avé’ premiered in Cannes in 2011, I was looking to develop a new script. I was in Brooklyn and by chance picked up William Dalrymple’s book ‘Nine Lives’ in a local bookstore. I became fascinated by the themes it tackled— from art, tradition, modernity to sexuality and friendship in the complex and dynamic India of today. I optioned the book in 2012 with the idea of creating a documentary but gave up the project to develop ‘The Shameless’. Though it is a completely fictional story, I have to acknowledge that without ‘Nine Lives’, this movie would never have existed. And for that reason, I’m grateful to William Dalrymple. But the story in the book and the film are completely different.

While shooting the documentary in the Belgaum region of Karnataka, I observed the interactions of the central character, a 33-year-old real-life Devadasi called Reshma, with her best friend, Renuka, a sex worker in her thirties. It was incredibly touching and tender. The kind of emotional support that these two women were able to give each other in a very harsh world is what made me think of the story of ‘The Shameless’. Several women who come to these communities work under the relative protection of a quasi-religious system. So, I imagined what if a woman on the run, who has committed a crime, enters this community that operates by its own sort of rules, and rebels against it? That’s how the central character of Renuka (played by Sengupta) was born.

I take a long time to cast the leads for my films. I worked with Parag Mehta, the casting director who was recommended to me by Anurag Kashyap. Although I had shortlisted some extremely talented and well-known actresses for the part, I wasn’t convinced. I was so discouraged that I was contemplating making it as an animated film for adults. Then an Indian producer and a director I know said we have a friend who makes these very interesting drawings and maybe we could work together to develop the animated characters. And this is how I befriended Anusaya on Facebook. I would keep looking at her photo and knew there was something about her; a certain charisma that was suited to Renuka. The idea of the animated film was struck down by the sales agent and the producer, but that initial connection with Anasuya remained. The making of this film took so long — almost 12 years — that it almost drove me to insanity but the character of Renuka was the biggest hook for me, and it kept me going.

I don’t speak Hindi and wrote the script in English. Translating the dialogue into Hindi proved to be a major challenge. I tried to work with several different translators and writers, and they were taking it in a different direction or adding Bollywood clichés. Ultimately, it was my production designer, Parul Sondh, who stepped in to translate and knew exactly what I wanted. We shot it on a very, very low budget in Nepal. The financing took years, with small chunks of money from different countries like Switzerland, France, Bulgaria and Taiwan. And finally, an Indian production company came on board just six weeks ago!

Growing up in 1970s Bulgaria, because of the links between India and eastern bloc countries, we watched a lot of Bollywood films. I remember as a kid, just bawling as I fondly watched ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ maybe 10 times. Back then, as a kid, it was either Russian war films or East German Westerns, which is funnily enough a contradiction in terms, or Bollywood. But I don’t watch mainstream Bollywood movies now. However, there’s been a wave of refreshing, new voices in Indian independent cinema in the last 15-20 years. Some that have stayed with me include ‘Killa’, ‘Liar’s Dice’, ‘Newton’, Anurag’s ‘Black Friday’, and ‘Court’.

I could only make the film from my own perspective. It would have been foolish and ignorant of me to try to make an Indian film from the perspective of an Indian director. I tend to focus on the universal aspects of the story, no matter where the story takes place. Ultimately, stories are what connect us. Also, it worked because of my sincere connection to the subject matter and all my Indian collaborators. You don’t make a film alone.

What is life without a little danger, especially if you are paid a million bucks for it? That’s what the makers of Khatron Ke Khiladi will tell you. Kicking off in India in 2008, the reality show, over its subsequent seasons, has shown us the varied forms of daredevilry—from being tied underwater on a wheel in season 9 to lying under a moving train in season 10.

In July, the 13th season kicked off with contestants Daisy Shah, Shiv Thakare, and Arjit Taneja, among others. But what does it exactly take to create a show like this? It’s with this question that we sit down with Malaya Pradhan, Project Head, Fear Factor. “The planning has many components, location being the most critical one and the feasibility of doing the show in that locale,” says the showrunner.

Undeniably, stunts are the most important part of an adventure reality show. But they largely depend on the show’s location. Which is why, Pradhan says, the design team begins scouting for destinations almost a year in advance. “In 2017, when we did the Spain edition, [my team] landed in the country in June 2016, and then again in February 2017, before the host and contestants came down in May,” he recollects.

While doing recce, three things are taken into account—camera angles, possibility of stunts in the location, and finally, the animals that the region acts as a habitat to. “Any location has to look great on camera, even if it is to capture the sunset. Since we are investing so much money and effort into the show, it is important to capture locations that the country is known for. The next thing we look at is if at least 30 to 40 stunts can be pulled off there. For example, we see if there are two buildings of the same height and whether a stunt can be arranged between them. Or whether there is a water body and whether a helicopter can be flown over it. We also have to check if the lakes are deep enough so that if someone falls into it, they don’t hit the bottom.”

When it comes to wildlife, different regions satisfy different criteria. While lions are easily available in South Africa, tigers and bears have a dense population in Spain. “At any point, we have to make sure at least 150 types of snakes can be used. So, we check whether the location can provide that. A lot of paperwork goes behind everything we do.”

One also has to consider whether the locales chosen can accommodate the huge shooting team. At any given time, the location has to accommodate at least 200 people. “Production logistics is key. We may find a beautiful location, but if there is no place to park at least 150 vehicles for the production, artistes, hosts and the cranes, it cannot be used,” he explains, adding that they take multiple trips before zeroing in on a destination.

After finalizing the location, the design team addresses the heart of the show—the stunts. Pradhan says all stunts can be broken down into four broad categories—height, water, speed, and reaction. “Height could be [a stunt from the top of a] building or in a chopper. [We sometimes intersect it] with water, wherein you have a contestant on a rig jump into water. Water stunts include anything from [going] underwater or performing a task in a swimming pool. Speed stunts involve cars or long container trucks. The reaction stunts vary from animals to shock. This season, we did about 84 stunts with a forest theme at the opening.”

Putting together close to 80 stunts every season is not a cake walk. Season on season, the Indian team has been working with either the Argentinian or South African stunt teams. While Pradhan’s team designs and ideates the stunts, the foreign counterpart is trusted with gauging their executability and ensuring the contestants’ safety.

“For instance, this year, we decided against introducing contestants one by one. We decided to have the contestants holding on to a reverse balloon structure under the chopper. The South African team executed it. They determined what is the maximum weight the chopper can carry, what will be the structure, what material it will be made of, and so on. They took every individual’s weight into account before building the structure under the chopper,” shares Pradhan.

In a show of this nature, there are bound to be surprises. Pradhan emphasizes that the key is to be thoroughly prepared. So, what is the biggest challenge? The weather, he says promptly. Summer in Europe is the best time to shoot because there is no wind or rain.

“In 2018, the weather was a huge issue in Argentina [during season 9]. It was extremely cold. When you are doing a height stunt [involving] a rig that is 25 storeys above the ground and one has to walk on a table plate [disc shaped things], which is placed on a ladder or from one building to the other, the wind plays a huge role. In such a scenario, we have to wait for the wind to subside or cancel the stunt. Similarly, once we had planned a chopper stunt. But because of [gusty] winds, we didn’t get the permission from local weather traffic control to take off.”

Weather isn’t the only spoilsport. Sometimes, the team has had to cancel stunts involving animals. “In Bulgaria, in season 10, we had to push a stunt because the ostriches [were running amok]. Likewise, in Spain [in season 8], the animal handler told us to wait for the lions to calm down before shooting with them. We don’t take safety lightly.”

The team keeps back-up stunt designs ready in such situations. Present on location are the safety team, medical team, local production, the Indian production, technical, directors, creative and commercial team. 

Chopper stunt (season 11)

Pecked by hen (season 11)

Rotating wheel underwater (season 9)

Under moving train (season 10)

Fire cycle (season 9)

Battling with ostriches (season 11)

Wax on body (season 10)

Tear gas chamber (season 10)

Breathless in vacuum (season 9)

Malaya Pradhan

In recent years, a number of Indian films and series including RRR, 99 Songs, Dev, Winner and Special Ops 1.5 were filmed in various locations in Ukraine. Location managers and production assistants say that in the last few years Ukraine was becoming a popular film shooting destination for Indian projects because it offers picturesque locations at lower costs, and shooting there used to be 20-30% cheaper than other Eastern European countries.

Natarajan Ramji, a location manager, who arranges shoots abroad for Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films, says, “For Indian filmmakers, Ukraine was the most suitable location in Europe from a financial perspective and also in terms of filmmaking, with good local crew and actors.”

Natarajan Ramji says, “The locations there can be matched with the settings of other places, like Paris, London, the US and even some Indian locales. The people, too, were friendly. While January to April is peak winter there, we had a few shoots planned there from May.”

He was also part of the shoot of an untitled Tamil film starring Saravanan Arul and Urvashi Rautela, which was shot in Ukraine in December. He was in Kiev in the first week of February this year as well to organise permissions for the shoot of an upcoming film. “Obviously, it is not going to be considered as a probable location for some time now,” Ramji adds.

Satish Sharma, director of Indo-Soviet Films that coordinates for shoots in Ukraine, says, “Almost a decade back I coordinated the shoot of a series Raja Vaska in Ukraine, India and Russia. Since then we have been doing a lot of projects in Ukraine. In fact, my next project Marshall, directed by Ganesh Acharya, was to be filmed in Ukraine in May. We had planned the shoot in summer and winter, but now it doesn’t seem possible. My last project in Ukraine was Neeraj Pandey’s Special Ops. We were also planning to shoot Shivaay in Ukraine, but at that time also there was news of some disturbances so we changed the location to Bulgaria. A number of songs from south films have been shot in Kiev, Lviv and the Carpathian mountains”

Satish adds that Ukraine was becoming a popular location among Indian filmmakers when Coronavirus hit. “My partner in Ukraine was planning to organise an event in India in January to promote Ukraine’s film shooting locations, but due to Omicron he couldn’t come. My friends from Ukraine have been showing me the situation on video calls and sending videos of the place where they are hiding. It doesn’t look like we will be able to film in the country anytime soon,” he says.

— With inputs from Niharika Lal and M Suganth

Almost 19 years after we saw three blind men rob a bank successfully in Aankhen (2002), its sequel is set to go on floors. Amitabh Bachchan, who played mastermind Vijay Singh Rajput in the original heist thriller, has been the only constant as the sequel underwent several changes in terms of the director, casting and production house over the last few years. Now, the megastar, joined by Sidharth Malhotra, Akshaye Khanna and Sunil Grover, will take Rajput’s story forward under the supervision of Delhi Belly director Abhinay Deo. mid-day has it that the filmmaker intends to kick off the first schedule in May.

“The heist in Aankhen 2 is being planned on a grander scale. The temperamental Vijay Singh Rajput returns after serving his prison sentence and leads a new team of visually-impaired people, played by Sidharth, Akshaye and Sunil, as they rob a gaming establishment. Considering the story is set abroad, the unit has done recce in the United Kingdom and Bulgaria. If all goes well, the three actors will kick off the first schedule from May 20 with Bachchan joining them later,” reveals a trade source.

It may be recalled that Aankhen 2 was first announced in 2016 with Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi and Regina Cassandra, but the project did not roll. There was renewed interest in the film last month after Malhotra hinted that he is the new addition to the cast by posting a picture where he is seen sporting grey eyes. The source adds, “Sidharth is currently shooting for Mission Majnu in Lucknow, and will begin prep from mid-April.”

When mid-day contacted Deo, he confirmed, “Mr Bachchan, Akshaye Khanna and Sidharth Malhotra are part of Aankhen 2. We are in the process of finalising the fourth actor. At this point, I cannot comment on anything else as there’s no surety about the shooting schedule.”

Shivaay has changed Ajay Devgn in many ways - both striking and subtle. For an actor who loves being on the move constantly, the project remained his sole point of focus for close to two years. Physically and emotionally , he has invested his everything in the film. Yet, less than a week from release, he is breathing easy . BT catches up with the actor-filmmaker for a tête-à-tête over lunch. Excerpts...

You have told us how Shivaay is all you have done in the last two years. Now that it's set to release, do you feel a sense of achievement?
I've been working 18 hours a day. Now that the first copy is ready, I feel content. In the beginning, when I told my team about shooting in hard-to-reach locations in tough weather conditions, they said we wouldn't be able to do it within our budget. But I told them we had to, no matter what. Today, when they see the result, they are as excited as me. I feel someone up there was looking after us. I never had any problem - not even while shooting in places where one can't survive for five minutes. There were locations where you could only reach by helicopter. Hollywood films are doing so well here, but what are we doing to give our audience a big screen experience? We have talent in abundance. And as far as the budget is concerned, we can work doubly hard to produce better movies.

As an actor, it must have been tough performing stunts in such harsh weather. But what challenged you as a director?
A film is not just about the story, it's also about the emotion and the thought behind it. Shivaay showcases the parent-child relationship - the lengths a father goes to protect his daughter, and her determination to nurture that relationship is the seed around which the story is woven. For example, take a Hollywood film like Die Hard. Many call it an action flick, but for me, it's a family drama about a husband and a wife who are about to divorce. Likewise, my film is a father-daughter story.

Despite high-octane action, you want the film to strike an emotional chord?
Of course, my intention is just that. When viewers step out of the theatre, I want their eyes to well up with emotion and a sense of happiness. The film should make them connect with whoever they love the most.

Does the film reflect your relationship with your children - Nysa and Yug?
Shivaay has all the emotions I feel for and expect from my children. It's not just about how I am as a father - it's about how every parent is.

Your kids visit you during the shoot in Bulgaria. How did they react to your stunt sequences?
They visited for five-six days, but only to a location that was easily accessible. Everywhere else, it was too cold. After seeing the rushes, they freaked out. When I got hypothermia, Kajol and the kids fired me saying, 'How could you do all this?'

Did that make you more cautious?
No, I just told them not to worry.

Why did you cast newcomers - be it Erika Kaar or Sayyeshaa?
The story needed newcomers, and they both have performance-oriented roles. It took me a year to find Erikaa - I had to search across the world. For Sayyeshaa's role too, I needed a newcomer, who is much younger and a good performer.

Being the only star in the film, do you feel an added responsibility vis-a-vis the box office?
The audience will connect with any actor, new or known, as long as they perform with conviction.

Recently, Rakesh Roshan announced shifting the release of Krrish 4, as the Shah Rukh Khan-Aanand L Rai film also releases on the same day. Isn't it a better strategy for filmmakers to not release big films together?
Somewhere, he is being fair about it. But it's not always possible. Sometimes, the situation is such that you can't shift your release date.



There is an outcry against casting Pakistani talent in the entertainment industry. What is your stand on that?
I reiterate that art and politics should not be mixed. But what about art and nation? Then the nation comes first. If you say politics can't put pressure on artistes, then artistes too can't influence politics. You can't isolate either in the time of crisis.

Now, sportsmen and industrialists are also talking about cutting off ties with Pakistan...
They are all being Indian before anything else. I don't like it when someone from abroad asks me about my religion. But when they enquire about my nationality, I proudly say that I'm an Indian.Religion has got nothing to do with the country. For me, India comes first

Does it bother you that the other Diwali release, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, is under threat?
Of course, it bothers me that multiplexes are also under threat. It's harmful to both films and our industry. The threat could keep the audience away from theatres.

Previously, stars had an aura about them. Do you feel that has changed now as actors are more visible?
I feel that's because the audience of this generation has the urge and need to know more about actors. If I had my way, I'd maintain more privacy. But I try to strike a balance.

You are aloof and reserved, but today's stars are known to be more accessible. Have you changed with the times?
I speak where I need to speak, that is the demand of the day. It hasn't changed me, it troubles me (smiles). I do whatever is necessary, I can't go beyond this.

Many stars have quit social media because of trolling. How do you handle the negativity?
I've been lucky, I don't face too much negativity. Maybe that's because I don't interfere in anyone's life.

You took eight years to direct a film after U Me Aur Hum. Hope your next won't take so long...
It won't take too long. I've got to finish two-three films as an actor. After that, I'll start working on my next directorial venture.

This February, Ajay Devgn landed in Bulgaria to shoot his second directorial, Shivaay, in a three month schedule. Located in the eastern Balkan Peninsula, bordering Greece and Turkey to the south, Macedonia and Serbia to the west and Romania to the north, the South-East European country is an unusual location for a Bollywood film shoot. So over to Ajay:

HINDI-BULGARIAN BHAI BHAI
I was looking for a world in transit and needed snow-capped peaks which were as accessible as an old city's cobbled streets. The story is set in Eastern Europe and Bulgaria's geographical location gave it a viable edge for ferrying a unit of 150-plus. Bulgarians are friendly people and most of them speak decent English. Our crew was drawn from different nationalities. By the time we wrapped up, they were all speaking Hindi.


GETTING CHEESY
I realized during the recce that the food there is to die for. I love the white cheese and the ripe tomatoes available through the year. Like India, Bulgaria has a tradition of re-harvesting seeds. Most of the local cuisine comes from organic veggies and meats. Serbian cuisine is also common there and when we craved for something spicy, we ate Turkish or Greek delicacies. Bulgaria's climate sets it apart from other cold countries. We shot in heavy snow as well as in spring. When it was cold, we shivered even with the heaters on. We wore locally bought snow shoes, and especially designed Indian jackets that the army wears in Siachen. And still shivered!


HERITAGE CENTRAL
The old city of Plovdiv is a visual delight, every frame looked spectacular. Also known as the City of Seven Hills, it is one of Europe's oldest and still-inhabited cities with a pulsating nightlife and the millennia-old ruins vying for your attention. Plovdiv is also Bulgaria's second most cosmopolitan city and will be the European capital of culture from 2019.

One of the big tourist attractions of the Iskar Gorge is the Prohodna Caves. They are a natural lava structure and popularly known as the Eyes of God Caves. You can see them in the Shivaay trailer. The wall I climbed with Abigail Eames, my child co-star in the film, is the outer ridge of the cave. It was really difficult shooting there. The crew took endless meters of electric cables into the cave to be able light it up. It's an eco-sensitive zone so we took a lot of precautions. On our final day at the Caves, we were suddenly hit by a hailstorm. It was bizarre even for the locals.


Sofia is the capital city and renowned for its St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It was built in honour of the Russian Emperor Alexander II whose army liberated Bulgaria of the five-century-long Ottoman Dominion in 1878. The Cathedral's gold-plated dome is 148 feet high, with the bell tower reaching 174 feet. Sofia City Court, also known as Sofiyski Gradski Sad, is a four-storey building (two underground floors) spreads over a 8,500 square metres with 24 courtrooms, a library and a bank hall.

FASHION FORWARD
Bulgaria's fashion had even a non-shopper like me buying shoes to bags to clothes. We were there for three months and it was the longest schedule of my career. It was exhausting, challenging and yet good fun. We fought a tough winter together and by the end of it, everyone on the set was saying “Namaste.“





When Polish actress Erika Karkuszewska, better known as Erika Kaar, came to India, she instantly fell in love with the country's vibrant colours and smiling, happy faces. The light-eyed beauty's love affair with the country only grew when she started shooting for her debut Hindi film, Ajay Devgn's Shivaay. In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, she shares her experience of working with the intense actor-director and how he would treat her to some lip-smacking butter chicken and naan after a hard day at work. Excerpts...

How did you bag the role in Shivaay?
In September 2014, I went for an audition to Warsaw. All I knew was that they were scouting for a new face for a Bollywood movie. The scenes that I had to enact were written in English and Hindi. We were supposed to speak only in English, but I made an extra effort and learnt a couple of lines in Hindi, too. The character and script caught my attention and I was thrilled to be cast for the role. I had no idea I would be working opposite Ajay. Shivaay was like winning a jackpot. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn a new language, travel to India and explore an unknown culture.

You've worked earlier in a UK production. How would you compare that experience to Bollywood?
Oh, Bollywood was a different ball game. I learnt to go with the flow and the result was far better than I had expected. Once, we had travelled to a distant location and shot a few takes. All of a sudden, Ajay said it was time to pack up as he didn't think the location was perfect. I was impressed with his decision-making and ability to lead the team. After a while, we all bonded well and became like a huge family. Bollywood is dynamic, energetic and high on emotions. These qualities combined with a high level of professionalism and technology makes it extraordinary. On set, I felt respected and loved. People were always there for me. We would have lunch together or gossip between the takes. The spot dadas are selfless people with a wonderful sense of humour. One of them would always chase me with a chair and bottle of water. Even though I wanted to stand and wasn't thirsty, I would always sit down and drink the water that he offered me as he was so endearing. Everyday, I would be the first one on the set because it took some time to transform a sleepy Erika off screen into a stunning woman on screen. But after pack up, we would sit around eating dates, singing Bollywood songs and cracking jokes. Though it was my first film, it seemed like a cakewalk.

Were you familiar with Hindi cinema before Shivaay was offered to you?
Yes. I love Bollywood songs and Kajol is well known in Poland as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was a huge hit there. I also liked Deepika Padukone's performance in Bajirao Mastani.

How was it working with Ajay?
I loved every minute of working with him. He is a thorough professional who respects people and combines fun with discipline. It's incredible how he can act, direct and produce a film at the same time. I watched his performance while waiting for my shots and realised I had to push myself harder to keep up with him.

What was your initial reaction when you came to India?
I came here for the first time in January 2015 for a workshop and instantly fell in love with the warm air, bright colours and happy, smiling faces. Now, I want to spend more time here.

Did the desi crew make you try out Indian dishes?
Yes. They were lovely. They pampered me with so many amazing dishes like biryani, kebabs and dosas. However, my all-time favourite is butter chicken with butter naan. Whenever I had a tough day on set, Ajay would joke, “Go, have your butter chicken in the evening and you'll be as good as new.“

How did you cope with the cold terrains of Bulgaria?
It was difficult for the Indian crew as the temperature was -22 degrees Celsius. We were shooting in extreme weather conditions on the mountains. Everybody was wearing thermals and special snow gear. I am used to Polish winters, but even for me, it was a huge challenge to shoot in the snow. There were heaters everywhere, but it was impossible to have them on high peaks. Despite all these challenges, the crew did a fabulous job.

Did you get a chance to interact with Sayyeshaa, who is also debuting with this film?
Sayyeshaa is a lovely girl. We didn't have too many scenes together but we did get to know each other better on set. She is extremely focussed.

Since your film releases during Diwali this year, do you plan to celebrate the festival here?
This will be my second Diwali in this country. My first was in Landour (Mussoorie) on the sets of the film. I will be united with my Indian family during the festival of lights.

Ajay Devgn, who escaped a near-fatal accident while filming a car sequence for Shivaay in Bulgaria last month, beat a bad bout of hypothermia while shooting in the European nation's highest peak; 2,914 meters above sea level and that too, in extreme cold conditions.

Incidentally, the night before the actor-filmmaker was to shoot at Vihren Peak in the Pirin Mountains of Bansko, the region witnessed heavy snowfall, causing the temperature to drop to minus 19 degrees celsius. While the unit was bundled in layers of woollens, the superstar was in costume  -a T-shirt and a jacket. Moreover, the chopper hovering over his head blew a lot of snow around the high altitude area where he was shooting critical solo shots for nearly 40 minutes.

Interestingly, the 2014 Winter Olympics were held at a resort at the base of the Vihren Peak. And its dominating presence with its breath-taking high wall awed the actor-filmmaker so much that he opted to shoot there. By the end of the take, the biting cold had caused him hypothermia. The tense crew made frantic calls and managed to get a doctor from a mountain almost two ski lifts away. Though advised minimum two days' rest, the actor-filmmaker was on his feet in 30 minutes in spite of the adverse weather conditions. Undeterred by the bout of hypothermia, Ajay kept his spirits up and resumed shooting his ambitious directorial venture.

The stock question: Toh kaisa lag raha hai aap ko?
It's always a fabulous feeling when you are awarded for the work you have done. More so jab desh ki taraf se samman milta hai. You feel that jo bhi chhota mota kaam aap ne kiya hai us ki thodi bahut recognition mili hai. Lekin iss ko main chhota mota nahi kahoonga, kyunki jab aapko aap ke desh ki government koi samman deti hai toh woh aap ke liye sab se bada samman hota hai.

You're clearly not a political person; some of your Bollywood colleagues also in the list this year were (are) perceived to be very politically aligned people, not just artistes. Do you have a take on that?
See, anything that happens, some people will agree with it, some will criticise it. It's not something that is happening for the first time. Not just in awards, in anything. I wouldn't know how to comment on this. It is fair if some people have an opinion on an issue and they have the right to air it.

What was Kajol's reaction when she first got to know of this?
Of course, she was very happy - she also has one!

Most awards and felicitations which actors attend are all about the cine industry. There aren't too many where they are part of the larger social system, are there?
Yes, and that is the good part of it. Today, when I was sitting amongst so many people who were being awarded, it was not just the film industry, it was people from all across the country. Sportspersons, charity workers, doctors... You feel nice that you are standing amongst people who are doing very good work and who are being recognised for it. I was chatting with a few of them. I met Deepika Kumari, the archer - she was the youngest Padma winner today, I think she is just 21.

We'd heard that you may not be able to make it for the felicitation ceremony because of Shivaay's shooting.
Luckily, the shooting finished on schedule, in fact before schedule. I could manage. I couldn't attend the rehearsal, but managed to be present for the actual event. In fact, I landed at 2 am in Delhi to be present here today; I have barely slept. From minus 20 degrees to landing in Delhi is quite a change. I have been away for three months and can't wait to go home. I am taking a flight shortly.