SHARING LIFE LESSONS
Imtiaz Ali and Kajol open up about their experiences in the film industry
From talking about body shaming, to doling out tips for budding directors, actor Kajol, and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali had an engaging chat with the audience at the Hindustan Shikhar Samagam held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on September 1.
Kajol, who is one of the most successful actors of Bollywood, said that the confidence and charm that she oozes today, wasn’t always part of her personality. “Today, I can stand confidently in front of the mirror and appreciate my beauty. But I didn’t feel the same when I was 16. I used to feel that I was not beautiful. For me, beauty was a combination of perfect features — a straight nose, high cheek bones and fair complexion and because of this perception, I was unable to feel beautiful,” she said, adding that the society needs to change this perception.
Moving on to Imtiaz, thanks to his string of successful movies, he was expected to give out advice for aspiring filmmakers. The director, who has helmed films such as Love Aaj Kal (2009), Rockstar (2011) and Highway (2014), took this opportunity to bust the myth about directors having to come to Mumbai to make a film. “The formula of coming to Mumbai and struggling to make a film is redundant now. You can make a film from wherever you live. When I started, it was compulsory to come to Mumbai to make a film. But today, you have a mobile phone in your hand and you can make a film using it. You can make good content and put it on the internet, which is a transparent medium,” he said.
Imtiaz, who hails from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, shared that while growing up, he would go to his uncle’s cinema hall, which he had free access to, and revealed that this was what helped him build a bond with films. Talking about his directorial debut, Socha Na Tha (2005), Imtiaz said, “Getting a chance to make a film was a big opportunity for me. The fact that I got to fulfil my dream and people liked the film was more than enough.”
Kajol, who made her debut in Bollywood with Bekhudi (1992) didn’t care much for becoming an actor initially. “When I started I was not bothered about becoming an actor but I liked the process so much that I have been around for 26 years,” she said, adding that film reviews don’t matter to her. The actor also went on to reiterate the fact that she has no inclination towards direction. “I don’t have the patience of handling so much pain, ego and tantrums,” she said.
When I started, it was compulsory to come to Mumbai to make a film. But today, you have a mobile phone in your hand and you can make a film using it. IMTIAZ ALI, FILMMAKER