‘Kundan couldn’t cope with showbiz politics’
Actor-singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi made her Bollywood debut in Kundan Shah’s 1994 film Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, which also had Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. After the news of Shah’s death on October 7, Suchitra took to Twitter to express grief: “RIP Kundan. We will miss you dearly.”
Talking to us, Suchitra says, “I’m deeply saddened. He was a very good man and a genius filmmaker.”
Having known Shah as a person and a thorough professional, Suchitra adds, “He was very honest and unassuming as a person. Even his office and his lifestyle as a whole were very basic. And as a filmmaker, too, his vision was very simple and pure. I don’t think he could ever understand the politics of the [filmmaking] business. He had many stories to tell, but I think since he couldn’t cope with the politics of showbiz, he became less active in later years.”
Suchitra considers herself to be “fortunate” to have worked with him in her first film. “I’m still remembered for and by the character that he created for me in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. So, that’s how connected my life is with him,” says Suchitra.
Recalling an anecdote, she adds, “I remember how I used to kind of argue with him [while shooting] and he used to make me cry a lot. So, after the shoot got over, he told me, ‘I didn’t judge your background, or else I would have treated you differently’. He also said that he regretted not getting me to sing the songs for the film.”
All these years, she stayed in touch with the filmmaker. “I was about to take my daughter Kaveri to have lunch with him one of these days. [Also] he promised to come to Delhi [on October 6] for my play, Drama Queen, but couldn’t make it. He went peacefully in his sleep, so it’s a blessing for anybody, I feel. But it’s a big loss for the film industry,” she signs off.