‘If somebody had been to ask you if you wish to die tomorrow, it doesn’t matter what issues you might be grappling with, you’ll be hesitant, proper?’
Photograph: Kind courtesy Rohini Hattangady/Instagram
Rohini Hattangady is a National Award winner, winner of two Filmfare Awards. She is the one Indian to have gained a BAFTA (Best Actress in a Supporting Role) for her efficiency as Kasturba Gandhi in Sir Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi.
Last 12 months, the actress who has over 160 movies to her credit score and has executed her share of TV, apart from successful the distinguished Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contributions to theatre, featured within the highest grossing female-centric Marathi movie, Baipan Bhari Deva.
On February 23, she has one other Marathi movie arising, Aata Vel Zaali (It’s Time To Go), with Dilip Prabhavalkar, which revolves round a pair’s plea for euthanasia to allow them to select to die with dignity.
Speaking to Rediff.com Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya, she says, “It’s a difficult decision and requires total conviction. It’s easier for those who have no children, family or any other ties… or for those who believe their worth in this world is over, that merely existing and not living is a waste of time, money and a burden on caregivers. But when there’s a family involved, it’s a dilemma. I believe as long as life has a purpose, you should go on.”
In Richard Attenborough’s centenary 12 months, what do you bear in mind of Gandhi by which you performed Kasturba?
I used to be simply 27 then.
Gandhi was my fourth launch, after Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyin Hota Hai and Chakra.
The supply got here out of the blue, on July 14, 1980.
Seven days later, I flew to London to audition for the function.
I used to be chosen and we began capturing in 1980.
I had executed my education in Marathi medium in my hometown, Pune.
In school, being a science pupil, I used to be blissful if I scored 40-50 marks in English.
I might converse English, however my pronunciation was totally different.
Gandhi, being an Indo-British co-production, the very first thing I needed to do was right my Ts and Ds, my Vs and Ws.
I additionally learnt the charkha together with Ben (Kingsley who performed Gandhi) who needed to spend hours in make-up and work on his posture.
(Laughs) While I used to be in my elocution lessons, Ben can be doing yoga.
IMAGE: Ben Kingsley and Rohini Hattangady in Gandhi.
What was Richard Attenborough like as a director?
Well, he knew every thing there was to find out about Gandhiji, however on the similar time, he was open to options.
I bear in mind there was this one scene by which Gandhiji is sitting on the jhoola (swing) having his meal whereas is listening to somebody speak about Champaran.
Sir Richard needed me within the body too, however could not determine how I might overhear the dialog with out listening on the door.
I instructed I may very well be rolling out chapatis within the kitchen since in India, we serve sizzling chapatis throughout a meal. This method, it might appear pure for me to hear in.
He favored the thought and executed it completely.
Gandhi gained eight Oscars, together with Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor. Why weren’t you current on the ceremony?
The movie received 11 nominations, however missed out on Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Since I wasn’t nominated, they weren’t going to pay my journey and lodge bills, and I could not afford to fly out alone to the US.
I did go to the UK once I was nominated for the BAFTAs and ultimately gained the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, together with Maureen Stapleton for Reds.
Before the ceremony, Sir Richard had requested me to arrange a speech, simply in case I gained.
(Smiles) I can not bear in mind what I mentioned, however I thanked him, Ben, the producer and mentioned I’m pleased with my nation.
IMAGE: Deepa Parab, Sukanya Kulkarni Mone, Suchitra Bandekar, Vandana Gupte, Rohini Hattangady and Shilpa Navlkar in Baipan Bhari Deva.
More lately, you featured within the highest grossing Marathi movie of 2023, Baipan Bhari Deva. What was the expertise like capturing for this movie?
Wonderful!
All the actresses (Vandana Gupte, Sukanya Kulkarni, Shilpa Navalkar, Suchitra Bandekar and Deepa Parab) are mates from theatre.
We’ve seen one another’s work, however had by no means labored collectively.
(Chuckles) The shoot was nice enjoyable, it was a activity for the director (Kedar Shinde) to get us out of our self-importance vans. But as soon as we had been on the set, filming progressed easily.
Kedar typically left it to us to do the scenes our method, telling us that since we knew our characters, we must always react accordingly, with out pondering an excessive amount of.
All the sisters are middle-aged, the youngest being round 40-45 years, and grappling with issues starting from EMIs to menopause and philandering husbands.
I play Jaya, the eldest, and there is a historical past of resentment between Shashi and me, and issues flip ugly over her daughter, Chinu.
It’s an exquisite movie which is able to enchantment to ladies of all ages and may now be watched on OTT.
IMAGE: Rohini Hattangady and Dilip Prabhavalkar in Aata Vel Zaali.
There’s one other Marathi movie releasing on February 23, Aata Vel Zaali, with Dilip Prabhavalkar, which touches as regards to euthanasia in a revolutionary method.
Ananth (Ananth Narayan Mahadevan who has written, directed and co-produced the movie) and I are each from theatre.
We have executed a play collectively and since then, have needed to work collectively.
When he got here to me with this concept, I assumed it was very fascinating, having learn of a Pune couple whose story was considerably comparable. I mentioned sure instantly.
It revolves round an aged couple who’re in good well being, however once they begin to really feel they’re merely current and never dwelling, that their lives have develop into unproductive, they take it as a sign to make a dignified exit.
But in line with the Supreme Court’s March 2018 judgment, energetic euthanasia (injecting an individual with a deadly dose of a drug) is prohibited whereas passive euthanasia (withdrawal of meals and therapy which helps an individual to dwell) is permitted solely beneath the supervision of the excessive courtroom and with the consent of the affected person who should be in a vegetative state by means of any dwelling will.
It’s sophisticated.
Euthanasia is a boon for these with a debilitating incapacity or whose physique is beginning to fail them, making them fully depending on others.
But it will also be misused by others too.
It’s simpler for individuals who haven’t any kids, household or every other ties, or for individuals who imagine their price on this world is over and dwelling is a waste of time, cash and a burden on caregivers.
It’s a tough determination and requires conviction.
If somebody had been to ask you if you wish to die tomorrow, it doesn’t matter what issues you might be grappling with, you’ll be hesitant, proper?
When there’s household concerned, it is a dilemma.
IMAGE: Rohini throughout her marriage ceremony with Jaydev Hattangady, her mother-in-law standing behind them. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rohini Hattangady/Instagram
You misplaced your mother-in-law to most cancers…
Yes, she lived with us and I’d go for shoots peacefully understanding she was there to make sure my younger son Aseem had his meals, went to high school on time and even saved an eye fixed on him even when he was enjoying.
When she was recognized with most cancers, it got here as an actual shock to (husband) Jayadev and me.
We received her the very best therapy, however she didn’t reply to chemotherapy, and succumbed to the illness inside a 12 months.
After her demise, life modified for each of us.
My son was simply six on the time and we determined that at any given time, one in every of us can be residence with him.
This meant a variety of changes.
Sometimes our dates did not match and I needed to let go off gives.
Ditto for him.
My mother-in-law handed away in 1988. Twenty years later, in 2008, Jayadev succumbed to most cancers after combating for a 12 months.
How tough was that interval for you?
Very tough. I needed to stop and spend time with him, however we would have liked the cash.
Aseem had simply graduated from FTII and provided to remain residence and take care of his father.
For a 12 months, he didn’t go for any auditions or settle for any gives.
It was a courageous determination for an actor who was simply beginning out, but it surely’s due to my son that I might exit and work.
My producers had been thoughtful and agreed to my coming slightly late.
I might additionally go away early, so I may very well be residence and have time to speak with Jayadev.
After his father handed away, Aseem began his profession from scratch, with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s My Friend Pinto in 2011.
He’s executed effectively. He received rave evaluations for his portrayal of Illyas Khan within the Web sequence The Trial, that includes Kajol.
There was a extra subdued function in one other Web sequence, Hansal Mehta’s Scoop.
I additionally continued working.
Jayadev was our sounding board, abruptly, there was nobody.
But one learns to regulate.
Life goes on.
IMAGE: Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangady and Soni Razdan in Saraansh.
Like Kasturba, a job that’s immediately related to you even after 40 years, is that of Parvati in Mahesh Bhatt’s Saraansh. It should have been a problem enjoying one other aged lady once you had been in your early 30s.
(Smiles) Having performed an 80 12 months outdated in a play when in school and mom to Dharmendraji in industrial Hindi cinema, that was not the true problem.
What intrigued me was the story of an aged couple struggling to return to phrases with the demise of their solely son in a mugging incident within the US.
Initially, it is her husband (B V Pradhan, performed by Anupam Kher) who finds it laborious to simply accept that Ajay is lifeless and Parvati tries to inspire him.
For him, life is abruptly futile and meaningless.
After a failed suicide try, he convinces Parvati that they need to finish their lives by consuming poison collectively.
But then a pregnant woman, Sujata, whose boyfriend is afraid to publicly acknowledge her, and whose politician father is set to abort the child, enters their residence.
Pradhan finds function in life once more, decided to maintain Sujata and the child protected regardless of the threats, whereas Parvati eagerly waits for the kid, believing a reincarnated Ajay will return to them.
When her husband sends Sujata and her boyfriend away to a different city the place they are often blissful and protected from his father, Parvati is devastated.
Now, life appears meaningless for her and she or he makes an attempt suicide.
She is saved and now it’s Pradhan who explains to her that life hasn’t ended.
As lengthy as they dwell, they’ve to hold on, give it some function.
Films like Saraansh and Aata Vel Zaali give you life classes too.
