The Stars in My Sky by Divya Dutta

Author:Divya Dutta [Dutta, Divya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2021-10-11T00:00:00+00:00

NITIN KAKKAR

Everyone was raving about this small but extremely soulful and hilarious film after its preview was held at a theatre in suburban Mumbai. This film—Filmistaan—later went on to win the National Award. I met the director of that film, Nitin Kakkar, for the first time at that very preview only. He was quiet, reserved, polite, and spoke only when spoken to.

I enthusiastically went up to congratulate him for a fabulous first film. He seemed pretty uneasy with compliments but managed a smile. And I found it very sweet. We exchanged numbers, and promised to meet over coffee, which we soon did.

That day, I broke the ice by chatting nineteen to the dozen. He initially just heard me out but soon, with great gusto, joined in the conversation, which then went on for the longest time. Yes, we got along well. He promised to narrate his next film, Ram Singh Charlie, to me. I went to hear it at his office, a few days later.

This man was a revelation to me! The way he narrated the film, I sat spellbound. He seemed so engrossed in the world of his characters that he became one with them while telling their story. There was a lump in my throat when he finished. One, because of the story itself and two, due to the sheer passion with which this young man was narrating his story.

That’s how one should feel for their craft. And yes, that strongly.

I could feel his world. I could feel the passion he had to make this film, and he was putting in all his money along with two of his friends (the super talented actors Sharib Hashmi and Umesh Pawar). He wanted to make this film his way, with no obstruction in his vision from any outside diktats.

I was quiet (for a change). I was distinctly impressed with Nitin and his storytelling. The film was about how a simple man who plays the clown in a circus, along with his wife Kajri and their son, goes out to the bigger circus of life when the circus he works for shuts down. He’s torn between making a living and following his passion.

I came back home but could not get the film out of my head. The very next morning, I called Nitin. ‘Good morning, I want to do this film. I want to play the wife.’

He replied, ‘Oh okay, come to the office and we will chat.’

Over a cup of tea, which he always likes to make himself, we sat quietly. He was immersed in his thoughts and said, ‘You know, Divya, it will be my absolute pleasure to work with you, but it’s a small film with real characters and you are a glamorous face. You won’t fit in.’

I was taken aback and retorted, ‘Listen, but I have done Shyam Benegal and Rituparno Ghosh movies. That’s as real as it can get, so why not this then?’

He said, ‘You are an established face. Putting you in the film with the rest of the cast might look out of place.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.