Showing posts with label Suchitra Krishnamoorthi interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suchitra Krishnamoorthi interview. Show all posts
I am getting offered projects that are on par with my calibre. Earlier, what I was offered was simply rubbish-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
8:17 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 25, 2022)
Actor, painter, author and musician Suchitra Krishnamoorthi finds the present time an interesting phase for creative people.
The Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (KHKN, 1994) actor says, “I think it’s a very good time for artistes and others in creative fields. Everything is so fluid — no notions of success or creativity.”
Krishnamoorthi adds, “Now, it’s not only about films; there are other mediums like TV or OTT to explore one’s creativity. I see youngsters on Instagram, YouTube and other mediums doing so well. I may not know them, but my daughter talks about people having 30-50 million followers. So, the notion, concept, and consumption of success are very different from earlier days. For me, it’s all about art!”
The multi-tasker recently shot two web series and is geared up for her next too. “I am getting offered projects that are on par with my calibre. Earlier, what I was offered was simply rubbish, but now I am getting the kind of stuff that I will like to give my time and energy to.”
After being away from acting for many years, she says, “I decided to get back to work only after my daughter started at her college (Berklee College of Music, Boston). She has also shot for a teen love story. Though everybody was telling me that I was using it as an excuse, as a single mother, it was my choice to be with her and raise her. Then the pandemic happened, and now I am back in action.”
The actor feels blessed to still be loved and remembered by her fans. “In the Hindi industry, people remember me as Aana (character from KHKN) and in the South as Annu Pillai for Kilukkampetti (1991). I consider myself lucky and blessed that these roles became so iconic that even today I meet a lot of people telling me that they have watched my film over 300 times and what not!,” she says.
In the series Guilty Minds, Krishnamoorthi will be seen as a South Indian lawyer, and the show will continue in season two. “Then, I am busy with Murgaon: The Closed File (2022) and another yet-to-be-announced series. On the music front too, I am looking forward to doing an alternate space album in the classical and fusion zone.”
How can we run out of vaccine when all of us have to get it?-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
7:49 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 21, 2021)
On April 19, singer-actor Suchitra Krishnamoorthi tweeted about vaccine shortage in Mumbai. She wrote, “To those that say #vaccine shortage is a rumour, it is not. I have experienced it myself today”. In another post, she wrote, “Is there a genuine vaccine shortage in #mumbai? #maharshtra? Or it is some vile politics bet state & centre thats causing this scarcity? Either way its sad - ultimately its the common people that suffer #COVID19” (sic). She did manage to get a dose after visiting four hospitals.
Talking about her concerns and experience, she shares, “The shortage is a real issue in Mumbai. I don’t know about the rest of India. People at the place I got it said they don’t know if the stocks would last post lunch. One wonders and doubts if it is really a shortage or is the public suffering due to politics. How can we run out of vaccine when all of us have to get it? There must have been terrible mismanagement to run out.” She is glad to know that, everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible in a few days.
She admits that she was scheduled to get vaccinated, as she is supposed to travel soon, and didn’t want to postpone her plan. Concerned about the current Coronavirus scenario, she shares, “The second wave was inevitable but the attention of the authorities slipped, which also led to this crisis. They were behaving as if the pandemic was over. These rising numbers are a slap on everyone’s faces. There are so many gatherings and putting religion over people’s lives is putting the whole country at risk. But, it is easy to talk sitting in the comfort of one’s home. We all have to work together and fight this.”
One can either wait it out forever or do what needs to be done-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
8:02 AM
Sunayana Suresh (BOMBAY TIMES; November 28, 2020)
Actor, writer and musician Suchitra Krishnamoorthi chose to bring in her birthday by premiering a new version of her stage production The Queen Of Drama in Bengaluru. “I thought it would be a good way to start the new year,” she says. On choosing to work during the Coronavirus pandemic, she points out that “One can either wait it out forever or do what needs to be done. It is time to start living again, but with caution. As an artiste what else can one do? We have to live and perform.”
In the initial years of her career, Suchitra worked across different film industries. “At that time, the offers came easily and I just did them without much thought. I was quite whimsical, so I didn’t use the opportunities I got well enough. Now, I feel, is my second innings and I am all charged,” she shares.
She also adds that actors have it better today. “Earlier, there were certain kinds of stories being made and only people with a certain look or personality got a break. Today, it has opened up a lot more with newer spaces like the web and unconventional stories coming out. It is a lot nicer and more equal. In our time, the big task was getting a break. Now, everyone gets that break, but the task is to sustain,” Suchitra concludes.
I have nothing against Neha Dhupia, I just wanted to make a point-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
7:16 PM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 12, 2020)
Actor Suchitra Krishnamoorthi’s Twitter conversation with Neha Dhupia about ‘chamchagiri’ has created quite a flutter. It started with the former tweeting, “Peeps its not #nepotisminbollywood one shld aggravate against but chamchagiri. I mean how did #nehadhupia suddenly get all these talk shows except that she is #karanjohar s new bestie and #femina Missindia 2002!! - shes no blood relative or star kid is she,” (sic).Dhupia replied: “Dear ma’am, this is possibly the most distasteful and disgraceful tweet I’ve ever read (trust me I have read a lot) to reduce a friendship of many years, that you know nothing about speaks volumes of you.”
When we ask her further about this ‘chamchagiri’, Krishnamoorthi says her tweets are ‘self explanatory’. “I don’t want to fan it further. I wanted to make a point, I did that, nothing against Neha or anyone personally. Like I said, if you are talking about Tesla (vehicle manufacturer), you will take Elon Musk’s (co-founder and face of Tesla) name, right? I have nothing against anyone,” she says.
Since she hinted at how connections help people in the industry, we ask the 44-year-old whether it’s all about that or talent plays an important role too. “It’s a combination of both. There are so many factors, one can’t pin point on something. It’s what corporates call ‘networking’. It’s quite the same. But especially in the field of arts it must not be so specific, people with talent should get more opportunities,” says the actor.
Krishnamoorthi later tweeted that she was trolled for saying what she did. “i knew i would get trolled... Ofcourse nobody survives without talent. But do hear what a lot of people are saying... Its groupism that thrives (i used the word chamchagiri) (sic),” she wrote.
She sticks to what she said, and adds “it’s not correct to penalise children and make them feel ashamed of their parents and lineage.” “This whole nepotism thing started about star kids. It’s reverse bullying. That’s not the issue. I felt the narrative was getting very crude, and I wanted to put my perspective,” she tells us.
After actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, she finds social media to be toxic, because of the trolling . She says, “I went off it for a few weeks, it felt like I was on a toxic overload. You go back to it, you get sucked into it, whether you like it or not.”
Even my Hindi isn’t that great, so, learning Urdu, getting the nuqta right was like studying Maths-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
7:44 AM
Dhaval Roy (DNA; August 14, 2019)
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi’s first reaction when Randhir Ranjan Roy approached her to star in Ek Haan, a new drama based on the life and times of author Saadat Hasan Manto, was, “Why do you even think I can do this? I will never be able to pick up the Urdu lines!” However, the director persisted and right enough, the actress loved the script written by Neha Kargeti. “The play is about a Kashmiri journalist who visits Manto and through his stories, comes to terms with her own reality and identity. We have used some of his original works, and they are deeply moving,” Suchitra says, adding that the character graph drove her to it as well. “Initially, you can’t figure out much about Wazira but as the story progresses, you discover what her agenda is,” says the actress, who will also be seen as a nagging housewife and a prostitute in the outing that will play at the Royal Opera House, Girgaum, tomorrow at 7.30 pm and on August 17, 7.30 pm, at St Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra West.
For Suchitra’s co-actor, Shekhar Suman, the difficult format as well as the controversial and iconic part was the poison he was looking for. “After playing Sahir Ludhianvi in Ek Mulaqat, this was the natural corollary. I was looking for something extremely edgy and different, not the commercial stuff going on in the name of theatre these days. Also, straight lines are never welcome for me. They have to be crooked, only then it becomes a challenge.”
Challenging play
Speaking of challenges, for the My Wife’s Murder actress, pulling off the lines in Urdu convincingly was the biggest task. “Even my Hindi isn’t that great, so, learning Urdu and getting the nuqta right was like studying Maths, which I was really bad at,” Suchitra laughs. However, she did nail the nuances. But not without the team and Shekhar’s help. “His command over Hindi and Urdu is so strong,” she states, adding, “He really helped me.” On his part, Shekhar tells us, “I must give her the credit for not knowing the language and then becoming so good at it. She asked to be corrected, unlike actors who are resistant and think they know it all. Suchitra was open to suggestions and got it right to near perfection!”
Fascinating qualities about Manto
Even though Ek Haan is an original play, the story is fact and fiction. “It’s kind of a love story — an emotional and mature one and not typical at all,” says Shekhar.
Though the actor hasn’t read all of Manto’s works, he is familiar with a chunk of it, including Toba Tek Singh and Kali Salwar. “He was always there in the recesses of my mind. I just had to look back and pick up the threads,” he states. “Manto wrote about the hypocrisy that prevails in our society. He would always be vivid in his descriptions,” he continues. But it was the frightening details penned by him that Manto needs to be revered for, Shekhar observes. “It was the stance he took and the temerity to write what was right that makes the character so interesting. It was his fearlessness that was the most fascinating part. He didn’t toe the line or follow a regime,” he elaborates.
Suchitra hails Manto for being a feminist. “He treated women better than they treated themselves! He didn’t judge or label them but empathised with them at a time when women were not even treated as people. He was also nihilistic because of the dark times he lived in. He said it as he saw it and experienced it. There was neither glorification nor judgment,” Suchitra points out.
The industry is different from when I left it. It is more vibrant, flexible and fun-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
9:03 AM
Singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on returning to the recording studio with Sawan Barse, almost two decades after her last track released
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 21, 2018)
"The last time I was promoting a song was when I was pregnant with my daughter Kaveri," says Suchitra Krishnamoorthi of the incident dating 18 years, when she unveiled the track Zindagi. Sawan Barse marks the singer-actor's return to the mic after approximately two decades.
"I had lost my voice and my confidence over the years following a psychological block. It was an emotional voice paralysis. Even though, medically, my vocal chords [were not injured], I would feel anxious if anyone would ask me to sing," says Krishnamoorthi, adding that the decision to release a new single was no mean feat.
"It is a big move. Three years ago, I met my guru, Ravi Jule ji, who brought my voice back into [tune]. Once, during our riyaaz, he told me, 'I am going to make you Suchitra Krishnamoorthi again. You have forgotten who you are, but we, lovers of music, still remember you.'"
The development, she reveals, occurred after a music director attending a film's private screening, where she was also present, expressed his desire to work with her. "He started messaging me on Facebook. I ignored him for several weeks, but finally put my fears aside and decided to do it. We recorded the song in a few hours. I played it for a few of my friends in the business to get feedback."
The video of the track has been directed by Karan Butani, she reveals. "The idea behind the video is 'Return to innocence'. It is about reclaiming your essence, the purity of childhood and the love we owe ourselves. I've already recorded a few more songs with some talented musicians. The industry is different from when I left it. It is more vibrant, flexible and fun."
I will miss her quiet wisdom as much as her raucous laughter-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on her late sister Sujata Kumar
7:24 AM
Suchitra with daughter Kaveri and sister Sujata who had appeared in films like English Vinglish (see pic below), Raanjhanaa and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi remembers actress-sister Sujata Kumar, 53, who passed away on Sunday after a prolonged battle with cancer
As told to Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 21, 2018)
Sujata was a compassionate soul who was always there for those who needed her. She touched many lives with her vivacity and generosity. She was spiritual and had the tenacity of an unrelenting warrior. She was emancipated even before people knew the meaning of women’s liberation and lived life on her own terms till the end.
My sister practically raised me and was my best friend. She loved unconditionally and gave so much to everyone in her orbit that she would often run out of energy herself. But I never imagined that she would one day no longer be a part of my life; its unbearable to even think about.
Over the years, I took her goodness for granted but like she would tell me, “Be bindaas,” I was just that. I will miss her quiet wisdom as much as her raucous laughter.
Her spirituality reflected even in her career decisions. She took up acting after being married for 12 years, not because she craved fame — she never cared about that, and in fact, she had always shied away from the limelight. She did it on a whim, to reclaim her freedom. But sometimes, she would get so bored with her acting jobs that she would call up her directors and tell them to kill off her character. “Mere charactor ko haar daalke photo lagado,” she would laugh.
She was a trained hypnotherapist and an alternate healer as well. “All people need is love and acceptance. Human beings don’t give each other enough of that,” she would often rue.
All her family and close friends called her Suzie. For me, she was my Suzie Puzie. I will miss her forever.
I’m a moody actor; relief to land a film like Romeo Akbar Walter-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
8:02 AM
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on her comeback with a John Abraham film, nudging Kaveri towards films and why she will never work with filmmaker ex-husband Shekhar Kapur
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 19, 2018)
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, who was last seen on the big screen in the 2010 film Mittal V/s Mittal alongside Gulshan Grover and Rituparna Sengupta, is back on the big screen with the espionage drama, RAW: Romeo, Akbar, Walter, also featuring John Abraham, Jackie Shroff and Mouni Roy. The actress-singer kicked off shooting in Vadodara, Gujarat, for the Robbie Grewal film earlier this month and is set to move to Junagadh with the team on July 26 for the next schedule.
“I got a call from the casting director a month ago but I was
leaving for a Himalayan trek. But soon afterwards, I injured my back and
was advised not to continue the trek. Two days later, they called again
and I gave my nod. This is the first time I am working in such a big
film in a commercial setup,” she says. She has shot a few scenes with
Jackie who plays the RAW chief.
Suchitra admits that she regrets turning down some films in the last few years. “I’m a moody actor. But some of the films that I rejected went on to become really big hits. This time, I have decided to take up the offers that I find interesting. I’ve been getting mother roles off late so it was a relief to land a film like RAW which is a true story set in 1971 India. The look is also based on real characters,” she informs, refusing to divulge anymore on the subject or her character.
Meanwhile, her teenaged daughter Kaveri, who has three singles to her credit, is also making inroads into the film industry. “I’m very keen to see Kaveri in a movie. She was offered Aamir Khan’s Secret Superstar (a role which eventually went to Zaira Wasim) but she declined the offer. I begged her to do just this one film, but she wanted to focus on being a singer-songwriter at the time. So, she put on her most pronounced foreign accent and said, ‘No, mum, are you crazzzzy!,’” she informs mimicking her with a still disappointed sigh.
The actress-singer further reveals that her daughter is gradually warming up to the idea of being in films but is currently at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the US doing a summer course. “Her father (filmmaker Shekhar Kapur) has shot her next music video in Goa. It should be out in September,” she informs.
Is a collaboration with her ex-husband in the offing, too, you wonder, and she is quick on the uptake, “Never!”, adding with a laugh, “We manage to get along for Kaveri’s sake and that’s a great thing. Who wants to start fighting again.”
-------------------------
Jammu and Kashmir government promises security for shooting of Romeo, Akbar, Walter
Bunty Walia, one of the producer of RAW, recently met top police officials in Srinagar to request for security for the team when it arrives in the Valley for its third schedule.
According to a source, Bunty is camping in Srinagar ahead of the schedule to facilitate a smooth shoot. “I don’t expect any trouble while filming here but looking at the present situation, I have asked for security for the cast and crew so that they feel secure while at work,” the filmmaker told Mirror.
He adds that the spy thriller will be filmed at three locations, including Gulmarg and Srinagar. “My earlier film, Lamhaa, was shot in the state, during the Amarnath land row. The locals are very cooperative and I’m sure we will be taken care of this time as well.”
The source revealed that a twotier security, which includes Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, has been promised to Bunty for his team during the duration of the shooting.
After the Vadodara and Junagarh schedules in Gujarat, the team will arrive in Gulmarg on August 18. The film is expected to wrap up by August-end and hits the theatres on January 26. The Republic Day date is a coveted one for Bollywood filmmakers. — Anil Raina
I'm in a position of advantage because of my parents Suchitra Krishnamoorthi & Shekhar Kapur-Kaveri Kapur
7:59 AM
Purvaja Sawant (BOMBAY TIMES; September 2, 2017)
Last year, when
actress-singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur's
daughter Kaveri made her singing debut, legends like Amitabh Bachchan
and A R Rahman took to the social media to rave about her talent. After
all, at 17, the young musical prodigy is already hitting the right notes
- she has written, composed and sung three singles, Did You Know, Half A
Heart and Again. Her captivating voice and soulful melodies have also
gained her a sizeable fan following online. In a joint conversation with
BT, the mother-daughter duo talk about Kaveri's musical leanings, the
inspiration behind her mature compositions and why she doesn't mind
giving acting a shot. Excerpts...
Suchitra, with Kaveri starting out so young, do you worry she will burn out and lose interest in music?
Suchitra: When she wrote her first few songs, she was just 11, and I wouldn't have been surprised back then if it had fizzled out. But she's 17 years now and has sustained her passion for music all these years. I think she has found her calling. She has a long way to go, but I don't think she will lose interest in what she is doing.
Kaveri: Actually, I wrote my very first song when I was just nine years old! And I am still writing everyday. It's something that I really enjoy doing, so I don't think I'll burn out.
When did you first realise that she was musically inclined?
S: I always knew Kaveri had exceptional talent. She started her Hindustani vocal training with my guruji when she was just six years old. So, I knew she had a good voice, but her song writing abilities took me by surprise. It's one thing to sing, but to write lyrics and compose melodies is very different. By the time she was 11, we started taking her to recording studios because she was writing full-fledged songs.
K: I have been introduced to music because of mom and her background, but song writing came to me rather spontaneously. I remember when I was younger, I would suddenly come up with melodies. And I didn't want to share them with anyone.
S: She was so shy, I had to literally pry those songs out of her!
Kaveri, you'd said in an interview that you hope people appreciate your music because they like it and not because of who your parents are. Do you still think people praise you because you're your parents' daughter?
K: I am definitely in a position of advantage because of who my parents are; there's no denying that. But after a certain point, I hope people like my music because I have talent. I work really hard and put a lot of effort into what I do.
S: I find the whole nepotism debate amusing. It exists in all fields. People are bound to get certain opportunities and exposure because of their backgrounds. But if they don't deliver, they will be rejected like anyone else. One must not grudge others because of their opportunities; ultimately, life is a level-playing field.
The lyrics in Kaveri's songs are rather deep... they're about heartbreak. Kaveri, have your personal experiences made their way into your music?
K: I haven't really experienced anything...
S: Well, you have friends who have just started to date.
K: Oh yes! I know it's normal, but I am a weird case, so I just got left behind. Sometimes, I draw inspiration from my personal experiences and dramatize it in my songs. Other times, I look at people around me. There are times when I just start writing a single line and then build up on it.
Does your mom help you with your lyrics?
K: Not at all. I don't go to anyone.
S: That's one department where she is completely independent - her lyrics and melodies. Sometimes when she is recording a song, I tell her, try singing this line in a particular way, but that's about it.
How do you strike a balance between your academics and musical pursuits?
K: It's really hard. I used to think I'll manage but now that I am studying IB syllabus, there's so much to do. When I come home from school, I just want to sleep, but I realise I have to study for six tests the next day and also practice on the piano.
S: There are times when I have to wake her up in the night for her vocal practice. But she is so dedicated, I don't have to tell her what to do. In fact, I tell her to relax and take it easy!
K: That's true, I've never felt any pressure from my parents; my hard work comes from own passion.
Last year, you collaborated with the British band The Vamps. How was the experience?
K: It was amazing, but also terrifying. I had never performed live before and then, suddenly, I was going to sing along side The Vamps. I was about to have a nervous breakdown. But just being on stage in front of a live audience cemented the belief that this is what I want to do forever. Also, they were nice and took a lot of effort to make me feel comfortable.
S: I didn't expect her to be so comfortable on stage, because she has always been a shy kid. But I guess when she is singing, nothing else matters to her.
Kaveri's father has expressed his desire to direct her, so will she give acting a shot?
K: My priority is music; I think it's something that I am good at. But I am open to acting in the future.
S: She should definitely give it a shot. In the past, she had a very good acting offer. In fact, it was a singing role, but she said a flat no. That was her state of mind then, she is more open now.
K: Obviously, I was just 14 na!
S: Well, you might land up having fun. Or maybe you'll realize that it's not your scene. But till you try it, you will never know.
What's in store for the future?
K: I like to sing what I write, so my goal is to be a singer-songwriter. In the past year, my writing has really evolved. I want to do more in my videos. I want my songs to have a story. I am very shy but I have grown up a lot.
S: I really believe in Kaveri's talent. She just has to give it her best and go with the flow. She has enough time to figure out what's working and what isn't. We're also looking at various music schools in England schools in England and USA, where she can study music production.
Suchitra, with Kaveri starting out so young, do you worry she will burn out and lose interest in music?
Suchitra: When she wrote her first few songs, she was just 11, and I wouldn't have been surprised back then if it had fizzled out. But she's 17 years now and has sustained her passion for music all these years. I think she has found her calling. She has a long way to go, but I don't think she will lose interest in what she is doing.
Kaveri: Actually, I wrote my very first song when I was just nine years old! And I am still writing everyday. It's something that I really enjoy doing, so I don't think I'll burn out.
When did you first realise that she was musically inclined?
S: I always knew Kaveri had exceptional talent. She started her Hindustani vocal training with my guruji when she was just six years old. So, I knew she had a good voice, but her song writing abilities took me by surprise. It's one thing to sing, but to write lyrics and compose melodies is very different. By the time she was 11, we started taking her to recording studios because she was writing full-fledged songs.
K: I have been introduced to music because of mom and her background, but song writing came to me rather spontaneously. I remember when I was younger, I would suddenly come up with melodies. And I didn't want to share them with anyone.
S: She was so shy, I had to literally pry those songs out of her!
Kaveri, you'd said in an interview that you hope people appreciate your music because they like it and not because of who your parents are. Do you still think people praise you because you're your parents' daughter?
K: I am definitely in a position of advantage because of who my parents are; there's no denying that. But after a certain point, I hope people like my music because I have talent. I work really hard and put a lot of effort into what I do.
S: I find the whole nepotism debate amusing. It exists in all fields. People are bound to get certain opportunities and exposure because of their backgrounds. But if they don't deliver, they will be rejected like anyone else. One must not grudge others because of their opportunities; ultimately, life is a level-playing field.
The lyrics in Kaveri's songs are rather deep... they're about heartbreak. Kaveri, have your personal experiences made their way into your music?
K: I haven't really experienced anything...
S: Well, you have friends who have just started to date.
K: Oh yes! I know it's normal, but I am a weird case, so I just got left behind. Sometimes, I draw inspiration from my personal experiences and dramatize it in my songs. Other times, I look at people around me. There are times when I just start writing a single line and then build up on it.
Does your mom help you with your lyrics?
K: Not at all. I don't go to anyone.
S: That's one department where she is completely independent - her lyrics and melodies. Sometimes when she is recording a song, I tell her, try singing this line in a particular way, but that's about it.
How do you strike a balance between your academics and musical pursuits?
K: It's really hard. I used to think I'll manage but now that I am studying IB syllabus, there's so much to do. When I come home from school, I just want to sleep, but I realise I have to study for six tests the next day and also practice on the piano.
S: There are times when I have to wake her up in the night for her vocal practice. But she is so dedicated, I don't have to tell her what to do. In fact, I tell her to relax and take it easy!
K: That's true, I've never felt any pressure from my parents; my hard work comes from own passion.
Last year, you collaborated with the British band The Vamps. How was the experience?
K: It was amazing, but also terrifying. I had never performed live before and then, suddenly, I was going to sing along side The Vamps. I was about to have a nervous breakdown. But just being on stage in front of a live audience cemented the belief that this is what I want to do forever. Also, they were nice and took a lot of effort to make me feel comfortable.
S: I didn't expect her to be so comfortable on stage, because she has always been a shy kid. But I guess when she is singing, nothing else matters to her.
Kaveri's father has expressed his desire to direct her, so will she give acting a shot?
K: My priority is music; I think it's something that I am good at. But I am open to acting in the future.
S: She should definitely give it a shot. In the past, she had a very good acting offer. In fact, it was a singing role, but she said a flat no. That was her state of mind then, she is more open now.
K: Obviously, I was just 14 na!
S: Well, you might land up having fun. Or maybe you'll realize that it's not your scene. But till you try it, you will never know.
What's in store for the future?
K: I like to sing what I write, so my goal is to be a singer-songwriter. In the past year, my writing has really evolved. I want to do more in my videos. I want my songs to have a story. I am very shy but I have grown up a lot.
S: I really believe in Kaveri's talent. She just has to give it her best and go with the flow. She has enough time to figure out what's working and what isn't. We're also looking at various music schools in England schools in England and USA, where she can study music production.
Why should Kaveri be compared to me? She is her own person-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
4:23 PM
One has a new play and a new book in the offing and the other is in the midst of releasing a new single. Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and daughter Kaveri Kapur on being their own persons in a world of imitations
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; September 4, 2016)
"But I don’t know how to smile,” says a 16-year-old Kaveri Kapur, daughter of Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and director Shekhar Kapur. “How do I pose? Even the concealer didn’t cover my dark circles,” she moans as mother and daughter pose. “You don’t need a concealer. You look great. She’s just very tired,” says Krishnamoorthi as she looks at her daughter indulgently, who in turn looks at us wryly, taking on that teenage expression that seems to say, ‘what would you know?’ We assure her she looks tall and slender and dewy eyed, just like a 16-year-old should and she quips, “I was fat till last Tuesday. It just went away and it will come back soon.”
It’s 9.30 pm on a Thursday night and Kaveri has just returned from vocal class, and is now planning to work on an English essay that she says will keep her awake till 4 am. “I have procrastinated too much. Homework just sucks,” she says as mother Suchitra says, “I will be asleep in the next half hour. Now that she is 16, I am letting go a bit, and starting once again to focus on my work.” Both seem to be quite busy though.
Kaveri, along with being busy with homework (she is in Std 10), is a singer now and is working on releasing her new single, Half a Heart, this month. Her first, Did You Know, which she wrote when she was only 11, but released in June this year, was a love ballad with poignant lyrics, with her clear, melodious voice shining through. She also shared stage recently with the UK band The Vamps when they visited India. Her mother Suchitra, who we remember best for Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na and her pop songs from the 90s, is acting in a play based on her 2013 memoir Drama Queen, which is being produced by Ashwin Gidwani, and will be on in September end. This month also sees the release of her next book, The Ghost on the Ledge, the third in her Swapnalok Society series (which are stories set in a housing co-operative).
“I actually didn’t know I wanted to be a singer till I went to a studio,” says Kaveri adding, “But my parents thought I should do this, and when mom took me to one, I got hooked.” But while she credits her parents for pushing her, she is sure she isn’t influenced by them. “My love for music comes from mom for sure. But I don’t think I am influenced by her writing or songs,” she says honestly, and Suchitra laughs, “Why should she be compared to me? She is her own person and is doing what she wants.” Kaveri is straight faced and modest when she talks about her first single, which enjoyed rave reviews. “That was surreal. But it was just a song about a boy, maybe…sortaa… maybe it was about how I may feel… you know?” she says, “I just make up tunes in my head, and then record them on the app on my phone. The next song is not really about love… but about saying goodbye.”
Suchitra is also still dabbling in music, along with acting. She has composed music for the play, which she says is a funny telling of what happens to a starlet in Bollywood. “I just want people to come have a good time and laugh along. The songs are part of the story and are situations and scenes set to music. The rest is a surprise,” she says. The book created waves when it came out because of scandalous admissions such as Suchitra saying she asked director Ram Gopal Varma to marry her, and he replied saying he only loved “women for their bodies”. But Suchitra now wants to take her acting career seriously. “I have refused some big roles in the last few years just because I wasn’t interested and was busy with Kaveri. Some of those roles went on to win best supporting actress and I was like ‘damn!’. But now I am more open to offers,” she says.
For now, both are busy prepping for their next projects. Kaveri plans to release her single with a video which is in the process of being shot, and then head off to Berkeley once she completes her schooling. She is deeply influenced by singer Adele right now and also describes her sound as being similar to the British songstress… “Soul pop maybe?” she says. And though like other Bollywood kids who are in constant limelight, thanks to racy pictures on their Instagram feeds, Kaveri is nonchalant about it all. “My Instagram account is not that popular. I don’t think people know I exist. But that’s okay.” Suchitra looks protectively at her daughter and says, “She doesn’t need to do that all. These kids are doing everything innocently, and it gets blown out of proportion. Everything will happen when it has to. Kaveri’s only aim should be to do what she wants to do. I have raised her in the exact opposite way of how I was raised with people saying, ‘don’t do this, don’t do that’. I tell her every day — do whatever you want to. Be fearless.”
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