In Chandigarh for the Cinevesture International Film Festival, Nandita Das and Randeep Hooda showcase their wit

Nandita Das is a reluctant actor and a reluctant director. So challenging is the industry that with each project, she vows not to do it again. But then comes an idea, a story follows and there she is back in the spotlight, living the character or shaping up the narrative that touches her deepest core. Speaking at the second edition of the Cinevesture International Film Festival, Nandita opens up about her journey.

A ‘bold woman story’ initiated her into the acting world with Deepa Mehta’s Fire back in 1996. As many as 40 films on, in 10 different languages, she has stayed on, breaking another taboo, pushing another envelope. How’s it working in a language not your own? “Very difficult. I usually have the entire script written in Hindi; phonetically it works well. But with each such film, I’m like it’s my last. I recently did a Telugu film, but I have sworn not to do another film in an unfamiliar language again.”

Three films down as a director, now she’s easing into the role. “I have now made peace that this is what I enjoy,” she shares.

Her first film, Firaaq, in 2008, originated as her response to all that transpired in Gujarat. “Incidentally, the film was released today, which marks 17 years of Firaaq. It talks about what happens after violence — the feelings of anger, guilt and listlessness.” The film is available free on YouTube and Das urges the audience to see it.

Manto, 10 years on, was her way to raise current issues by setting the story in the past. So difficult was the prep for the film on the most controversial writers of his times that the night before receiving the first funding for the film, she wanted to give it up all together. “I felt I bit more than I could chew. It was so difficult to make what I envisaged, but now I’m happy that I did what I did.”

The pandemic gave her the next story. Gig economy in tough times; what started as a short story for an anthology, developed into a script for a feature film, Zwigato, starring Kapil Sharma in the lead role. “I hadn’t seen his show but saw him host one with Karan Johar, which gave me the idea to cast him.” Despite being warned that Kapil was a wrong choice, Nandita stuck to her call and the journey was enjoyable. “Both Shahana (Goswami) and Kapil are very generous actors. Rooted and real, they are a fun team to work with.”

Nandita has often spoken about stereotypes in the film industry and how being a woman boss, when she started, was an exception back then. “While the mainstream cinema is still in the grip of stereotypes, OTT has opened up a different space.” As for women leading, she feels things haven’t changed much but we are marching in the right direction. “We see a lot more women at the helm now. When women lead a project, it brings a different and a significant voice,” says Nandita, who ensures at least three to four women head different departments in her films.

Not fair!

Nandita’ stand against discrimination on the basis of colour isn’t new, but she insists it’s one discussion that must be kept alive as things are still far from fair. “Once I was asked by a girl how I was so confident despite my complexion and that hit me really hard.” The phrase rang maila hai exists and ramifications are rampant. “Even today when there is a scene of a rich man’s party, fair folks are lined up, but for a scene on the road they have brown people like me! That’s how deep the bias is and it must be addressed.”

A masterclass in self-love!

When Randeep Hooda walks into the hall, the energy shifts. Not that he’s big or bulky, but there is sincerity, an energy hard to miss. Talking at Cinevesture International Film Festival on Thursday, Randeep, during an unbridled talk, summed up his introduction to films and becoming an actor, director and producer.

Dressed in a fancy white and greyish blue suit with white sneakers, shades in place, he gave the audience some hearty laughs and a masterclass in self-love! He talked about how his nani took him to see Chandrawal in theatres for the first time. “My nani was an ardent fan. She didn’t know English but would watch Bold and Beautiful in English twice, everyday.”

The actor, who burst on the scene with Monsoon Wedding, has since then wowed audience with remarkable body transformations. While he sure was enjoying being the actor, circumstances forced him to becoming a director. He explains, “Being an actor is being a jamai, everybody is asking you juice lo ji, sab theek hai ji, phoopha ji naraaz to nahi ho jayenge. The director, on the other hand, is ladki ka pita.” Not than being in the latter’s position made him change his stance!

“When I started Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, for the first four hours my unit did their things, saying the new director doesn’t know. They were shooting scenes that were not even in the film.” But soon, he came into his form, barking instructions and that’s how the film was made! “Not a man to go and see himself on the big screen, he did watch Savarkar! “People stood up in applause as they do in a play, which was remarkable.”

However, life has not been a bed of roses. He admitted how he let go of films like Rang De Basanti and is candid enough to share his reasons. “I was launched in D and my mentor then said, ‘Tu Aamir Khan ke peeche poster main ayega’ and my Haryanvi buddhi let go of a project like that. There are many others examples.”

Randeep’s toughest times have been when he prepped for Saragarhi. For three years he kept his kesh, trained 20 others in horse-riding and sword-fighting, but the film was shelved, robbing him of his dreams. “The film didn’t see the light of the day due to chal kapat and that is going to be my biggest regret.”

His next is an action film, which he’s writing and will produce and direct. “In want of a good actor, I have decided to cast myself,” he flashes his infectious smile, winning another round of applause.

Acing all challenges

Filmmaker Honey Trehan opened up on his struggle with the release of Punjab ’95. Through the title change, over 120 cuts and then problems in international release, Trehan shared on Thursday, “Give me a reason for not letting it release; it is acknowledged by law. Threats to my producer by higher authorises is no way. Where is the freedom of expression?”

But not the one to succumb to challenges, Trehan says, “I have made the film for people and will make sure everybody gets to watch this.”