‘Dilipsaab was an attention-grabbing mixture of spontaneity and stylised performing.’

{Photograph}: Type courtesy Meenakshi Seshadri/Instagram

Meenakshi Seshadri could have not too long ago returned to Dallas, USA, to spend a while along with her household, however she says, “I’m so glad you will have requested me to speak about being directed by Dilipsaab within the film Kalinga. I wish to commemorate Dilipsaab on his 103 delivery anniversary on December 11.”

The actress, who’s wanting beautiful nowadays abetted by a current upskill in her make-up and wardrobe recreation, rewinds to the time when she was being directed by the legendary actor in his ardour challenge, Kalinga, a 35-year-old movie that has but to grace the large display.

“Working with him was memorable,” Meenakshi tells Dinesh Raheja. “Actually, I do not suppose I deserved that. He may have chosen anyone; I am honoured that he needed to work with me.”

Did Dilip Kumar method you to play the main girl in his debut directorial enterprise, Kalinga?

Dilipsaab needed to work with me.

I used to be chosen for Kalinga as per the director’s requirement.

Then, after all, the producer Sudhakar Bokade went forward and accomplished all of the formalities.

It should have felt good to have Dilip Kumar choose you amongst all of your contemporaries.

I’m a really philosophical individual. It by no means occurred to me to check and determine why I used to be chosen and never anyone else.

However I used to be extraordinarily excited as a result of Hindi cinema has this traditional triumvirate — the trio of Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand.

I had simply accomplished two dwelling manufacturing movies for Devsaab — Sachhe Ka Bolbala and Fundamental Tere Liye — and he himself had directed the previous.

Additionally, although I’ve by no means labored with Raj Kapoorji, I’ve labored with virtually all people else within the Kapoor household.

So to get a possibility to work with Dilipsaab as a director in his official (laughs) maiden directorial enterprise was a giant honour.

 

IMAGE: Raj Babbar, Sunny Deol, Shilpa Shirodkar and Meenakshi Seshadri on the Kalinga poster.

How would you summarise the expertise of being directed by Dilip Kumar?

Regardless of being a legend, he by no means made me really feel like a Jenny-come-lately.

Dilipsaab made me really feel like I used to be particular and that was the rationale he had forged me in his film.

That give me a number of confidence.

I used to be overwhelmed and humbled by his appreciation.

Kalinga was launched within the early Nineties, whenever you had been already a well-established actress. Did you will have an excellent function within the movie?

It was round 1991 when Kalinga was mounted for manufacturing.

It’s a multi-starrer however I used to be very proud of my function.

It is by no means been mentioned as to what my function was as a result of sadly the movie simply…

You possibly can amend that instantly and share particulars of your function right here.

I performed a tribal queen within the movie, jo chhai hui hai wherever she goes. She speaks in a regional dialect.

Dilipsaab needed to indicate that this tribal queen has psychic powers, and when she will get the psychic powers, the color of her eyes change.

So we obtained particular contact lenses made for me, and did a number of look assessments.

In these days, look assessments had been a uncommon function in Hindi movies. He additionally needed me to do a tan make-up.

Dilipsaab was so specific about each element regarding my character.

I wore Indian tribal gear, they had been lehengas, and kurtis, and he obtained them designed by Leena Daru, the ace designer for these type of costumes. She had labored with Rekha all through her profession.

All my scenes in Kalinga had been actually good. Each scene had author-backed dialogue. It was an unbelievable function.

IMAGE: Amitoj Mann and Meenakshi Seshadri. {Photograph}: Type courtesy Amitoj Mann/Fb

Wasn’t Sunny Deol initially forged reverse you earlier than opting out due to dates and being changed by newcomer Amitoj Mann?

I consider Dilipsaab was totally different choices, however lastly he determined to work with a model new face.

Had you met Dilip Kumar earlier than he forged you in Kalinga?

The primary time I met Dilipsaab was on the launch of Subhash Ghai’s Vidhaata (1982). I had simply been signed on for Subhashji‘s Hero (1983).

I used to be overwhelmed so I used to be very quiet.

His spouse Saira Banuji was very heat and accepting.

She went out of her option to make me really feel at dwelling. I’ve additionally visited their dwelling in Pali Hill (northwest Mumbai).

As a younger lady within the Seventies, had been you acquainted with Dilip Kumar’s classics from the Fifties and Sixties?

I had seen a number of important Dilipsaab movies even earlier than I joined the film enterprise. I noticed Azaad, Naya Daur, Ram Aur Shyam, Daastaan, Madhumati…

IMAGE: Kiran Juneja, Raj Babbar, Meenakshi Seshadri, Dilip Kumar, Shilpa Shirodkar, Archana Puran Singh and Kiran Kumar. {Photograph}: Type courtesy Shilpa Shirodkar/Instagram

What was your evaluation of his performing expertise?

In my view, Dilipsaab was an attention-grabbing mixture of spontaneity and stylised performing.

I see that mixture in lots of greats, not solely in Hindi movies but additionally in Hollywood.

They arrive throughout as very pure however there may be an angle. A performer’s visage. That is what Dilipsaab had.

In fact, he’s identified for his wonderful dialogue supply. The truth is, each Dilipsaab and Devsaab would need me to speak like them (laughs).

Throughout Kalinga, Dilipsaab would enact how he needed me to carry out a sure dialogue; I used to be changing into a mini Dilip Kumar!

Did you will have conversations with Dilip Kumar about your function?

He handled me like a peer, although I used to be approach junior to him. That set the tone of the connection on and off the units.

I bowed all the way down to his expertise and information throughout the shoot however would argue if I didn’t agree or if I felt it needs to be achieved differently.

Dilipsaab was the epitome of excellent behaviour.

Sure, he did take his time — he needed perfection however he deliberate effectively.

He was very passionate in regards to the challenge. It’s extremely unlucky that it by no means obtained accomplished.

How was he as an individual?

After I met him, the standard I admired immediately was his management of the language. His speech was stunning in actual life too.

He additionally had an important sense of humour.

For me, he at all times had a smile on his face. He was very pleasantly disposed in direction of life.

However I feel I spoke extra with Sairaji than him every time we met.

IMAGE: Dilip Kumar in Kalinga.

How a lot did you shoot for Kalinga?

We shot a stupendous romantic music within the hill station of Mercara within the Coorg space. We shot rather a lot in Rajasthan as effectively.

Sadly, the movie’s making didn’t proceed.

I do not know how a lot of the film has been shot.

Why did the movie get shelved?

No person informed me why it obtained shelved.

The manufacturing went into doldrums; I do not know why.

Schedules obtained cancelled, funds did not get made.

Lastly, Dilipsaab stated that it regarded prefer it was untenable to proceed with the movie.

IMAGE: Dilip Kumar and Amitoj Mann. {Photograph}: Type courtesy Amitoj Mann/Fb

Have been you paid your dues?

I used to be paid for no matter work I did. However following that, when the movie stopped, funds additionally stopped.

By this time, you had been most likely within the strategy of shifting to America after your marriage.

No, that occurred later, in 1995.

At the moment, I used to be nonetheless linked to the flicks and in addition doing my classical dance performances on stage. I had additionally re-enrolled for my grasp’s programme in faculty.

After Dilip Kumar’s loss of life, Producer Sangeetha Ahir, who was married to the late Sudesh Bokade, stated she would launch the movie. Have been you contacted?

By no means. I do not know of this. As soon as I obtained married and left for the USA, it was onerous to even consider reviving the film.

Any final phrases on Dilip Kumar’s legacy?

I feel Dilip Kumar’s legacy is approach better than only a Kalinga. What he has achieved and what he has left for youthful generations to observe is priceless.

Watch him in Mashaal when he’s crying ‘Koi hai!‘ on the street. Sunny type of did that in Ghayal.

Dilipsaab has achieved tremendously tough roles and scenes.

Working with him was memorable. Actually, I do not suppose I deserved that.

He may have chosen anyone; I am honoured that he needed to work with me.

Pictures curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff