Alia Bhatt - "Even now, we have to prove the power and importance of just being a woman"

INTERVIEW

“Even now, we have to prove the power and importance of just being a woman”

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INTERVIEW

Alia Bhatt

Exclusive Interview By Armin S.

In 25 glorious years, the director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has given us something new and spectacular with each story, and

Gangubai Kathiawadi is no exception. I speak to Alia Bhatt, who plays the title role, about nailing

Gangubaiʼs mannerisms, her ability to depict contrasting emotions on screen, honesty in the eyes of both herself, and of course, Shantanu Maheshwari, who makes his film debut as Afshan. All that and more in these excerpts from our chat with her after her film premiered in Berlin.

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INTERVIEW

You can continue to depict strength despite the pain.

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INTERVIEW

HOW DID YOU NAIL GANGUBAI’S WALK AND SWAG?

One of the things that you will see is that Gangubai puts her feet up and puts her hand up and she has a small bottle in her hand which is basically a very strong alcohol, which we heard she drinks. The bottle is always there on her side so she is constantly sipping on it. She’s not a drunk but she likes to have that drink in her hand. In my head, her walk couldn’t be so straight but it also couldn’t be prim and proper. It had to be a bit unpredictable. It’s almost like her feet are taking her first and then her body is going behind her. That’s the way I imagined it in my head and Sanjay sir did not ask me to change it so I just continued with that.

WHAT ABOUT THE HAND, THIS HAND THING, SHE HAS GOING – IT’S VERY DOMINANT AND YET VERY SOFT?

I think that is sir, and his directions for “Jab Saiyaan” and the choreography for that. It is a song that is montage-driven and it’s about moments so there is choreography there is. So even when she is dealing the cards or picking up the cards, there is choreography in that. Even when she makes Shantanu’s character open the card, there is grace. There is control from within, that she is telling him what to do but because of the type of song it is, the hand also has to be graceful. I think that’s the combination.

WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE WORKING WITH SHAN- TANU MAHESHWARI, WHO HAS FOLLOWERS FROM HIS ACTING AND DANCING DAYS, AND REALLY SEEMS LIKE HE MAKES AN IMPRESSION?

I love the tracks with Shantanu. I think he is also such a fabulous actor. He is so honest and so present and so hardworking. This is his first film but he has delivered such complex emotions. For him to shine and play his part convincingly only makes Gangubai’s track more convincing. I was also very invested in the way he was performing on set and sir, from the first time he saw his audition, was very clear to me that this was going to be my Afshan. He saw something in his eyes, which I totally understand and believe when I see him on the big screen – his eyes just come out to you. And because you rightfully said, he’s a dancer, so he is quite rhythmic in his body – whether he is doing a scene or a song, he has a natural rhythm which is so nice to watch. I think he is really going to go a long way, because he is extremely talented.

YOU TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY BEING PREPARED FOR THE UNPREDICTABLE ON A SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI SET. WHAT WAS THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE PART OF PLAYING GANGUBAI OR WHAT DID YOU NOTICE ABOUT YOURSELF AS AN ACTOR THAT YOU PERHAPS DID NOT KNOW BEFORE?

Good question. I think she is fighting for what she thinks is right, but she has the ability to fight and also feel bad for what she has to fight for as well. It’s that dichotomy of having that strength but also letting the situation affect your heart. Strength does not mean you are not affected. Portraying strength does not mean that you cannot depict pain. You can continue to depict strength despite the pain. That’s what real strength is. It was a new combination sort of, that I kind of discovered.

Photo Credit: Berlinale Images Photographer: Antonio Castello

Photo Credit: Berlinale Images Photographer: Antonio Castello

IT'S HARD TO GET CONTRASTING EMOTIONS IN ONE FRAME – VULNERABILITY IN HER EYES BUT STRENGTH IN HER BODY LANGUAGE. HOW DO YOU PACKAGE CONTRAST- ING EMOTIONS AND UNPACKAGE THEM ON SCREEN?

Hmm…you feel it. I don’t know. It’s a very good question. I don’t think a moment depicted through your eyes can be depicted without you really feeling it. For example, I think what happened globally through the pandemic to people, it shows in their eyes. I see their eyes. I can tell if you are sad, or not in agreement, or happy. I’m just genuinely looking at their eyes. Eyes are like a mirror – they tell you exactly how someone is feeling inside without the rest of the face. The mouth can say something else – like why the mother’s name is not enough? But my eyes are saying – it is still the same, why is the world is not changing? Even in real life, I connect with that emotion – that even now, we have to prove the power and importance of just being a woman. The contrast comes from understanding what you are saying, having that perspective, but also having that emotion in your eyes. It’s complicated.

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