Even as he disagrees with the novel's resolution, Namit Das on bringing the hero alive on screen in Mira Nair's A Suitable Boy
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 14, 2020)

When you sit through nearly 1,500 pages of Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy, you expect a fairy tale ending. But Seth doesn't give his readers the pleasure — in a surprising climax, an unlikely suitor by the name of Haresh Khanna marries the feisty protagonist, Lata Mehra, even as the readers root for her union with her college sweetheart, Kabir Durrani. In an interview, the author had famously stated that he himself questioned his heroine's decision to marry Haresh.

As Mira Nair brings the book to life as a BBC series by the same name, we ask Namit Das, who plays Haresh, if he struggled to imbibe the character that suffers from an inherent disadvantage. "I questioned [the climax] myself when I first read the book in 2015. After 1,500 pages, you feel a bit cheated with the ending," he quips.

Of course, he is assured that Nair, with her mastery over the craft, will be able to sell the unconventional couple with conviction. The auteur has another advantage — she shares a deep bond with Seth, whose creation Haresh was inspired by his father, Prem Seth. "Vikram is one of the producers on the show, and we spent a considerable amount of time on set with him. As I went through the process of filmmaking, I realised that Haresh is modelled on Vikram's father. One has to understand that the unusual romance between Leila Seth and her husband Prem is mirrored in the book through the union of Lata and Harish. Even in Leila Seth's autobiography On Balance, there's a chapter that draws similarities between Haresh and Vikram's father. Mira is close to Vikram and his family, so all the characters have been designed with a personal touch."

The prep wasn't easy for Das, who had to transform into a paan-chewing shoemaker from a bygone era. "I learnt the art of shoemaking, in theory. I would sit with a cobbler on the cobbled street near [Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj] Terminus in Mumbai and practise mending shoes. Mira was also sure that she wanted us to be comfortable in the clothes that we would be wearing at shoot. [Since the book depicts the '50s] I got high-waist pants at home and used to sleep in them. I did this so that when at shoot, I had a lived-in experience and it didn't look like I was trying them on for the first time."

Even as Nair has brought together a powerful ensemble cast that includes Tabu, Ishaan Khatter and Vijay Varma, it is inevitable that some characters from the literary world haven't made the transition to screen. "Andrew Davies [writer] and Mira have managed to keep the essence of the novel intact," states the actor, adding that the director is "brilliant at adaptations". "The Namesake [2006] is a masterpiece. She beautifully blends the Indian culture with the understanding of the Western world. Her focus is always on characters who take the story ahead, which is why her ensemble films work perfectly."

The actors are scheduled to begin shooting for the international director’s adaptation of Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy next month; Tanya Maniktala plays protagonist Lata; the project goes on the floors next month
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 12, 2019)

Earlier this year, it was reported that Ishaan Khatter had opted to be a part of Vishal Bhardwaj’s next, based on Salman Rushdie’s Booker Prize-winning novel Midnight’s Children, over Mira Nair’s screen adaptation of Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy. Then Mirror was the first to inform that the young actor and the auteur had parted ways, albeit amicably, over creative differences. Now, Ishaan is back in Mira’s project, written by Andrew Davies (of Pride and Prejudice, War & Peace, Les Misérables fame).

For someone who began his acting innings with Iranian legend Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds, making his Bollywood debut with Karan Johar’s Dhadak, Ishaan’s next move is keenly anticipated. “I hope I can satisfy Mira’s vision and give the global audience the character they deserve in Maan Kapoor (his character),” he says.

Ishaan will be joined by another powerhouse performer, Tabu. “Having worked with Mira previously in The Namesake, I am looking forward to another creatively challenged experience,” exults the National Award-winning actress. Interestingly, Ishaan’s brother Shahid Kapoor has worked with Tabu in Haider (2014), Vishal’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The novel tells the story of a spirited university student Lata (played by Tanya Maniktala, earlier seen in the TV series Flames), coming of age in North India in 1951, at the time when the country is going to the polls for its first democratic general elections. While her mother is determined to find her a husband, Lata embarks on her own journey of love and self-discovery. Connected to her through their siblings’ marriage, the wayward Maan Kapoor (played by Ishaan) is determined to enjoy life to the fullest whatever be the consequences, much to the concern of his politician father. He is infatuated by the beautiful courtesan Saaeda Bai (played by Tabu) and the trio’s stories play out during a tumultuous period in India’s history, reflect the wider conflict between tradition and modernity.

Mira points out that Vikram tells the story of a free India and our people with wit, clarity and love. “I’m deeply honoured to be the one bringing this intimate, epic tale of an unseen India to the world,” she asserts, adding the novel is more relevant today. “We’ll keep the history and dream of an alternate India alive,” promises the director of The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Queen Of Katwe.

Newbie Tanya is in a daze and admits it all “still surreal” to work with Mira. “I’m still understanding Lata and the complexities of her reality. I hope I can deliver. But, for now, I’m focusing on enjoying the process and just taking it one day at a time,” she smiles.

The shoot will begin next month. The team will be filming entirely on location, in palaces, streets and villages across northern India, in places like Lucknow and Maheshwar.

Rumours suggest Nair in talks with Tabu, Richa, Radhika for pivotal roles in her adaptation of Vikram Seth's famed novel
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 5, 2018)

After word of Mira Nair directing a series on Vikram Seth's bestselling novel, A Suitable Boy, got out, Bollywood actors were intrigued about who would form the primary cast of the BBC-Netflix series. In the latest development, it has been learnt that the filmmaker was in Mumbai last week to scout for actors for the screen adaptation. Sources suggest that Nair met Radhika Apte, Richa Chadha and Shefali Shah. Tabu, who previously collaborated with her on The Namesake (2006), is also said to be in talks with the auteur.

With nearly 199 artistes to be cast for the eight-hour-long series, Nair's focus during this trip was to find screen versions of Lata and Rupa Mehra — Seth's celebrated novel revolves around Rupa's efforts to get her younger daughter, Lata, married.

A source reveals, "Mira met Radhika, Richa and some actresses from regional cinema. They were casual meetings, and not auditions per se. Mira is quite instinctive and can gauge easily if a certain actor fits the bill. She also had a chat with Tabu about the project. The author has been specific in his sketch of Lata Mehra — her character is shown as the right mix of rebellious and subservient. As per the original text, it is mentioned that she is of dusky complexion. Mira wants to stay honest to the source material as much as possible."

The casting responsibilities have been divided among Dilip Shankar, Nandini Shrikent and Karan Mally. "The casting agents are bound by non-disclosure agreements, as will the actors who will be eventually brought on board. A final announcement will be made once the show's cast is locked, " says the source. With Nair hoping to take the series on floors later this year, the agents have been given a deadline of August to finalise the cast.

Khalid Mohamed (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 14, 2018)

Salaam Mira Nair. It’s a done deal.

The ever-feisty, globe-speeding filmmaker will arrive in the city today in connection with the pre-production outlay of her eight-hour-long adaptation of Vikram Seth’s bestseller book A Suitable Boy.

Shuttling between New York, London, Uganda and her family home in New Delhi’s Vasant Vihar – where she will be anchored for the next two years – the 60-year-old Nair has described the project as a ‘culmination of my life’s work.’ She has already scouted for locations in Lucknow.

The voluminous 1,349-pager A Suitable Boy tracks the story of a teenaged girl who, in the wake of the Independence of India from the British Raj, has to deal with the traditional custom of an arranged marriage. The milieu is an imagined town somewhere between Varanasi and Patna. Calcutta, Delhi and Kanpur are among the other cities which feature in Seth’s 1993 internationally-feted bestseller.

That Mira Nair would be considered as the most eligible choice to helm the adaptation was a given. However, when I had met Vikram Seth at the Kasauli lit fest last year, he had emphasised that a search was on for a suitable director for BBC TV’s in-the-works series to be scripted by Andrew Davies (screenwriter of recent takes on Pride and Prejudice, and War and Peace).

On being quizzed if the director could be Mira Nair, he had stated, “She’s a friend. But I don’t think so. It’ll have to be someone from any part of the world with — what should I call it? — a fresh approach. And the actors should be Indian, hopefully from the welter of talent here.”

Seth wasn’t exactly gung-ho either about the globally-lauded directors Deepa Mehta or Gurinder Chadha who would seem to be the next potential choices.

Seth had added that he wasn’t collaborating on the script but was entitled to approve the final draft, as well as the casting of the actors. Vis-à-vis the buzz that an incredible sum, running into millions of pounds, has been paid for the book’s adaptation rights, the usually loquacious author had refrained from commenting by breaking into a recitation of a haiku poem.

The acting ensemble comprises as many as 140 characters. Undoubtedly the casting of the principal players will be eagerly monitored during the coming months. Uma Da Cunha, who has often served as casting director on Nair’s projects, said that she wasn’t on board this time.

Among the Bollywood show-business actors Nair has collaborated with down the years include Nana Patekar (Salaam Bombay!) Sharmila Tagore (Mississippi Masala), Rekha (Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love), Naseeruddin Shah (Monsoon Wedding), Tabu and Irrfan Khan (The Namesake).

Efforts to reach Mira Nair in Delhi this evening — for comment and for information about whether she would be casting established names, freshly auditioned talent or a mix — went unanswered. Details, presumably, will be announced at a suitable place and time.