Photographs: Bhuppi / The Man Sonil Dedhia in Mumbai
In conversation with Sonil Dedhia, Mahie talks about the film, her career so far and why she doesn't want to become a big star.
Isn't the title Not A Love Story ambiguous?
I would say it's interesting. The film was originally titled A Love Story but then we decided to go with Not A Love Story because the film isn't about a love story. It's an edge-of-the-seat thriller.
'Ramu is intelligent but very shy'
Photographs: Bhuppi / The Man
What is it about the script that appealed to you?
I always wanted to work with Ram Gopal Varma. I have been a big fan of his since Shiva and Rangeela days. When he came to me with the script of Not A Love Story, I found the role very challenging. The film is inspired by the Neeraj Grover murder case and I had followed the case very closely. I remember I had finished shooting for Dev D and I was shifting my base to Mumbai.
Because of the Neeraj Grover incident, I had to struggle for two months to find a house as no one wanted to rent a house to strugglers. So it was easy to relate to the script.
How was it working with Ram Gopal Varma?
After Dev D, Anurag Kashyap had told me you must work with Ram Gopal Varma. I jumped at the opportunity when he offered me the film. Ramu is very intelligent but at the same time he is very shy.
How much truth is there in a fictional film based on real life events?
The film is inspired by real life incidents. Just like Maria Susairaj, Anusha Chawla, the character I play, is a struggling actor. There were three people in the apartment and one of them was murdered and the other two were blamed for the murder.
No one apart from these three knows what happened at that point of time. This is where the film becomes fictional and is made up from Ram Gopal Varma's vision and his thoughts.
'I have faced a lot of rejections'
I think all the actors who come from outside Mumbai have to struggle a lot to find a foothold in Bollywood. My personal experience did help me a lot to play the character of a struggler in the movie industry.
Did you face rejection in the initial stages of your career?
I have faced a lot of rejections. The reason is I am very bad at auditions. Trust me, if Anurag Kashyap had auditioned me for Dev D, I wouldn't have been a part of the film, or even started my career in Bollywood.
'It was creepy to shoot in the building where the real incident had taken place'
We started shooting within seven or eight days of Ramu offering me the role. I think it was good that everything happened so quickly. Initially, I felt I should observe the mannerisms of Maria but later on I thought it would be better if I could add my own experience to the character.
Ramu had done his homework and he met Jerome (said to have committed the real-life murder) and Maria's lawyers and friends to do his research and that helped us a lot.
At any point of time while filming did you get emotional?
We were shooting in the same building where the whole incident had taken place and it isn't a comforting thought because the building in itself has become a character.
It was very creepy. The apartments are very small so I was surprised that no one heard anything. I was a little psyched because we were continuously shooting in the building for seven days and there used to be blood all over the floor all the time. We were wearing the same costumes for several days with blood stains on it.
I remember once the lift opened right in front of the flat where the whole incident took place. I was scared and my feet froze.
'The kiss with Deepak (Dobriyal) was a little weird'
The first kissing scene I did was in Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster. I was very nervous then.
I was supposed to be drunk in the scene, so I actually drank and was a little sloshed. I have known Deepak for some time, but I was meeting him after a long time and so it was a little weird initially.
Do you have any inhibitions doing an intimate scene?
The kind of cinema I am doing is realistic and so this is also a part of it. I feel awkward doing these scenes and it's not very easy because the entire crew is there. But I feel that it's like any other emotion and one has to depict it.
I am a very shy person in real life. I trusted all the directors I worked with. After Dev D, I was offered films where the directors would tell me that the film has two kissing scenes and three bedroom scenes, but no story. I never did those films. I won't do an intimate scene unless I feel it is justified.
'I'm not selective about my films'
My brothers are very understanding, but my mother gets very upset. Someone showed her an article in a newspaper about an intimate scene that I had done.
She asked me why I was doing these kinds of films and said it would have been better if I had completed my Ph D (laughs).
Are you selective about your films?
I am not selective about my films. I am just lucky that I have got the kind of roles that I wanted. This doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to do a commercial film. I am a huge fan of Sridevi and I love films where the heroine runs around in chiffon saris. I would love to do all that but no director offers me those roles.
So, how do you select your films?
I won't say that I am very intelligent at choosing the scripts, but I can differentiate between a good and a bad script. I look at my co-actors and till now all of them have been brilliant and I feel if they are ready to do the film then there must be something interesting in it. I also see to it that my film should release.
'I want to try comedy'
Is it true that your role in Dabangg was edited?
No, that's not true. I met Abhinav Kashyap (director of Dabangg) and he told me clearly that he was offering me a small role in the film. I don't think there have been any scenes that have been deleted from the movie.Are you in touch with Anurag Kashyap?
Yes, I am very much in touch with him. Whatever I am today is because of Anurag Kashyap. Whatever I have achieved is because of Anurag and Dev D.
You started your career with Kalki Kochelin but it seems you have lost out in the rat race.
I am a very satisfied person and very satisfied with my work. I don't want to become a big star. I want to do good work. I am enjoying the films that I am doing and I don't want to compare myself with anyone.
So, what next?
I want to try doing a comedy film. I feel it is difficult to do comedy and I would love to experiment with a comic role.
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