As told to Rohit Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 27, 2018)

When I signed Dedh Ishqiya, I was really excited about starting the shoot as I would get to work alongside Madhuri (Dixit, co-star) ma’am — I had grown up watching her on screen — but I was nervous about attempting Kathak with her. The song was choreographed by Remo D’souza and it was like a beautiful crash course for me. I practiced the dance form diligently for almost a month. During the filming, it was taxing to shoot the dance sequence with the heavy costume.

Another crash course by way of a film assignment came with Rajinikanth sir’s Kaala. While shooting for the film, I picked up a smattering of Tamil. Even though someone else had dubbed for me, I was keen to acquire a basic understanding of the language. Jenny, the associate director, who I was close to, would spend hours working on my dialogues with me and I would ask her for the meaning of every Tamil word. I also observed her dialect while she spoke. She was my true Tamil teacher on the sets. Before that, I had picked up the Hindi dialect of Uttar Pradesh 10 days before starting work on Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur (left). While the nuances of the language took time to grasp, getting the accent right was relatively easier. There was not too much research involved for the character but going to Benaras and hanging out with the locals made my job easier.

During the shoot of the Marathi film Highway, I picked up the language while interacting with the people on the sets. I played a television actress in the film who is travelling from Mumbai to Pune for a pandal opening. However, I didn’t have to speak much Marathi, it was mostly Hindi. I am still learning the language.

White is the hardest film I have shot for. I was trying to learn Malayalam for the part and the pronunciation was tough. For one scene, I had to dance in a white cotton saree in the middle of London city while lip-syncing to a song. It was tough.

I played an explosives expert in D-Day, for which I learnt hand-to-hand combat and weapon-handling. Obviously, I didn’t learn to make a bomb but had to understand the process for the part. I focused a lot on weapon loading and safety. It was one of the most extensive trainings I have undergone for a part.

I am a director’s pet. Before I started shooting Badlapur, I got hold of Sriram Raghavan’s entire DVD collection and watched the films closely for reference. After that, I worked a lot on my looks and disposition as a sex worker. Since my character had to age through the film, I had to understand how an aging sex worker behaves, talks and dresses. We didn’t want to reduce the character to a cliché, but I did try to make it sexy in the younger parts.

The most interesting film, prep-wise, was Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (right), during which I did a lot of cooking and chopping. I remember, once I was trying to chop an onion, when my director Sameer Sharma bullied me into doing it faster. I must have chopped around 2-3 kilos of onion during rehearsals. Kunal (Kapoor, co-star) would often look lost in the kitchen and I would guide him in things like how to stir a pot. I was like a food expert on the sets.

For Viceroy’s House, a period film, I worked a lot on my character’s appearance. Gurinder (Chadha, director) was particularly clear about the way she wanted my character to look and act. I played a woman from the 1930-40ss and I had pictures of people who worked in the Viceroy’s house for reference. For character inputs, I also met an old lady who was 19 at the time of Partition and had met Gandhiji as a child. I also acquired a British accent for the film.

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.

Gurinder Chadha is also working on a project on female infanticide, British TV dramas, and has Prince Charles to thank for her upcoming pre-Partition film
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 30, 2017)

After making her international debut with Viceroy's House, Huma Qureshi says she won't go out of her way to find work in the West
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 30, 2017)

Ever since revered Hollywood filmmakers began actively roping in desi actors, including Irrfan, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, an international outing, it seems, is on every Bollywood actor's wish list.

But Huma Qureshi, who has Gurinder Chadha's Brit-Indian drama, Viceroy's House, on her resume, says she doesn't intend to set base in the West. "I am happy with whatever work comes my way. I am like a gypsy. Wherever my work takes me, I will go. It's not like I want to go to the West and make a mark there," the actress tells mid-day.

Qureshi did not actively scout for an international project, but was eager to do Viceroy's House when she stumbled on the 'beautiful' script. "Gurinder wanted to make this film and luckily, things worked out in my favour. I am honoured to have bagged a chance to make my international debut with this film," she says, adding that the response the team has received has been overwhelming. "It has released in the UK, Canada and New Zealand. I am looking forward to its India release this August."

Qureshi will next be seen in Dobaara [an official remake of Hollywood flick, Oculus], in which she will share screen space with brother Saqib Saleem. "We never thought we'd get an opportunity to act together this early in our career," says the actress, adding that she has discovered new aspects of his personality while shooting for the film.

"I have realised that he is sensitive and looks out for everyone. I understand him better as a co-star than as a sister."

Huma Qureshi on her first international film and the perception around Indian actors in the West
Manishaa R (DNA; March 3, 2017)

A UK production, on the end of the British Raj in India, Viceroy House, which stars Huma Qureshi alongside acting veterans like Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson as Lord and Lady Mountbatten, sees the Indian actress headed the Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone way.

PC’s and DP’s accents were scrutinised and criticised in equal measure across the board, in the West. Huma, however, had to use the British accent for her first international outing. Of the experience, she says, “I had to work on my accent, but if you are going to another country and working there, you have to play by their rules. I not only had to master my British accent, but the speech had to be similar to an educated girl in 1947. I had to work on a specific accent for which I listened to a lot of speeches of female leaders during the era, besides working with an accent teacher.”

Huma believes that more people are now interested in Indian actors than ever before. She says, “The focus towards Indian actors is definitely changing in the world. When I go to the West, I have observed that there is a genuine interest in Indian movies and actors. It is true that we are looked at with a magnifying glass, but we are no less in comparison — whether it is fashion, cinema or just the way we present ourselves. We don’t lag behind anywhere.”

Of PC and DP leading the way internationally and her carrying on the baton, Huma quips, “They are way senior than I am. I’ve only just started off. I feel very proud of them!”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 2, 2017)

As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 7, 2017)

We had been trying to work together for a very long time, so when I had sent Omji the script of Viceroy’s House, he was delighted to be a part of the film, as it was set in the same time period as Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi which had released 35 years ago. He plays Abba to Huma Qureshi’s Aalia who is in love with a Punjabi Hindu boy.

In one of the party scenes, a junior artiste was supposed to hand him a plate of pakodas. The actor was so nervous he spoke his lines too loud and Omji turned to him and said, “Main andha hoon, behra nahin,” and the whole unit burst out laughing.

He was so jolly on the sets, never once complaining about the many nights shoots. He would arrange a few chairs together and lie down saying, “Wake me up when you need me.”

The last time we spoke, he wanted to see the film and I was going to show it to him on my next visit to India.

It would have been lovely to get his comments and have a drink with him. I’ll show the film to his wife and son.

OM PURI’S POSTHUMOUS RELEASES

Viceroy’s House: Set for a March 3 release, Gurinder Chaddha’s historical-drama chronicles life from inside the house of India’s last Brit Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten.

Tubelight: Kabir Khan and Salman Khan’s period-drama set to release on June 23.

Ram Bhajan Zindabad: The political satire hits screens on February 3.

15 August Bhagile 26 January: Was touted as Puri’s Marathi acting debut

A Death In The Gunj: Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut, also featuring Kalki Koechlin, Jim Saarbh, Tillotama Shome and Vikrant Massey.

Huma on working with Gurinder Chadha for 1st international project
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 29, 2016)

"A lot of Bollywood celebrities are going global, and that’s a good sign,” gushes Huma Qureshi, the latest to dive into Bollywood’s widening cross-over star pool with Gurinder Chadha’s Viceroy’s House.

The actress, known for experimenting with roles, insists she was resolute that “going international” would not be a cameo or a sympathy role. “Indians were stereotyped earlier, but that’s not the case anymore. Instead of cameos and sidekick roles, Indian actors are getting prominent roles in the West. I was always clear that I would not be doing any cameos, but a film if I could contribute to it [substantially],” she says.

Working with Gurinder was an enriching yet daunting experience for her. Recalling the first day of the shoot, Huma says, “She wanted us to be in character 24/7 for two months. I was taken aback because I am an instinctive actor and can get in and out of my character easily. I told her after an intense scene that I would like to be goofy, jump around and have some fun. For the first week, she was a little upset since she expected me to stay in the zone. So, there were teething troubles, but eventually, we both enjoyed working with each other.”

The actress adds that Gurinder was particular about the diction, so she insisted that the actress meet Jaya Thadani, an interpreter from the Partition era. “I flew to London to meet Jayaji, who had many interesting anecdotes to share about Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. It was inspirational and helped me get my characterisation right.”

Huma’s next ambition is to share screen space with Oscar-winning Hollywood star Lenoardo DiCaprio. “I can happily retire after I work with him,” she says.

Huma Qureshi opens up about her pre-Partition period drama in which she interprets history
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 24, 2016) 

Last September, Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha kicked off an eight-week schedule of her period-drama, Viceroy’s House, in Jodhpur. It’s a truelife recreation of the final months of British rule in India with Huma Qureshi as the interpreter Aalia.

The film is a story about the Partition and the 56-year-old filmmaker, along with her co-writer husband, Paul Mayeda Berges, has spent five years on research and has an interesting take on the subject. Huma, who spent three months prepping up for her part, informs that Gurinder was very particular about the diction she wanted so she met Jaya Thadani, an interpreter from the time, in London who had many interesting anecdotes to share about Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

The 30-year-old actress has a family member who relocated to Pakistan and recently reconnected with her parents, Saleem and Ameena Qureshi.

“My grandfather has a house in Delhi. I was told that during the Partition many people, who didn’t have a place to stay, lived there for months. The film also talks about giving love a chance at a time when religion and hatred divided people,” says Huma, who enjoyed working with English actors Michael Gambon and Hugh Bonneville and American-British actress Gillian Anderson.

“It was a colourful, flavourful khichdi of actors from different countries. We’d complain of the heat during the day and go for dinners after pack-up. I’d bring them chips, cheese and olives like Santa and cheer them up,” laughs the actress who has another release coming up, the Bollywood sequel of Subhash Kapoor’s Jolly LLB, in which she plays Akshay Kumar’s wife Pushpa.

She’s also finished shooting for the Hindi remake of the Hollywood horror film Oculus with brother Saqib Saleem and admits the siblings fight and disagree on everything. “It’s important to have discussions to maintain a healthy relationship and Saqib and I are more like friends,” she smiles.

Bring up the name of Sohail Khan with whom she’s been linked in the recent past, and she retorts, “I can’t date my brother.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 16, 2016)

Huma Qureshi, who romances The Hundred Foot Journey actor Manish Dayal in Gurinder Chadha's Viceroy's House, was required to spend two-four hours on makeup to get her look, as a Muslim girl in 1940s-50s India, right. Her stylists took to tying her hair in tight braids, untying them just before the shots, to achieve the cascading look from the era, a la Madhubala. In a cast headlined by Hugh Bonneville as India's last Brit Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, the historical drama sees Huma in the role of a Muslim school teacher.

MUMBAI MIRROR (June 16, 2016)

Actress Huma Qureshi who shares screen space with English actor Hugh Bonneville, in Gurinder Chadha's historical drama, Viceroy's House, is bowled over by his talent and grasp on current affairs.

"Hugh is very intelligent. He is aware and up-to-date with world views, current trends and comes across as someone who is deeply interested in India and Indian politics," she says.

When asked if the film, that offers glimpses into the Viceroy's House during the Partition, will connect with the youngsters, the 29-year-old actress said, "I think today's youth is very politically aware. It started from Rang De Basanti when they started engaging with politics and current affairs."

"The themes this film deals with by using the Partition as a metaphor is very valid in today's time," she adds, further revealing that while the film is based on facts and historical events, some characters are fictionalised.

'The Lunchbox' actor Denzil Smith plays the founder of Pakistan in Gurinder Chadha's next
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 9, 2016)

Denzil Smith, who has earlier featured in The Lunchbox, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 1 and 2 and Phantom, is now a pivotal part of Gurinder Chadha's upcoming Partition drama, Viceroy's House. He plays the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

"I had auditioned last July and within a few hours got an okay from them. Jinnah was brilliant, and, in my opinion, much misunderstood. He didn't ask for a separate state until 1935 and then there was a definite reason for him to do so. The film shows him negotiating with Mountbatten," says the actor who filmed in Jodhpur for two weeks in September.

"I also lost around 14 kg in a month's time," informs Denzil, who in the course of his research discovered that Jinnah wanted to become an actor at one point.

The film also features British actor Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey fame and The X Files's Gillian Anderson. Danzil admits to sharing a great camaraderie with them. "I was once rehearsing a scene with Hugh in character. He gestured to me to sit next to him, but given my role, I didn't think it was appropriate and sat opposite him. Gurinder was impressed with the improvisation," he informs, admitting that their director was quite the taskmaster. "But when you're running a tight, big ship, you have to be a little tough sometimes."

Denzil plays a professor in Sid Mallya's debut film, Brahman Naman, which will premier at the Sundance Film Festival. He also plays a doctor in Sanjay Sharma's Paranormal.

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.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 22, 2015)

Neeraj Kabi, the Ramesh Tandon of Meghna Gulzar's film, has a 15-year-old daughter
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 13, 2015)

On Tuesday, Neeraj Kabi returned from Jodhpur after wrapping up his work on Gurinder Chadha's period drama,Viceroy's House. He plays Gandhi but in this film, which boasts of several British-American actors, the iconic figure has been portrayed very differently from the Gandhi he played in Shyam Benegal's recent TV series, Samvidhaan.

"He's a courageous yet tragic character and his interactions with Lord Mountbatten took him into a different, complex zone I'd not explored earlier. But I won't play Gandhi again. The two-month prep involved slimming down my body. It's time to get back to normal life and good food," laughs Neeraj.

The hectic shoot left him with no time to catch his just-released film, Talvar, so plans for the evening include a visit to the theatre. The film is based on the 2008 Noida double murders of 14-yearold Aarushi Talwar and 45-year-old domestic help Hemraj Banjade. Arushi's parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, were convicted of the murder in 2013 and are currently in jail awaiting trial.

In the film, Neeraj plays the murdered girl Shruti Tandon's father, Ramesh, and he is enthused by not just the overwhelming response to his performance, but also the fact that the film has come as an eye-opener to many. "People in Bangalore have taken out a petition to put the case on the fastt rack court. It has strengthened my belief that cinema can bring about a shift in perception. At a time when out-and-out entertainers are being made just for thrills, it's heartwarming that some people are willing to invest in a film like Talvar which makes people think and act. Today, people are looking at my three films as a package. They see Ship of Theseus and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! as the two ends of the rainbow with Talvar fitting between them beautifully," asserts the actor.

He admits that he has nothing against star-studded grossers but he hasn't waited so long to get bogged down by a mindless script. "If Imtiaz Ali, Zoya Akhtar and Aamir Khan were to offer me an entertaining film, I might accept, but the others I have politely declined," he says.

The inevitable question: Does he believe the Talwars are guilty? Is he on their side, having lived Rajesh Talwar's life ? Neeraj says he will leave it to the judiciary to decide if they are guilty or not.

"My empathy for the couple comes from the fact that they are parents who have lost a child. I have a 15-year-old daughter, she's my only child, and I can understand their pain," he says, recalling traumatic scenes like him performing Shruti's last rights and immersing her ashes, which left him in tears. "I literally had to erase certain thoughts. As an actor I live a character but I've been trained to disassociate myself from my work once I reach home. In this case it wasn't easy," he admits. "I carry my research to work, look at the books and tapes before every scene, and in this case they left me in tears every single day. It was a relief when we wrapped up the film."

Quiz him on his daughter's reaction to the film and he says, "She has seen it twice and was moved. It made her question the parent-child relationship, form her own opinions. Ten years ago, such a situation would have been impossible to accept. But today, when you see the barbarism in the world around, you harbour doubts. And you can no longer go back to your own world and switch off, the world is calling out to you," he avers.

Meanwhile, Rohit Batra's The Field, which boasts of an international cast and Indian actors like Ronit Roy, Radhika Apte and him, is in the offing. "I signed it long ago, now I'm told it's ready to roll. It's based on the underworld, an interesting character with a different bent of mind," he smiles.

There's also a Hindi film with a Bengali writer-director which should take off in mid January.

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.

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; July 29, 2015)

DNA (January 29, 2015)


The London-based Bend It Like Beckham director arrives in Mumbai next week for casting. The film will chronicle the last six months of Lord Mountbatten’s tenure in India, which marked the end of the British Raj.

Shares the director, “There are these so-called facts that we grew up reading about Mountbatten’s closing months in India. And there are these secret documents which I’ve unearthed. These point to another truth which I’ll reveal in my film.”

She has bought the rights to two very important books on the subject as well. “My husband Paul Mayeda Berges (who has co-scripted The Viceroy’s House) and I have bought the rights of two books Narinder Singh’s Sarla’s The Shadow Of The Great Game and Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre’s Freedom At Midnight. These, plus the documents we’ve unearthed, will serve as the basis of the plot,” says Gurinder.

Buzz is, Chadha was keen on casting Colin Firth as Mountbatten, Naseeruddin Shah as Jinnah and Saif Ali Khan as Jawaharlal Nehru, but she counters, “I want actors who fit perfectly into every part. I see a lot of very natural actors in India now. And I’m eager to work with them.”

Gurinder will also go location- hunting during her trip to India. “I’ll be shooting in and around Jodhpur and Rajasthan.”