Deepti Naval and Farooq Sheikh make an appearance on screen after 28 years in their soon-to-be-released film listen Amaya. They are under tremendous performance pressure but both Naval and Sheikh are convinced the audience will love the film. Deebashree Mohanty tells you more
We are both excited and nervous to face the camera together again. It’s been a long time that Farooq and I have acted together. But all kudos to Avinash Singh for making us feel at home. He is a brilliant storyteller and has done full justice to the script,” Deepti Naval, now 56, says. The actress has been travelling all over India to promote this off-beat film. But she agrees that marketing and promotion are not her cup of tea.
“During our days, there was no concept of self-promotion of the film. We relied heavily on word of mouth. If people liked the film, they would influence others to watch it too. But nowadays, the film is declared a hit or a flop even before its release. That is not fair, I feel. But then, times have changed and so is the entire movie-watching experience,” Naval says. Contrary to what was reported about she being miffed about the remake of her film Chashme Badoor, Naval says she is absolutely delighted about it.
“Just goes to show how popular the film was. If classics are remade well, there is no need for anyone to complain. It is good that films of yore are being making are comeback. As long as the concept is not tampered with and the stars are not being made fun of, all is good. If I am around, I would love to go to the premiere of this one. Just to relive those memories,” she says, adding that Chashme Badoor, which released in 1981, is one of her favourite films.
“I have watched it 100 times already and can watch it again and again. It was a simple story, told simply. I hope the makers of the new version have kept this in mind,” Naval says.
Farooq Sheikh, who has never seen an Ali Zafar film, is happy that it is being remade with a new star cast. Will it be able to recreate the same magic, remains to be seen. “I don’t think they are trying to compete with the yesteryear film. That is not the right approach. CB was a fun film and I hope they have retained that flavour,” Sheikh, who plays a 60-year-old writer in listen Amaya, says.
He adds that working with Deepti Naval again has been a dream come true. “We were the golden couple on screen during our prime. Kya zamana thha. I am surprised that we had not been approached by any of these newage directors to be a part of their project before this one. I am surprised but not hurt. listen Amaya is a sensitive story and I hope we have done justice to it,” Sheikh, now 65, says. He tells you that this film is an ideal comeback film for the duo.
The writer falls in love with a widow (played by Naval) and how they have to deal with their share of problems is the plot. “I was shocked when director Avinash Kumar Singh approached me for the role. I have been in touch with cinema and theatre but this plumb offer took me by surprise. When he told me that I was paired opposite Farooq, I was smiling end to end. We are great friends who had lost touch somewhere down the line. Through this film I hope to revive our friendship,” the bubbly actress says, adding that due to an unfortunate recent incident she has lost all faith in the media.
A screaming headline, totally out of sync with the story, quoted her as saying “I am not running a prostitution racket.” Deepti Naval is miffed but says will not like to press charges. “I know I have always been on the right path. Why stoop to their level,” she asks.
Sheikh, who wants to be directed by Karan Johar, feels he has a lot of acting left in him.“KJo makes people look younger. I have never done such roles but would love to experiment,” Sheikh says, adding that he has no inhibitions about playing a casanova even at his age.