A reflective memoir, ‘The stranger in the mirror’ brings out multiple facets of Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra

Neha Saini

Tribune news service

Amritsar, November 20

Every artist has a journey and if the artist is one among the biggest and successful filmmakers in the country, then it makes for an interesting and engaging discussion.

Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, the man behind some of the most critically acclaimed and successful films including Aks, Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Toofan, was under spotlight at the special interaction hosted by Majha House for his recently released autobiography titled ‘The Stranger in the Mirror’.

Possessing impeccable filmmaking sensibilities, Mehra’s movies often use mirror as an important tool of narrative. The filmmaker confessed that his biography could not have got a better title as mirror is something he considers a medium of storytelling.

“In Aks, the mirror becomes a reflection of the good and evil through respective characters; in Delhi 6, the fakir carries a mirror with a similar intent; in Rang De Basanti, the young boys take their turns to look into the mirror, find a connection between the past and their present; in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Milkha looks into the mirror after a bad performance to self-introspect. As for me, I look into the mirror every morning and try having a conversation with myself. I believe that you will find God in the mirror, a reflection of the good and bad that is inside you,” he shared.

Mehra co-authored the autobiography along with Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta and it comprises first-hand account of Mehra’s personality and style of working shared by the actors he has worked with, including Waheeda Rahman, Farhan Akhtar, Manoj Bajpai and Gulzar.

The book also chronicles his early days in college and his creative process behind every film he took up. Rakeysh shared some interesting anecdotes regarding the book. “Along with many other artistes, who were approached to share experiences for the book, Aamir Khan was one as well. He wrote an epilogue for the book and he shared it with me while he was shooting for Laal Singh Chadha somewhere in Ladakh. Knowing him, he submitted the epilogue and after it went into printing, revised it twice just to add a single word. And that word was one of his best dialogues from the upcoming movie,” he shared.

Rakeysh also shared his intent of working with Manoj Bajpai again. “His body of work is astonishing and we collaborate well in Aks. I would like to work with him once again before I die,” he said.

Reetu Ramamurthy Gupta, who extensively documented interviews and researched for the book, said she found Mehra to be a person who builds relationships for life.

“Waheeda Rahman and Gulzar, two of the cinematic legends of our generation, have extreme affection for Mehra. Each actor that he worked with had personal relationship with him beyond professional and commercial definitions. Each added so much value to the book that it makes for an interesting read,” she said. 

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