‘We have all become robotic’
What was your reaction after hearing the story of Jhalki?
When I said yes to the film before hearing the story, I did not know how many days they wanted me to shoot, the location or my role. And, when they told me I will be playing Kailash Satyarthi, I was a nervous because I didn’t know how I would do it. But when they said the story is of a little girl searching for her brother, who is trafficked for child labour, I was curious to know why the machinery wasn’t looking for him and she was doing it all alone. I found some irony in the story. I don’t know what will be the outcome, but I decided to do it. Director Brahmanand S Singh is too intelligent. We shot the film near a village in Benaras. We were shooting in 48-49 degree heat. While shooting we did not feel the heat so much, but after the shoot we would be exhausted. Some said the hotel where we staying wasn’t a good place. I said it did not matter to Kailash Satyarthi that time, so why would it matter to me. Just imagine the kind of beating he would get while fighting for those kids. There also used to be a lot of dust on the sets and we would shoot wearing masks. But it feels nice to get that experience as well...it helps you to stay grounded. Have you shown the film to Kailash Satyarthi?
I have not managed to meet him as of now. I have read and seen his videos. But the makers managed to show him the film and he has liked it. There is a shot in the film where the girl asks my character why didn’t you come before to help me? He really liked that and these people have added his video clip towards the end of the film where he is talking about this particular moment. Even after doing a lot of work, some people still don’t know about Kailash Satyarthi. Do you feel he deserves a biopic of his own?
Yes, when I was doing interviews for this film, people would ask me what am I doing in this film? I would say I am playing Kailash Satyarthi and they would ask who? I used to
BOMAN IRANI will be stepping into Child Rights activist and Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s shoes for a film called Jhalki. The actor, while speaking to SONALI PITALE
JOSHI, expressed his views on issues related to children, the movie and his character. be speechless after that. I feel this film will spread awareness about his work. See every film is not made to make money. I do wish the film does well and the producers make money. We are not promoting just the film, but we are also talking about the situation of the kids and Kailash Satyarthi. Somebody told me the movie would not make the mark and I was like, ‘What mark? Rs 200-300 crore mark?’ But that is not what we want. If people get to know about Kailash Satyarthi and his work then we will hit the mark. What do you feel about the problems children face today?
Every generation will have its own problems. I am sure my grandfather must have told my father that things were different during his time, what are you guys doing now? My mother tells me that we used to do this and that and what you are doing is not right. But, I personally feel it is a dangerous thing because our kids are becoming robotic and it is not just them, it is the family structure, because people are sitting together, but are always on their phones. Things have gone into a funny space. Children are glued to their phones and there might be is little advantage, but there’s a huge disadvantage too. The benefit is that they get knowledge easily at a few clicks, but the minus is the access to rubbish. There’s also a lack of physical development. You are also playing Farokh Engineer in the Ranveer Singh-starrer ’83. How was the experience?
He was the only Indian commentator at that time. And he saw his team starting with no hoppers lift the World Cup in 1983. He was the guy who was mocked by others in the commentary box. I lived with him in Manchester and got to know him better. He would feel sad when people used to dismiss the Indian team and said they will be out of the tournament. And his reply would always be a firm no. And we will be tracing his journey as well in the movie.