Rishi Kapoor wasnt self obsessed like other actors Juhi Chawla
Mumbai Mar 21 PTI Juhi Chawla worked with Rishi Kapoor in a series of films in the 1990s but it was during the shoot of their last project Sharmaji Namkeen that the actor says she truly observed the veterans brilliance in springing up moving performances while being nonchalant about his craftChawla and Kapoor have been co-stars in films like Bol Radha Bol Eena Meena Deeka Daraar and Zoya Akhtars 2009 drama Lucky By ChanceSharmaji Namkeen marks the final screen appearance of Kapoor who died at the age of 67 in April 2020 after a two-year long battle with leukemiaIn an interview with PTI over Zoom call the 54-year-old actor said when she reunited to shoot with the veteran it was an experience to watch and learnWhen we started shooting I realised he is way ahead of me in terms of like I was simply watching him I was observing how he does his shots because he was doing it effortlessly and so wellUnlike me as I keep looking at the monitor to see if I have done right see myself in the mirror to check if I am looking right he was totally opposite He was not self obsessed like a lot of actors are He was cool and calm she addedChawla recalled an incident from the shooting of the Delhi-set film where the two had to film a scene in a carIt was a dialogue-heavy sequence and Chawla was curious to understand Kapoors process of delivering lines without ever making them seem like dialoguesHe told me I dont look at them as lines I take it as an emotion whats the feeling behind it and then those lines just flow I always read everything see what dialogues I have but for him it wasnt thatWhich is why he is all there in every shot There is no half hearted take with him because he has got the sur of his part As an actor he looks you in the eye and speaks to you he is not acting she saidThe film is directed by duantant Hitesh Bhatia and is billed as a heartwarming story of self-realization and discoverySharmaji Namkeen follows the life of a recently retired man who discovers his passion for cooking after joining a riotous womens kitty circle The film produced by Farhan Akhtar Ritesh Sidhwani Honey Trehan and Abhishek Choubey will release on Prime Video on March 31Chawla said when she first read the script she was envious that Kapoor was playing the titular part as it was so correct for the actor fondly known as Chintu ji among his fans and colleaguesThe script was heartwarming funny touching It was like a little slice of life with characters you have seen in your homes other homes So many times you just identify with them I had a small role but I was envious that this wonderful film is going to Chintu ji because it was so correct for him It had such a lovely script and a wonderful co-star she addedThe film was 50 per cent complete when Kapoor passed away The makers eventually signed actor Paresh Rawal to complete the remaining portions of the film making it a first instance where two actors played the same character in one movieFor Chawla dealing with Kapoors death was devastatingI wasnt expecting something like that because when we were told he is not feeling too well I thought we will shoot in bits and pieces so that he is comfortable We could shoot for two days and resume a month later But I didnt know he would just not be there one day I was extremely shaken to know that he is not there The actor didnt resume the film for at least eight months as the makers had to find someone to step into the shoes of the veteran and also deal with COVID-19 lockdownsGoing back to sets didnt happen for a couple of months Initially it was just that No more Chintu ji Then Ritesh called after two weeks and said it was his last film and we are going to complete it somehow I couldnt believe how it would be done But Ritesh assured me that they will figure out a way and do itI thought it was so gracious kind They spoke like true filmmakers that as an artiste this was his last work and we cannot abandon it It was an emotional moment I was truly amazed touched she addedBacked by Excel Entertainment in association with MacGuffin Pictures the film also stars actors Suhail Nayyar Taaruk Raina Satish Kaushik Sheeba Chaddha and Isha Talwar PTI JUR BK BK
Mumbai Mar 21 PTI Juhi Chawla worked with Rishi Kapoor in a series of films in the 1990s but it was during the shoot of their last project Sharmaji Namkeen that the actor says she truly observed the veterans brilliance in springing up moving performances while being nonchalant about his craftChawla and Kapoor have been co-stars in films like Bol Radha Bol Eena Meena Deeka Daraar and Zoya Akhtars 2009 drama Lucky By ChanceSharmaji Namkeen marks the final screen appearance of Kapoor who died at the age of 67 in April 2020 after a two-year long battle with leukemiaIn an interview with PTI over Zoom call the 54-year-old actor said when she reunited to shoot with the veteran it was an experience to watch and learnWhen we started shooting I realised he is way ahead of me in terms of like I was simply watching him I was observing how he does his shots because he was doing it effortlessly and so wellUnlike me as I keep looking at the monitor to see if I have done right see myself in the mirror to check if I am looking right he was totally opposite He was not self obsessed like a lot of actors are He was cool and calm she addedChawla recalled an incident from the shooting of the Delhi-set film where the two had to film a scene in a carIt was a dialogue-heavy sequence and Chawla was curious to understand Kapoors process of delivering lines without ever making them seem like dialoguesHe told me I dont look at them as lines I take it as an emotion whats the feeling behind it and then those lines just flow I always read everything see what dialogues I have but for him it wasnt thatWhich is why he is all there in every shot There is no half hearted take with him because he has got the sur of his part As an actor he looks you in the eye and speaks to you he is not acting she saidThe film is directed by duantant Hitesh Bhatia and is billed as a heartwarming story of self-realization and discoverySharmaji Namkeen follows the life of a recently retired man who discovers his passion for cooking after joining a riotous womens kitty circle The film produced by Farhan Akhtar Ritesh Sidhwani Honey Trehan and Abhishek Choubey will release on Prime Video on March 31Chawla said when she first read the script she was envious that Kapoor was playing the titular part as it was so correct for the actor fondly known as Chintu ji among his fans and colleaguesThe script was heartwarming funny touching It was like a little slice of life with characters you have seen in your homes other homes So many times you just identify with them I had a small role but I was envious that this wonderful film is going to Chintu ji because it was so correct for him It had such a lovely script and a wonderful co-star she addedThe film was 50 per cent complete when Kapoor passed away The makers eventually signed actor Paresh Rawal to complete the remaining portions of the film making it a first instance where two actors played the same character in one movieFor Chawla dealing with Kapoors death was devastatingI wasnt expecting something like that because when we were told he is not feeling too well I thought we will shoot in bits and pieces so that he is comfortable We could shoot for two days and resume a month later But I didnt know he would just not be there one day I was extremely shaken to know that he is not there The actor didnt resume the film for at least eight months as the makers had to find someone to step into the shoes of the veteran and also deal with COVID-19 lockdownsGoing back to sets didnt happen for a couple of months Initially it was just that No more Chintu ji Then Ritesh called after two weeks and said it was his last film and we are going to complete it somehow I couldnt believe how it would be done But Ritesh assured me that they will figure out a way and do itI thought it was so gracious kind They spoke like true filmmakers that as an artiste this was his last work and we cannot abandon it It was an emotional moment I was truly amazed touched she addedBacked by Excel Entertainment in association with MacGuffin Pictures the film also stars actors Suhail Nayyar Taaruk Raina Satish Kaushik Sheeba Chaddha and Isha Talwar PTI JUR BK BK
