“I’m a communicator”
If there were an Indian version of ‘The Thinking Man’s Sex Symbols’ list, Nandita Das would be top contender. The fine actor turns director with "Firaaq", a movie discussing the religious complexities in Gujarat after the riots, and making its presence felt in film festivals, here and abroad.

"Firaaq", your first directorial venture, has received good reviews. How did "Firaaq" happen?

Basically, I’m a communicator; I use different ways to communicate. I act in films, I do write, I deliver speeches, and I work for social causes. So "Firaaq" is another medium through which I am trying to communicate with people. The film may have Gujarat riots as the backdrop. But actually it is a compilation of my discussions and brain storming with many people over the years. It was during a discussion with my friend Shuchi Kothari that we decided to write a story for a film on the aftermath of the Gujarat riots and its impact on relationships. It took three years to finish the script. And the film was shot in Hyderabad. After seeing the film, many of my friends in Ahmedabad couldn’t believe that it was not their city.

Was it difficult directing veterans like Naseeruddin Shah and Paresh Rawal?

Not at all. Actually they were very helping and appreciating. Once we finished doing the movie, Shah sahab even congratulated me for my work.

How was the first response?

The film hasn’t released in theatres yet. But it was shown in many film festivals. I was a little unsure of how a foreign audience would be able to connect with the multiple strands in the story as there are so many subtle culture-specific nuances and complexities. But be it in Toronto or Greece, wherever it was screened, people completely related to it. The response in Kolkata and Kerala has been overwhelming, but I am eagerly waiting for the India-wide release, which is slated for January 23.

From "Fire" to the recent Pakistani movie, "Ramchand Pakistani", your characters are never quite the usual filmi “heroine”. Is it deliberate?

A lot of people have asked me about the profusion of rural characters that I’ve undertook. Take "Fire" or "Earth" or any other movie, my characters were not that of a typical lead girl’s. I came to movies through serious roles. When you do a certain kind of role, you get stereotyped. Media stereotypes you, then, the same kind of roles come in.

So are you expecting things to change? Do you think the audience is ready to watch Nandita Das in a comedy or a masala potboiler?

I’m not a very enthusiastic actor or director. Maybe I will direct a comedy film; maybe I will act in such a role... but it’s all “maybe, maybe..”. I can’t guarantee these things.

How do you choose a movie to work in?

I instinctively move towards projects that resonate with my interests, concerns and dilemmas. Some films didn’t turn out the way I had imagined. But I am happy that at least I made those choices for honest reasons. What I look for is a good script, a director who can translate that into an interesting cinematic experience and a role that is believable.

You have done 30 roles in 10 languages. Did you ever see parts of Nandita Das in any role?

How can I? How can I make a Nandita Das out of the role I do? When you watch a movie, say "Kannagi" in Malayalam or "Azhagi" in Tamil or "Earth" in Hindi, you are watching the character, not Nandita Das, the person. But in another way, in every role I do, there is a part of myself. It is not possible to avoid that. A character is made out of both the character itself and Nandita. If the character is performed by another actor, it will become another character. The actor’s experiences in life are bound to affect the character. So, it’s not Nandita Das portraying herself, but the character will have a little Nandita Das in it when it is performed by Nandita Das.

Which was the most difficult language you have worked in?

Of course, it is Malayalam. Pronunciation of the language is very difficult. But I have worked in four Malayalam films, and now I’m slowly picking up the language. And I love to learn languages.

Nandita, the social activist, the actor, the director, the writer.... Where do all these come together? How do you manage all these roles?

It’s not like that. Whether you make the choice of a character you want to play, whether you direct a movie, whether you are into social activism advocating certain issues, whether you share your thoughts through writing or speech, these are different mediums you use to communicate. I told you that I’m really a communicator. It all comes together at a point. The point is the heart, and mind which shares these thoughts.

Can we expect another Nandita movie soon?

I’m still on the lookout for interesting scripts. It may happen from within me or from outside. I’m not sure. But it will not be done soon.

Many times your views, movies etc are compared with those of Shabana Azmi. How do you feel?

Yes, sometimes people do say that I’m walking in Shabana Azmi’s footsteps. In this field, some amount of comparison and labelling is inevitable. People will do that. Media particularly likes to label people. It makes their work easy. But everybody's likes and choices are different. It’s not that Shabana has done only parallel movies. She has done a lot of commercial movies too. Whether good or bad, people have a tendency to generalise things. She is a different person. But I don’t take such comparisons seriously.

What are your future projects?

I will start acting again in March. I will be working with Deepa Mehta again in "Midnight’s Children." And we might be doing another film together before that. My advocacy work is still on, but I will get back to it more intensely after February.

Anu Warrier