Farhan Akhtar on Gully Boy’s Oscar race, why he couldn’t meet Niren Chaudhary and how life has changed as seen on social media
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 28, 2019)

Two years after Lucknow Central, Farhan Akhtar returns to the screen with The Sky Is Pink, the love story of real-life couple Aditi and Niren Chaudhary spanning a quarter of a century, told through the lens of their terminally ill daughter, Aisha Chaudhary, diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. This story of courage, dignity and grace under immense pressure engaged him instantly.

“Coincidentally, Shonali (Bose, director) came to me just 10 days after I’d watched her last film, Margarita With A Straw,” reminisces the actor who as a parent to daughters Shakya and Akira could relate even more with the script and his character. “Dealing with or having to deal with the impending loss of a child is unimaginable for a parent as it is against the natural order. You don’t want anyone to be in such a situation, least of all yourself. But Shonali’s story is a celebration of life. The family was not living with the fact that Aisha was going away soon, but that she was with them now. A small change in the mindset can make an amazing difference,” he points out.

The film’s philosophy to make each day count reminds one of Rajesh Khanna’s iconic dialogue in Anand, “Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin” and Farhan agrees that it resounds strongly in their film, but that apart, the stories are completely different.

Interestingly, he did not meet Niren Chaudhary on whom his character is modelled before starting the shoot, relying on Shonali and writer Nilesh Maniyar’s research and behind-the-scene footage with the family to formulate his thoughts on how to play him. “Shonali didn’t want the character to become a caricature or impersonation, rather she wanted me to imbibe Niren’s qualities and create my own character,” he explains.

Zaira Wasim who plays his screen daughter, has since quit acting on religious grounds and for Farhan that’s a huge loss to the film industry. “But every individual has the right to decide what they want to do with their life and it’s not for us to say if that’s right or wrong. But purely as someone who’s worked with her, I hope Zaira changes her mind,” he states, admitting that he hasn’t spoken to her after she announced her decision.

Priyanka Chopra whom he’s directed in Don and its sequel, and worked with as an actor in Dil Dhadakne Do, plays his better half in this one. “Our friendship has grown as has our trust in each other as creative people. I’m proud of everything she’s achieved and happy that I’ve been with her in this journey,” he smiles. Quiz him on Don 3 and he sighs, “There’s nothing happening on that front at the moment. We keep running around the same tree.”

The Fukrey franchise is also not going forward as of now, with his production company now focusing on the sequel of the Kannada franchise KGF, the original having released last Christmas. Farhan also confides that five years ago, he’d toyed with the idea of a Dil Chahta Hai reboot with three female characters. “I need to sit down and put it together.”

Meanwhile Gully Boy, directed by sister Zoya Akhtar, is also on its way to the Oscars as Indian’s official entry in the Best Foreign Language category. “It feels good, but there’s still a long way to go. We have to figure out how to make it to the last five or six. We’re pooling our resources, it’s a great opportunity from the film federation,” he admits.

After the 2013 National Awardwinning Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan has reunited with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for a boxing drama, Toofan. “The journey so far has been really educational, I started as a rank beginner,” he says. Paresh Rawal play his coach. “It’s amazing to work with someone who is constantly lifting and challenging you.”

The latest trend of content scoring over big names at the box-office has enthused the actor-filmmaker who reasons that while stars can get you a big opening, eventually it’s the story that sells. “The star system is here to stay because as a society we idolise heroes. But it can’t only be about star power, you want good films to work regardless of who is acting in them,” explains Farhan, adding that the way we consume entertainment is changing and that could change the kind of stars we look up to.

Of late, Farhan has been pretty open about his lady love, Shibani Dandekar, with the couple posting lovedup pictures from vacations on Instagram. But face-to-face, he is reluctant to discuss his personal life. “You can see on the social media how my life has changed. Life moves on in the way life moves on, and I share things that I’m comfortable sharing,” he concludes.

Director Shonali Bose on her latest film that wowed TIFF, and her previous film's 'A' tag
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 19, 2014)

Nine years after Amu, Shonali Bose is back with another tale of a woman on the path of self-discovery. While Amu saw a woman confront her past and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Margarita, With A Straw revolves around a woman with cerebral palsy exploring her sexuality.

Fresh from her win at the Toronto International Film Festival where the Kalki Koechlin starrer won the NETPAC award for Best Asian Film, Shonali speaks to Mirror from Los Angeles. Excerpts:

After all the problems you had with Amu-even Doordarshan refused to air it despite two National Awards-one would have thought you'd play safe with your next.
I tried to be light and brainless but it's not in me! My films are passionate and intense. Each one takes me three years, from idea to screen. I give birth to them. I'm open to a comedy but I need a script. Within myself are untold stories, usually about women.

Margarita, With A Straw is inspired by your cousin Malini. What was her reaction to it?
She loved it, has watched it several times and howled each time. Right now, she is organising the European premiere after-party in London's Leicester Square where we have a red carpet screening at the BFI London Film Festival. It's a margarita and cheese party funded by her employers. It'll be special and emotional to have her there.

You picked up the script after a break, following your 17-year-old son's death. How much did the experience affect the film?
My co-writer, Nilesh Maniyar and I had spoken about the story, but I started writing the first draft on Ishaan's birthday, January 20, 2011, four months after his death. On that day, I was able to celebrate him even though he was no longer there, and that gave me the courage to go back to writing

How much of you is part of Laila's mother Shubhangini?
I'm the least like her and most like Khanum. Shubhangini is a traditional Maharashtrian housewife and Nilesh who grew up in small town in Maharashtra shaped her. I spoke to my kids about masturbation, sex, homosexuality and being comfortable with their bodies when they turned 12. Yet, when I tried to get into my kid's hotmail account one day and a porn site emerged when I typed 'hot', I was so shocked by the visuals I shut down the computer with the same expression as Shubhangini's.

Kalki was the first to be cast, what convinced you that she is your Laila?
Her smile. Nilesh showed me this picture of her. She can look childlike. She's also a powerhouse of talent and understands the discipline and hard work needed for such a role. She immersed herself in it for three months.

And how did you get the nod from Revathi?
The second she read the script, she wanted to do it. Years ago, in Mani Ratnam's Anjali, she'd played mom to a child with cerebral palsy. Now, it's a daughter grown up with it.

Will the NETPAC award help the film in getting a wider theatrical release?
Our Indian release was in place before TIFF. I don't care for international festivals; I had my share of them with Amu. I'm thrilled that my film will be getting a nationwide release in early 2015. We'd also sold to Japan before but yes, the award will help. Audiences coming out of all three screenings--75 per cent of them non South-Asian, said it was the best film they had seen at TIFF this year.

Tigers was the film everyone was expecting to win. What did you think of it?
I liked it but I didn't consider it competition. There were amazing Iranian, South Korean, Japanese, Thai, Malay and Palestinian films which I thought would win. I didn't think we had a chance and left for LA a day before the awards.

Margarita, With A Straw...How did you come upon the title?
I finished the first draft on February 20, 2011, and the title came organically from the script. It arises from the thought that when life hands you lemons you can be bitter or sour or you can make nimbu pani or better still, a margarita and raise a toast.

My sister Malini is a boozer. When we go out to a restaurant, I ask for a whiskey-soda or rum-and-coke in her plastic sippy cup with a straw. It's ironic and funny, you'd think that someone would drink only juice or milk from that kiddy cup.

Now that we have a new government, will Amu be at least shown on TV now?
I'm in the process of changing the censor certificate to U/A. It got an 'A' even though it has no sex or violence, because the censor board, under Anupam Kher, argued that young people shouldn't know a history better buried. It is outrageous that our films can be rated by the government on political grounds. Films with an A certificate cannot be shown on TV so even though it won two National Awards, it could not be shown on Doordarshan. But this is the 30th anniversary of the genocide and several cable channels are interested in screening it.