I was a workaholic and restless by temperament: Nandita Dass

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Film-maker and actress Nandita Das is glowing as she was last seen with her son Vihaan at a recent event.

Motherhood has changedlife for her and businessman husband Subodh Maskara who are now pround parents of a baby boy.

Talking about the life-altering experience, she says,” I was a workaholic and restless by temperament but I am discovering a far more patient and centered self and so happy just being with my little one. I am missing nothing else!”

Talking about her next film she says, “There are a couple of projects both in terms of acting and directing that I am considering. Recently I have committed to directing an international film called Trafficking (working title) which tells the intertwining story of three young women from very different backgrounds who are forced into the dehumanising world of sexual slavery. I was attracted to the project because it is a powerful story that needs to be told. We know so little about trafficking and an accessible film that touches the hearts and the minds of people will do justice to it.”

Nandita has been in the industry for more than a decade and says that it is her serious image that irks her the most. The actress is percieved to do only ‘meaningful cinema’ and says that she gets annoyed when people ask her about an image makeover. “It has been 14 years since I did my first film Fire. I find it strange that this question is still asked to me as by now my work and choices should have answered them adequately. I want to continue being part of stories that I feel need to be told. I don’t label films as art or commercial. Image is what others create, so neither am I trying to create it or shed it. I am just doing what resonates with my beliefs and interests.”

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Nandita Das is set to go back to direction

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After making a movie on communal riots, actress-turned-director Nandita Das is set to go back to direction once again to make a film on flesh trade.
Set in Gujarat, her directorial debut ‘Firaaq’ took a look at the lives of people after the 2002 violence. This time it’s an international film called ‘Trafficking’.
Written by Siddharth Kara, who has researched extensively on the subject of human trade, ‘Trafficking’ will tell the story of three sex workers from India, Nigeria and Ukraine.
Apparently when the producers, Luca Guadagnino of First Sun Pictures in Italy and Elizabeth Stanley saw Nandita’s directorial debut ‘Firaaq’, they were convinced she was the right person to direct ‘Trafficking’.
Though the 40-year-old is busy being a mother for the first time, she cannot resist the temptation of wielding the megaphone. And the big question is how will Nandita divide her time between her son Vihaan, who was born Aug 11 this year, and directing a new film?
"The producers approached me at the end of last year and we have been in serious talks since then. I met the writer, Siddharth Kara in London earlier this year and have been giving my inputs for the next draft of the script. The producers are well aware of Vihaan in my life and sensitive to it," said the actress who is married to Subodh Maskara, an industrialist.
Nandita is in no hurry to shoot.
"The basic pre-production starts only after March next year and the shoot will be done when I completely feel up to it. As being a mother is something new for me, I am taking one step at a time.
"But we are all committed to working together on this film. It is big and challenging project and lot of work is needs to be done before the actual shoot. In a few months taking care of Vihaan and also starting the preparatory work on the film should be possible. It will keep my creative faculties intact."

Her son will not have to miss his mom. "Vihaan will be on the shoot with me. He will see his mama work," said the actress who carved a niche for herself with award winning performances in ‘Bawander’, ‘Kamli’ and ‘Amaar Bhuvan’.

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Nandita Das has moved to Mumbai after living in the national capital for years

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"What difference does it make whether you call it Bombay or Mumbai?" asks actress-filmmaker Nandita Das, who has moved to Mumbai after living in the national capital for years.

The main reason she shifted base this year, she says, is for the sake of her love - husband Subodh Maskara.

"I never wanted to shift to Mumbai, but as they say `never say never` and I shifted for the right reason. I didn`t shift for my acting or direction, but because I fell in love and you are where your heart is," Nandita, who is visibly in the family way, told reporters.

The multi-lingual actress, who also made her mark as a director with "Firaaq", says she would love to learn Marathi.

"I have no resistance to learning Marathi. I have done a Marathi film too," said Nandita, who was here to deliver the Silver Jubilee lecture at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

The actress spoke on "Identity and the notion of the `Other`".

"What difference does it make whether you call it Bombay or Mumbai? I still call it Bombay and in Hindi we still call it Bambai. I recollect that Karan Johar even had to apologise for using Bombay in `My Name Is Khan`.

"Cosmopolitan multi-lingual people have contributed to Bombay, coming from all different parts. Everybody is as much a Mumbaikar as Maharashtrians are," she said.

Nandita Das says her statement is not directed against anyone and says she is against people who say Mumbai "belongs to a certain community. I am completely against this kind of divisive politics".

Asked if she wasn`t afraid talking so candidly, she said: "If we continue being afraid of anything, that`s how they are gaining momentum. They are playing on our fears. Like for `My Name Is Khan`... it was just the people of Bombay who went and saw the film. We just have to outnumber them."

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Nandita Das, a known face of parallel cinema, is now exploring the option of direction

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Of late a new bunch of film aficionados have cropped up, for who a film is not only about acting, direction or production. They want to dabble in all aspects of filmmaking, right from writing the script to penning the lyrics to acting in it. Take for instance the likes of Nandita Das, Abbas Tyrewala and Farhan Akhtar. These are some new age celebs who don’t mind getting involved in more than one aspect of filmmaking.

Nandita Das, a known face of parallel cinema, is now exploring the option of direction. Having worked in critically well-received films like Earth, Fire and Bawandar, the dusky beauty is ready with her first directorial venture titled, Firaq. For her it was a natural step after acting. “I have always done different things in life because that’s my passion. I am not trying to prove that I can do different things. Finally I think I want to be a communicator. I have a lot of things inside me; dilemma, frustration, confusion, etc. Direction is just a medium to communicate that. However, I do hope that I continue getting good scripts and continue acting.”

Similar is the case with director-turned-actor, Farhan Akhtar. After having directed youth inspiring films like Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya, he has moved on to acting. Ready with his debut venture as an actor, Farhan is all geared up about the film, titled Rock On. He says, “It was a fun and different experience. It was also liberating for one as you get to do things you do not do in real life. You can just scream in the middle of the road and get away with it.”

Enjoying the success of his latest hit Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na is writer-director Abbas Tyrewala. This Multi talented youngster has tried his hand in nacting and even did a small role in Maqbool. Having written dialogues for films like Salam Namaste and Munnabhai MBBS, Abbas thought it was time for him to direct a film and that’s how Jaane Tu… happened. Talking about his stint with acting, he says, “Somewhere I wanted to act. I think it is necessary for a writer to be an actor. Speak to Javed Akhtar or Gulzar. They can command an audience just by the way they speak. Somewhere you need to understand acting if you are writing. At that time, Vishal Bharadwaj asked me to act and did. What’s the big deal?” Looks like, the thin line between acting, editing, writing and directing just got thinner, courtesy multi-talented, up and coming filmmakers. There is still hope for Akki and Chichi with their editing scissors though.

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