Swara strikes a high note
‘I’m a romantic, idealistic, emotional person. I hate to say goodbye,’ says the star of Dobara Alvida
Swara Bhasker is a personality to reckon with in the Hindi film industry. For her, this is double celebrations time, as her film Sheer Qorma will feature in innumerable film festivals and her recently released short, Dobara Alvida, has been well received. In a brief chat with DC, Swara discusses the two films, the friends who have influenced her, what it felt like to leave Delhi for Mumbai, and more
Q On Sheer Qorma featuring in global fests
Our film Sheer Qorma has gone to innumerable festivals. It will premiere in the San-Francisco and Vienna festivals, as the opening film, which is a huge thing for all of us. The film will also be screened in Washington. The subject of lesbianism is what has prompted all these festivals to give it a platform. Also, we have a very strong cast — Shabana Azmiji, Divya Dutta and I. We’re sad we cannot travel to any of these places ourselves, but it’s a big thing.
Q On why she decided to do Dobara Alvida Dobara Alvida
is a short film which has been done very beautifully. It’s a sweet and poignant story about a chance encounter between two lovers and an exlover...we all have such experiences. All of us have said goodbye to someone we love, only to feel that something is unfinished. It’s a universal feeling. It was the relatability factor that attracted me to this project. Also, the writer/director Shashank Shekhar Singh has crafted the story beautifully, and made it seem real. We all share cab rides in real life too, and in that sense, this is a very possible scenario. There’s no drama but it’s an honest and wellcommunicated story. I heard and read the story, and liked it; and Shashank is a dear friend, I’m always ready to help and support him. I was happy to be a part of the film, and don’t feel I’ve done him any favours. It’s a film that resonated with me. I'm a romantic, idealistic and emotional person. I hate to say goodbye. I also feel sad when a relationship breaks. I felt sad and bad for these characters too.
Q On saying ‘Alvida’ to Delhi, her hometown
When I left Delhi, I was very happy and excited to start life afresh. I was in my twenties. More than saying, ‘Goodbye,’ it was like taking a flight. But when I started coming back to Delhi on visits, I began missing it. I feel leaving Delhi is becoming harder for me. I love Mumbai and associate it with work, Delhi I associate with home.
Q On friends and their impact on her life
I have more friends in Delhi. They’re part of my old friends circle. I’m very blessed in my friends. They’ve played a central role in my life. They have been there for me. I depend on them and I’m close to them. None of them are from the industry. Two friends from JNU, Manish Shrivastava and Ravindra Randhawa (writer), have influenced me a lot in the film industry.
My friends and family and my teachers have played a huge role in shaping the person I have become. I think theatre and dance teachers have had a formative influence on me.