Versatile actress Tabu will be seen donning the character of Begum Hazrat inFitoor, based on Great Expectations, which releases today. She speaks to TEAM VIVA about her short association with the film and sparing time to work on her writings
How much did the role of Begum Hazrat take out of youIJ
I don’t think I can say that. It was fun. There was so much else happening at the same time and it was a short association because I came in at the last minute. It felt like I just entered and the film production was over.
Abhishek Kapoor (director) mentioned that when he first conceptualised the script, he had you in mind but Rekha was roped in. Were you caught up with other projectsIJ
No I wasn’t. I had the time but I guess the project went in a different way. I’ve realised that it is a good thing to come in at a later stage, complete you work within a limited period (20 days for Fitoor) and you’re done.
Twenty days must’ve been very intense.
Nai aisa kuch nai tha. Abhishek had a very clear imagination of this character. I remember when he called me for the role three years ago, he was very particular about what he wanted. For example, the red hair.
Any metaphor attached to itIJ
When you watch the film, you’ll understand. This was something he did not budge over. I had only two days to get into the film and it was spent entirely on colouring my hair. He had everything planned out and had been working and living with the character for so long.
Did the director give you a greater room to interpretIJ
He had no choice (laughs). When you stand in front of the camera, it is only the actor who does the talking.
How complex was it for youIJ You had just played Ghazala inHaider...
It was very complex. Abhishek wanted the character to be done in a very different manner which I understood. Ghazala was ambiguous but Begum is not. There were so many shades to this character and of course, the director had much to do with that since it wasn’t one-dimensional.
There are so many things going on in Begum’s head so you see the madness as well.
You didn’t shoot in KashmirIJ
I shot in Poland and it was one of the most beautiful places. We were in a place some two hours away from the city of Krakow. We shot in an old palace that is no longer in use and we were the only ones there. We shot and stayed at the same place.
Of late, many B-town actors are seen making appearances in Hollywood. You did The Namesake 11 years ago. Om Puri and Irrfan Khan, too, have been part of many Hollywood projects for long. Does the sudden hype irk youIJ
Nothing about other people bothers me. What bothers me is what I’m doing and where I put my energy in. Rest everything is all blurred.
How is your writing coming alongIJ
I’ve not written for a long time. In fact, I travelled so much and was also carrying my book everywhere but it didn’t come to me. The most I wrote was in Kashmir while filming forHaider but not after that. I have also been so preoccupied with work that I haven’t really had time for myself. I’ll make sure that I take out time and get into the habit of writing.
Maybe work on a film scriptIJ
There are so many scripts.
Why aren’t they getting madeIJ
It is a vicious circle. Unless an established actor does not say yes to a film, it will be difficult to make. There are many factors. The financier will only spend money if there is a a popular actor involved. Even the studio would want a popular actor and vice versa.
How was it interacting with your two co-actorsIJ Where there workshopsIJ
I had very less time with both of them (Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapur). Whatever interaction took place between us was simply amazing. It’s their love story and they have very complicated roles. The whole story is complicated and complex. The scenes between all of us are very beautiful. I hope our chemistry works on screen.
photos Pankaj Kumar