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As an actor working in Mumbai for some years now, what differences did you find between your other roles in the Hindi mainstream and an English film directed by a woman director who has lived and worked in the US? Roles are not that different. The difference is in the language. It was liberating to work in what is essentially my first language...perhaps another difference is that I was allowed to be subtle in my performance. How do you prepare for a role? Certain roles like Dia in Life Goes On or Ira in Chaurahen did not require need much homework. It needed more getting in touch with unexplored emotions inside me and being in the moment between action and cut...but others like Khoya Khoya Chand required months of training in Kathak, Urdu language classes, listening to music and watching films from the 1950’s, numerous look tests and styling. I like to know my lines backward otherwise you are just focussed on saying the right dialogues! I enjoy work, shopping with co-actors and I rely on my director’s inputs. How do you choose a role? For me, choosing a film is an innate organic response. I know immediately on hearing the story whether I want to be in it or not. Though it is important to be paid your price, it is not the breaking point for me. The script, if I like it and my role in it, is of paramount importance. I would like to add that a film can never be bigger than the vision of the director. Add to that a good banner, a good producer who ensures the marketing needed to get an opening and a proper release. Otherwise, the experience can be heart-breaking. You have had a brilliant academic record, followed by a job in the banking sector. Do you regret changing channels? I don’t regret it one bit. This is my third profession and I love it! I hope I tire of it before it tires of me! I don’t think I was cut out for a desk job and the idea of bonds, equities and trading stocks didn’t really keep me hooked. Movie-making is magical and suits my restless personality. Which of your films is a favourite? Pick a few of your best performances. Khoya Khoya Chand because it has been the meatiest role I have done to date where I got to learn kathak, horse-riding and sword-fighting. Sudhir Mishra has taught me a great deal about performance, about how to be unafraid in front of the camera and how to lose my inhibitions. Sanjana from Tum Mile has been the character closest to who I am in real life among all the characters I have played on screen. I related completely to her and the complexities of the relationship being portrayed. Life Goes On is a film close to my heart as it is the only film my mother and I have done together .and we play mother and daughter! Soundtrack because it was the most technically challenging role I have done. Gauri, the character I play is a hearing impaired sign language teacher. I took weeks of sign language classes and developed a speech impediment for the role. Let us hear about your to-be-released films other than Chaurahen I will begin shooting for Sahib, Bibi Aur Gangster 2 in which I have a very exciting role. My role is that of a young and tormented bride. But there are layers of deception and deceit over the film. The audience will remain hooked to its seat till the end. Chemistry and Midnight’s Children are currently in post-production and will release soon. Chaurahen is special because I tuned in with Rajashree very well and we both ran along similar wavelengths.
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Soha
Ali Khan