Their pairing has been considered queer and unconventional. One is a soft spoken, top actress in the entertainment industry while the other's acting prowess is the talk of the international film frat. Deepika Padukone and Irrfan tell Deebashree Mohanty that Piku is a dream come true because it is a quirky subject with a Shoojit Sircar stamp
‘It's been a good run but I have had to work hard'
The 27-year-old actress is happy with the way things have shaped up for her in the past four years but she has toiled to reach where she is. “It’s an amazing feeling to be at the top but I have had to work really, really hard. There were many compromises that I have had to make to reach here,” the vivacious actress tells you from Mumbai. The leggy diva is super thrilled about the release of her upcoming Shoojit Sircar film.
“Since the time Vicky Donor happened, I have wanted to work with this maverick director. He has the guts to pull off such a quirky subject, that too in such a classy way! I did not have to think much before accepting his offer,” Padukone tells you.
Piku is about a father-daughter relationship where the former is always craving for attention. “It’s a simple story about mundane happenings that affect our world. Piku brings family entertainment back to the drawing room where it is meant to be seen. It is in emotional film with a lot of laughs in between,” she says. It was not a very difficult role to play considering Padukone is daddy’s girl. “It’s a normal relationship and I think every daughter will identify with Piku,” she clarifies.
The film that has been shot in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kolkata took three months to complete. But the actors involved didn’t realise how and when time flew by. “It was a learning day at the sets every day. What else could one ask for if you have Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan as co-stars,” Padukone states.
This is her second film with Amitabh Bachchan but Padukone tells you she enjoyed this stint more than she did Aarakshan. “At that time, I was very new in the industry so it really didn’t make that big an impact. But now that I have evolved as an actress, I realise the importance of sharing screen space with Mr Bachchan. I call him my Bollywood wikipedia,” she says laughingly.
And what about IrrfanIJ “He is such a powerful performer. I was not nervous about being paired opposite him. I was more in awe of his brilliance. I have learnt a lot from Irrfan. Contrary to reports he is actually quite a fun-loving person,” she tells you.
Deepika is shuttling between the sets of Baji Rao Mastani and marketing activities for Piku. But this girl enjoys being busy. “I can never have a dull moment in my life. I prefer it that way. For Baji Rao we are shooting from 8 pm to 5 am. So, my sleep schedule has gone for a toss. But hey, am not complaining,” the busy actress, says. She also has an Imitiaz Ali film which releases end of this year.
How does Deepika get the energy to keep herself goingIJ “Music and friends,” she says. At present, she has been listening to Bezubaan on a loop. “This is Anupam’s first Bollywood track and its magic and such a meaningful track. I think it is the songs and dance sequences that gave Bollywood an identity. We are losing out on dance slowly. But I hope the music doesn’t go away from our films,” she says.
‘lots to look forward to'
For Irrfan, Piku has happened at the right moment. The serious actor was looking for a romantic script and this film landed on his lap out of the blue. “I had been wanting to do a comedy or a romantic film for a long time but nothing was happening. One fine day, I get a call from Shoojit to discuss his latest project and bang! I am shooting for Piku the very next day.
It was so sudden,” he recalls. Irrfan who is very choosy about roles and doesn’t do anything just for the heck of it says he found the story refreshing, quirky and funny. “For an actor, this is a heady mix,” he replies. Although, it is a film that explores the emotional bond between an aging father and an independent daughter, Irrfan’s role is an integral one in the film.
“I play Piku’s support system. Someone who understands her situation and helps her cope with it,” he tells you not willing to divulge anything more. For Irrfan who has done a lot of crossover cinema, the promotional activities around Piku are spot on. “Trailers and other promotional videos are very important in today’s day and age. And our producers are willing to allocate a decent amount towards a marketing budget. But it’s unfortunate that independent filmmakers don’t have that kind of a budget to flex their muscles,” he says.
Piku’s trailer and audience interactions are well placed according to him. “It is not too on your face thankfully,” he tells you. Irrfan and Amitabh Bachchan are coming together for the first time in this film and that has created quite a buzz already.
“We have worked together before but the project got shelved mid way. I had been wanting to work with him again but we got busy doing our own things. When Shoojit presented this script and told me that he has approached Mr Bachchan to play the father; I just knew I had to do it,” Irrfan recalls.
The veteran tells you thatPiku will show him in a completely new light. “I have done some straight-face comedy before but in Piku, I play a really hilarious guy caught in the middle of a father-daughter scene,” he says. Having Deepika as a co-star has helped him a lot too.
“She is a charming girl with a lot of patience. Her cool temperament helped all of us in some way or the other,” he says. Irrfan too has a cool head and likes to maintain a strict decorum in the sets. He met his match in Amitabh Bachchan who is also a stickler for time.
“It was amazing to see his spirit and disciplined attitude. He would cycle for 3km in the busy streets of Kolkata to reach the venue in time,” he says. At the moment, Irrfan has many interesting things waiting to unravel towards the end of the year.
“I am attending script classes for the Inferno. It is a big ticket Hollywood film which stars Felicity Jones and others. I am also going to tour with the Hollywood production house for Jurassic World Returns. It’s a fulfilling year for me,” he says.