AFTER playing an intense role in Anurag Kashyap’s Udta Punjab, Alia Bhatt is now seen in teasers of Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi. During the promotion of her film Dear Zindagi, our correspondent SUMEET MISHRA caught with Alia and talked about her film, the most annoying thing she felt about Shah Rukh Khan and more…
How was your experience working with Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Shinde for the film Dear Zindagi?
It was a very fresh experience for me, not only because I got to work with S.R.K and Gauri Shinde, but also for the fact that it is a very peculiar film. You cannot compare Dear Zindagi with any film. There is no genre of the film, it’s not an action or a comedy film, the plot is very different which makes this flick apart from the other films.
Why this movie is called Dear Zindagi?
This film is about life. When you write a letter to someone, how you begin it, “you began it with dear, that’s how we address people while talking to them or writing to them.” So in this film, my character is talking to life and that’s why it’s called Dear Zindagi.
Do you relate to your character in the movie?
A lot… Out of all the movies that I have appeared in till today, I reckon this one is the most relatable character and the audience would very well be able to connect with it. Although there are a few traits that don’t relate to me, one of it is my character in the film is very impulsive, whereas in real life I am not.
How do you keep yourself positive in life?
It is tough to be optimistic in life all the time. But what I try is not to be negative as well because I feel it’s a waste of emotion. So I will say you can balance and be neutral.
What is your biggest takeaway from Shah Rukh Khan?
A unique thing about him is that he does not come with the burden of being S.R.K. He has been in the industry for 25 years now and he is so humble and down to earth. He will go out of the way to make you feel comfortable and that quality is very rare, especially in a superstar like him.
During the shoot of the film did Shah Rukh spoke to you about the difference of filmmaking today and in his time?
We would talk about everything. I don’t remember if we discussed anything about the filmmaking during the course of the shoot. But what I can recall is he telling about different brands, poets etc.
Since Shah Rukh Khan is very elder to you, did you feel like he treated you like a youngster at any time?
He treats everyone equally.
Is there any similarity between Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan?
Our thinking and behavior are pretty much the same. The execution of this feeling are obviously different because of different ages, otherwise, we are very alike.
What is the most annoying thing about him?
I will not say annoying but I feel bad that he doesn’t eat. When we were shooting we would have long takes and basically run the whole scenes together, since there were a lot of dialogues. The sets used to be very quiet, nobody was allowed to speak and amidst that a grumping sound would come from his stomach. He basically starves himself and I tell him to eat properly.
Shah Rukh Khan’s last film hasn’t done very well so he himself is looking for a big hit…
He is Shah Rukh Khan. Working in films is not his need, he is doing films because he is passionate about it. He is trying to do some good interesting different work. He is doing films like Raees, The Ring and a film with Anand L. Rai which is distinct from each other.
Do you remember when did you first meet Shah Rukh for the first time?
I don’t remember meeting him as a child, but I do remember that some of my father’s close friends came to our place and they wanted to meet Shah Rukh, so we all went to his house. I was 11-12 years old then and was wearing an ugly top. I went to his house then and was so much in awe looking at him. Shah Rukh always says that there is one person whose calls he never avoids is my father Mahesh Bhatt.
How was your experience working with a female director?
What I believe is, there are male actors and there are female actors, but a director has no category, this is what I genuinely believe. Gauri Shinde is very frank and clear with what she wants and because of that our scenes went very smoothly.
Talking about the award, you recently said you would be disappointed if you don’t get the award for Udta Punjab, so what is your expectation?
I didn’t say disappointed. Obviously, the best person will win, I will not be upset but surely I will wonder why not me, and then I will move on.
You played an intense role in Udta Punjab and after that, you are doing a light-hearted role in Dear Zindagi. So is that a deliberate move to balance the kind of roles you are choosing?
Nothing is deliberate. I choose different films because I like to do a different roles, that is how I do my work. I get bored doing the same thing again and again. I choose my roles that way. The movie looks happy and easy going but it was tough to portray a girl in a manner that looks convincing.