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Speak easy in Sharaarat!
Senior artistes of Gurudev Bhalla's film have a blast
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Vickey Lalwani
After much delaying and postponing, thanks to financial constraints and distributor problems, Gurudev Bhalla is due to release Sharaarat July 12.
Set in an old-age home Ashiana in Kullu Manali, Himachal Pradesh, the film stars Abhishek Bachchan, Hrishita Bhatt, Amrish Puri, A K Hangal, Daisy Irani, Shubha Khote, Viju Khote, Pratap Oza, K D Chandran and Dara Singh.
It focuses on children deserting their parents and leaving them at the mercy of old-age homes.
After a string of flops --- A Muthu's
Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa, Goldie Behl's Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai and Dharmesh Darshan's Haan... Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya --- this may be Abhishek's last chance to survive in the industry.
This film is important for Hrishita, too, after her debut in the Shah Rukh Khan's second home production
Asoka, which made no ripples at the box-office.
As for the ensemble cast,
Sharaarat is a film they had fun while shooting. A chat with the senior artistes:
K D Chandran, Daisy Irani, Shubha Khote and Dara Singh --- you have not worked in films for a while. How easy was it to face the camera?
K D Chandran: Believe it or not, I felt as if I was at home during my scenes, despite the fact that I am acting in a
Hindi film after 45 years! The last I did was K A Abbas' Dharti Ke Lal (1946) with Balraj Sahni in the lead. Thereafter, I have did theatre and a few Gujarati films.
Daisy Irani: I did Kundan Shah's Kya Kehna (2000), so the gap was not too big for me to go out of sync. Sharaarat is one of my most enjoyable roles.
Shubha Khote: My last film was the Rekha starrer Mother 98. Yet, I was very comfortable in this film.
Dara Singh: My last film was Sunny Deol's Dillagi, three years ago. But I am still fine... everybody says so! There was no problem at all.
Tell us about your roles.
Amrish Puri: I am the most dominating member of the senior gang in Ashiana.
A K Hangal: My role here is similar to my role in Mohan Kumar's Avtaar. I contact my son (Raj Zutshi) and daughter-in-law during my time at the old-age home. Only, it is on phone, not in person.
K D Chandran: I play the oldest member of Ashiana who, unlike others, has come to terms with the fact that there is nobody for him.
Viju Khote: When I come to Ashiana, I find that my sister (played by real-life sister Shubha Khote) is going through a similar fate. Most of my scenes are with her. I will always remember the 40 days in Manali with people of my age. It was a picnic!
Daisy Irani: I play a neglected old woman. My son and daughter do not care for me. They both are settled in the US because of the big money in that country.
Shubha Khote: I play a discarded old woman who discovers that her brother (Viju) is in the same soup as she.
Dara Singh: I play an egoistic man who takes pride in his children even though they have thrown him out.
Pratap Oza: I play a neglected, unloved, uncared for person. Ashiana becomes my second home.
Who, according to you, has acted the best amongst the seniors?
Amrish Puri: It was a team effort. And mind you, I am not being modest!
A K Hangal: Myself, of course! *laughs*
KD Chandran: That is for the public to judge.
Viju Khote: A K Hangal.
Daisy Irani: It is difficult for me to be judgemental. In all fairness, all of us put in sweat, toil and labour.
Shubha Khote: Amrish Puri. Unarguably, he is the most seasoned actor amongst us.
Dara Singh: Everybody has contributed equally well. Take any one of us out and you will spoil the show.
Pratap Oza: All of us have put our best foot forward. But I would give an extra inch for Amrish Puri.
You best scene?
Amrish Puri: My confession scene with Abhishek Bachchan. But do not ask me what I confessed. Watch the film!
A K Hangal: The scene when I telephone my son and daughter-in-law from Ashiana to tell him to take me back on his terms and conditions. But to my horror, he disconnects the line. It is a very tragic scene.
K D Chandran: The time I ask a judge, "Is there no law that prohibits the youth from throwing out their parents as if they are cleaning their home?"
Viju Khote: The time when all of us are crying, as we have to leave Ashiana.
Shubha Khote: I, too, love the scene when we have to leave Ashiana in the end and we console each other that whatever happens, happens for the best.
Daisy Irani: How can I choose? Each is better than the other!
Dara Singh: The time when all of us are sitting in a balcony, praising our children and trying to put up a brave front.
Pratap Oza: The scene when Amrish Puri insults me and I call my son to take me home. But he does not turn up.
How was your interaction with Abhishek Bachchan and Hrishita Bhatt?
Amrish Puri: Wonderful! I got along with Abhishek, in particular, very well. Perhaps because I have more scenes with him than Hrishita. Abhishek and I hate each other throughout the film. *laughs*
A K Hangal: It was a pleasure working with them, especially Abhishek. I have worked with his parents (Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan) when they were not even married (Guddi,
Sholay), and I hope to work with Abhishek's kids too!
K D Chandran: Both of them looked after us as if we were their own parents. They will have a bright future.
Viju Khote: Hrishita has immense respect for all the elders. That speaks volumes about her upbringing. Abhishek's pranks always raised our spirits.
Daisy Irani: It was lovely! Abhishek is extremely naughty, Hrishita is extremely intelligent.
Shubha Khote: Great! I miss those days, which I spent with these two youngsters in Manali.
Dara Singh: No adjectives will describe their sense of ethics and decency.
Pratap Oza: Fantastic! I told Abhishek right on the first day that this film will give him what he has been searching all these years.
Do you identify with the character you have played?
Amrish Puri: I do not identify with any character which I play. I get into the character for the required time when the director orders 'action' and roll out of it when he screams 'cut'.
A K Hangal: Of course, I do. However, identification does not mean that I have suffered in a similar vein. But I know about these situations, which keep happening around me.
K D Chandran: Yes. I have heard many such stories happening in real life.
Viju Khote: Luckily, my home front is not in distress. Touchwood!
Shubha Khote: No. I am a very strong person. I will never let my children take over the reins of my life.
Dara Singh: Yes. Life is full of ups and downs.
Pratap Oza: Thankfully, I am well-placed and do not imagine myself ousted from my home. But yes, I do identify with the character which I portray because I have friends who have been.
Where does Sharaarat stand amidst today's glossy love stories?
Amrish Puri: The whole world does not see those glossy love stories. There is a section of the audience who watch films with social themes and morals.
A K Hangal: I am positive it will not get lost in this July melee. It is a different film and different films are accepted nowadays.
K D Chandran: Sharaarat is the need of the hour. It stands tall; it conveys what the young have forgotten in their wild ways of life. It should do well.
Viju Khote: Sharaarat will either be a trendsetter or it will go bust in three days. It has a very important message for the youth --- old people are not throwaway items. Let us see if today's youth understands it.
Daisy Irani: I am sure it will be appreciated. But I have reservations about the response from the upper crust and metro people, especially the youth.
Shubha Khote: The elder generation will definitely make it a point to see it, so there is no question of it going bust. If they bring their young to watch it too, it will not only help the film but also themselves.
Dara Singh: I am confident it will do well. It has an important message for the youth and if they do not watch it, they stand to lose.
Pratap Oza: I see every film. Films are my first love. But this one is really special --- not just because I am in it.