Joginder Tuteja (DNA; August 19, 2017)

This Friday sees the arrival of Gurinder Chadha’s Partition: 1947, which chronicles the series of events that led to the partition of India and Pakistan. The film narrates the tale from the point of view of the Mountbattens, who were in India to execute the plan. It is a known fact that while Lord Mountbatten was the man on the forefront, there was quite some influence of Lady (Edwina) Mountbatten, too, in the scheme of things. Gillian Anderson plays Lady Mountbatten in the film. Read on for excerpts from an exclusive conversation with the popular American-British film, television and theatre actress.

The film’s releasing three days after India’s 70th Independence Day anniversary. How do you think the film’s message is relevant to today’s audience?
The resounding message is tolerance and compassion. That is a lesson we as human beings still struggle to learn. How is it that we have not learned from the tragedy in India? How is it that there is still so much war, so much hatred, so much separateness in the world? It is a lesson we have yet to learn I think because each one of us thinks we are right.

How was your experience filming in India and with the British and Indian cast?
I think it worked wonderfully well. Everyone who came from the west had the most extraordinary time and fell in love with the country and I feel that deep connections were made with the local crew.

How much did you know about the history before the shooting began?
I knew very little about the history of India and Pakistan. I really don’t think it was covered in my education either in the States or in the UK, which is shocking considering the number of people affected and who continue to be affected by those decisions.

Were there any details about Lady Mountbatten you discovered which surprised you?
I was surprised that she went from a life of frivolousness and endless holidays and affairs to one of completely committed service. First with her work enhancing the nurses corps during WWII and then with her work in Burma and India. She was tireless in her effort to help those in need despite the great luxury within which she lived.

Also, many would be interested to know if there was actually a personal liaison between Jawaharlal Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten. How has that part been touched upon in the film?
In the film, it (the liaison between Nehru and Edwina) is only very briefly touched upon in the film and comes across as fondness and camaraderie rather than the love affair it is rumoured to have been.

The film also features the part of Mahatma Gandhi quite prominently. How much familiarity did you have with the Father of the Nation?
I had read his autobiography in college, and of course, seen the movie about his life. I have always held a huge fascination with and respect for his tireless commitment to his beliefs.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 12, 2015)

Asif Ali Beg, who was last seen in R Balki's Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush-starrer Shamitabh, has bagged an important role in Gurinder Chadha's upcoming period drama Viceroy's House. The actor, who shot for his part in September, essays the role of the Muslim second-in-command to the head Hindu chef, played by Raj Zutshi.

"The two chefs share a great bond. The film showcases the impact of the partition on the viceroy's house staff," says Asif, who also shares screen space with British actor Hugh Bonneville (of Downtown Abbey fame) and Gillian Anderson (The X Files) in the film.

"I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey. When I was offered the role, I couldn't believe I'd be working with the show's lead actor. It was surreal to have lunch and hang out with someone I have always admired." Asif was equally impressed with Gillian, who plays Lady Mountbatten in the film. "She completely immersed herself in the character. It was a treat to watch her perform," he says.

However, his favourite moment from the film was shooting with Om Puri, who plays a blind freedom fighter in the film.

"It was my first scene. We were shooting the engagement ceremony of one of the viceroys house's staff's daughter. Om Sir was supposed to deliver his dialogue and exit the frame but somewhere in the middle, when the servants were dancing, he slyly came in to dance along, thinking Gurinder wouldn't notice him. She had to drag him out of the scene," laughs the actor, who apparently auditioned for his role over the phone while holidaying in Goa.

"It's a beautiful script and I am extremely happy to be a part of it," he says. The actor found an emotional scene with Raj the most difficult to perform. "I could relate to, on some level, how the partition would have impacted the real people of that time," he says, adding that he researched in detail to learn more about his character. "Apart from reading extensively about the partition online, I watched a documentary titled Partition: The Day India Burned. It was such an impactful film," the actor concludes.

Gurinder Chadha's period drama brings them together; keeping them company will be a blind freedom fighter, played by Om Puri
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 2, 2015)

On Sunday, Bend It Like Beckham director, Gurinder Chadha, kicked off an eight-week schedule of her new film, The Viceroy's House, in Jodhpur. Like the title suggests, this Delhi address was the home of the British rulers in India. In 1947, for six months, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy, lived upstairs with his wife and daughter. Below, 500 Hindu, Muslim and Sikh servants took up residence. Against this turbulent backdrop, a personal and political story plays out, as history is being rewritten.

British actor Hugh Bonneville, best known for his performances in Downton Abbey and Paddington, plays Mountbatten, with The X Files detective, Gillian Anderson, as Lady Mountbatten. Lily Travers of Kingsman fame, plays their daughter, Pamela. Sir Michael Gambon, seen as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, and Simon Callow known for his roles in A Room With A View and Four Weddings And A Funeral have been cast as civil servants. Tanveer Ghani plays Jawaharlal Nehru, Denzil Smith is Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Neeraj Kabi is Mahatma Gandhi. The film co-produced by Anil Ambani, also features Om Puri in a prominent role.

Talking about his role, Puri told Mirror from Jodhpur, "I'm Noor, a progressive character from those tumultuous times. He's a freedom fighter who, when in jail, develops a cataract and goes blind. The Partition forced choices on people and when Noor's daughter (played by Huma Qureshi), wants to go to Pakistan, he reluctantly agrees."

Their journey to Pakistan is horrific as every single person in the train is butchered but Noor manages to push his daughter off.

The veteran actor reveals that Gurinder, a dear friend of his, had offered him a role in Bend It Like Beckham too. "I wasn't able to do that but this is a sensitive script and I immediately came on board," he says. Puri is also re-uniting with Manish Dayal, his co-star from the British drama, The Hundred-Foot Journey, who plays a Hindu boy caught in the communal fires which led to the division of a nation and the birth of another.

"Nehru, Jinnah and Sardar Patel are all being played by 'lookalike' Englishmen, with lots of prosthetics," says the actor, who still has eight days of shoot left.