ACTRESS SWARA BHASKAR INTERVIEW

Actually my first work in Bombay was a lead role in a film called Niyati directed by Pravesh Bhardwaj. It was a great role and a very interesting and intense film that hasn't yet released. Then I did a music video Teri Justajoo for Roop Kumar Rathod.  My first release was Madholal Keep walking (August 2010) by director Jai Tank which was a sensitive film around the Mumbai train blasts. Of course it was Tanu Weds Manu (2011) that gave me my identity in Bombay and accolades and awards.

Feb 2013 saw my first title role release in Listen Amaya.  I've shot for 8 full length feature films so far in primary/leading roles of which three (Madholal Keep Walking, Tanu Weds Manu, Listen Amaya) have released and hopefully this year another four will release! This year after Listen Amaya, I'm looking forward to the release of Aanand Rai's Raanjhnaa in end June, and YRF's Aurangzeb directed by Atul Sabharwal in May. I play really interesting and totally opposite roles in both films. Later in the year will be 'Sabki Bajegi Band' directed by Anirudhh Chawla and 'Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai' directed by Debaloy De. I'm keeping my fingers crossed if all my films release, I will have 5 releases this year!

Raanjhnaa is a very special film for me, and I think I was really destined to do that part. I got the film very last minute and I really feel the film found me! This is my second film with director Aanand Rai (who also gave me Tanu Weds Manu) and I love being directed by him. I feel he is a very blessed director and his shootings and his set are always a very happy place. And I feel that kind of an atmosphere really enhances performance. Aanand sir is also a hard taskmaster, and will not let an actor off unless he’s got the shot he wants but he never spoon-feeds or micro directs, he allows you your own space to explore the character. He’s a challenge for me because I don’t think I’ve ever actually been able to please him, he always says to me- You can do better! But he’s a very loving director, I’ve never been scolded more sweetly for not getting a scene right! One of my aims as an actor is to hear after a shot I give Aanand sir say in his characteristic shout- “Brilliant!”

Raanjhnaa is also special to me as I think writer Himanshu Sharma, who is possibly one of the most talented and worth-looking-forward- to screenwriters in the Bombay film industry today, has outdone himself in weaving this beautiful, intense, funny, eccentric and deeply deeply moving love story in Raanjhnaa. I’m convinced that in the hands of this wonderful director-writer duo Raanjhnaa is going to be one of the most beloved and memorable love stories of our decade.

Dhanush is too modest and unassuming to be giving tips on acting, but it was a great pleasure to watch him shoot. He has a great screen presence and a wonderful ease as a performer. He also has a great sense of rhythm to his performance, and not just when he’s dancing. He has a very endearing quality and deep intensity, all of which are great qualities as an actor. So it was quite a lesson to be watching him act. I remember I saw Aadukalam while I was shooting Raanjhnaa, and I came and touched his feet on set the next day I loved him so much in that film.

Banaras is a magical city and I love it a lot. It’s a very special city for me also because it’s my Nani’s (maternal grandmother’s) natal place. I shot my first ever recorded work (a music video) in Benares. I love the ghats, the Ganga, the lanes and galis and the people and pace of that city. Both my shoots in Benares have been deep emotional experiences for me, and I genuinely feel blessed by that city.

I’m half Telugu. My father’s family hails from the Godavari delta and is now settled in Vizag. Unfortunately I don’t speak very much Telugu.

My other south connection is that all my major films have had south actors. Madhavan in Tanu Weds Manu, Prithviraj in Aurangzeb and Dhanush in Raanjhnaa. You know, even Listen Amaya had a guest appearance by the stunning Amala Akkineni.

I also learnt Tamil as a regional language in middle school for 3 years and so though I don’t really understand or speak Tamil beyond Aamaa, vendaa, podaa, I can read the Tamil script a bit! J

I also love Chennai. I used to come with Leela Akka during the December kutcheri season. I love the culture and pace of the city. And the beautiful Theosophical Society campus.