In studios... h-e-d..oye-hoye

The best part about shooting in your own city is that you come back home, to ma's dinner and your own bed. (no pun intended) I hate watching tv aimlessly in a hotel room till your eyes are ready to shut, which I end up doing most of the times. So its indeed, very refreshing to be back in Bombay.

I like the set, very close to the real thing, designed by LC. Day 1 on studios, we spent shooting a scene. I thought it went smooth, I liked a couple of improvisations which I did. I try and avoid thinking of how it went or was it very funny, because it's very easy to fall in this trap of liking what you are doing and thinking that is the correct path but in actuality the audience is not going to go by that one joke/nuance, it has to work in the entirety for them to like it and you cannot predict that (unless you have been around and worked for a while). I've decided to do it with my best abilty and honesty at that very moment and forget about it.

Day 2, we started working on our first song shoot, which might be my first song in the film. Again, it very easy to like your own song, but that is because you connect with it instantly and see yourself in it. But a viewer does not feel the same attachment for a movie song at the first instant. A lot of film songs, that i did not think much of, watching them for the first time and subsequently really liked them once i saw them as a part of the entire movie. In that sense, I am happy that this song has been growing on me and the entire unit every time it's played. When the light men, the spot boy's start humming it, it is probably an indication of good song.

Coming back to the first day of picturisation, it's not a day i would like to remember very fondly. I guess, I just was'nt in form. It's like when you batting, you hit the ball but it does not come from the middle of the bat, you dn't hear the sweet spot on your bat. We packed up early and I went for my reharsals. Did not get much sleep that night. Nervous/anxious to start my next day. I have to add that GA has been very patient, motivating and has some real cool choreograpghy worked out. Made a nervous start next day, but quickly got back to form. Worked till 10 pm and I am satisfied, if not thrilled with the day's work. The more I shoot, the more I realise it's all a game of self belief and how well you can translate that to the camera.

Today is a 'chutti', much needed. C'nt wait to head to the studios tommorow and kickass!

Day 2,3,4,5,6,7,8... h-e-d (Apr 10-17)

The look...its taken forever.. Finally got some clarity on the costume late evening on the 8th, i.e. just a few hours before I left for Panchgani. Well, the costume actually deserves a seperate blog space just for the amount of time and patience it took to sort of put together what Shekhar would wear.

Well, we sort of have it now. Anil and shivani in consulation with the entire team of ADs, director, cinematographer and moi worked over time to okay the look. I think its the best we h've got after brainstorming and rejecting tons of ideas and colours. I like it!

First day - first schedule - first movie! Tensed, hell no! 'Anxious', I think would be an appropriate word! I guess it's normal to feel that way. M.T. (love the energy of the man) shared his experience and felt the same at the start of every film. I conclude it's a good feeling. First day in the jungle was probably the most tiring day of the sced. Shot in the jungles of mahabaleshwar for 3 days before we went to Wai and Satara.

Food on set has been great. Satisfied with the routine i've made for myself. shoot, some work out, some dinner, some tv,sleep. It's been consistent. Lessons learnt... need to be consistent all the time, every time, every take! Its tough but that's what great actors do effortlessly. Second, no effort! Third, again which M.T. shared, to be shamless and fearless..

The ride has just begun!

Day 1...h-e-d

27th March'2007... My beggining!

I finally get a sense of things to come. 2 months on to h-e-d, it's been very normal until this day! I feel the excitment, numbness and high of being on 'my' set. Cannot get bigger, when you have Kajol on the camera, santoshi on the clap, bharadwaj on the left of camera and kashyap on the right and my parents visible from the extreme corner of my right eye. It was overwhelming! The last time I had this feeling was, shit..never! Its my first and I sure this one will stay with me forever.

In between the madness of action and cut it just seemed forever. My strategy of being calm and composed seemed to elude me. Its this strange feeling where your legs dont feel strong and you want your heartbeat to slow down, but it refuses to. Luckily it did not last long and I heard the golden 'cut' and 'taaliyaan'. Wuuup..I was back...Back to being me, could feel my heartrate returning to normalcy.

Cut to Lunch and vanity- getting ready for the shot. Shot the first scene post lunch and it felt absolutely normal. Relieved at the thought that those symptoms were momentary and I could be my cool, composed self. This is the real action. Wrapped up in couple hours. A good day at office...

Of great films and brilliant actors...

'The pursuit of Happyness' and 'Angoor'... Two radically different films, from different world's, of different actor's, yet achieved one common goal. Made me smile!

Lets begin with the Pursuit... This is where Hollywood scores over us. They can make films with huge stars without going over the top and sticking to the basic requirement of the script. The beauty of the film lies in its simple yet heart wrenching tale of a single parent who tries his level best to keep his family afloat while trying his best to get a 'real' job and take care of his five year old son, Christopher.

Very few films which show you the grim side of life, can be inspiring. The pursuit is truly very inspiring. It works at various levels. One, it shows the great american dream as achievable. However grim the situation gets Chris Garderner never once shows selp pity or lack of action. He does everything he can, use's every possible way to market himself to work his way up.

There are great father-son bonding moments. One line which sort of summarises the film, when Chris tells his son, "Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream? You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you you can't do it. You want something, go get it. Period."

And that is excatly what the film leaves you with. A sense of hope, the WILL to fightback against all odds and to survive.

The climax where WS finally triumphs is absolutely hair raising. Have not seen a more emotionally charged scene ever. Its superbly enacted. WS is brilliant. My oscar/iifa/filmfare goes to him, undoubtedly! One of the very few movie scenes which choked me.

Also saw this week, Gulzar's - 'Angoor', starring Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Verma. Its one of the best comedies made in Indian cinema. Wonder why I never saw it before. Right from the story, to dialogues, to performances, to the subtle humor, to direction and the beautifully crafted lines. It's a great comedy of errors. Now I understand, why SK is considered one of the best actors in Indian cinema. SK and DV have a great great comic timing, which sets the tone of the film. Extremly hilarious! I wont be suprised if it's remade in the coming years!

WorldCup 2007.. My prediction

For the record, its only the second day of the world cup and here go my predictions. Ive been intending to put them down for a while now.

Final four:

Australia
West Indies
Sri Lanka
India

Australia will not win the cup!

As on 14th March'2007.

Of new car and 'our' customs...

First of all...congratulations dude.. got a new car today! It's an aqua blue swift. Looks smashing, could'nt help smiling, when the guy at the petrol pump said, ' saab gadi ka colour mast hai'. Also the fact that I have'nt seen swift in this colour on the road yet, makes me love it all the more! Infact saw a girl on the pillion of a bike checking it out, was confused, is it me or the car...You see, I am just happy!

It was the first time, I took delivery of a car and what really got me in the entire handing over ceremony (quite elaborate) was the 'puja' of the car starting with aarti, breaking of the coconut, swastik on the engine, the works... Made me wonder, it's a car, not a family member coming home. But then again, I remembered the famous govinda song, 'It happens only in India'...Cnt imagine, this happening in any other part of the world. Imagine buying your brand new lexus in the united states with the priest handing over the car after his little prayer and saying, 'and Now you may drive the car'...(from 'now you may kiss the bride').

But then again, I liked the thought behind the ritual. To treat it like an extention to the family. To make sure it drives you safe and sound. and above all, help you prosper and grow! It also instills a sense of respect in your handling of the vehicle at some level. Whatever it is, the idea is sweet and makes the entire buying process more personal.

Filmfare 2006..and the award goes to...

Just finished viewing the awards ceremony.. Not bad.. finally they ve got it right..almost. Aamir so deserved it for RDB. So did Konkana for Omkara. Also the special jury award to dobrial for Omkara, characters like his often get lost in the big-pompous names, but this one was recognised! appreciate that!

Also RDB scoring over munnabhai in the popular choice awards..well, many will have a different point of view. Though i could'nt be happier. May be because personally, as a movie watching experience it hit me more. shook me up. Yet, Lage raho was fantastic and also deserved the award for the effortlessness of that film. The ease with which it enveloped you in its humor and emotion.

Suprised to see HR win best actor for D2 and not Krrish..Heard him also comment that he was suprised and never expected an award from D2. Maybe A.R. for 'vivah' should have been nominated in best actress. Was quite fantastic in it.

The award function dint look any great shake though and the interspersed pre recorded dances could be done away with. They looked forced. But who cares... After the last 2 years of not so fair filmfare, I thought this one was quite there..fair (was'nt that also the name of their sponsor - Fairone filmfare)!

My dream of being on prithvi stage

Finally accomplished..well, somewhat...I ve never quite understood what it is about this place which keeps haunting me...

My first brush with Prithvi was 11 years back when I went to get some irish coffee with my family at the prithvi cafe, well yeah Prithivi has always been famous for it (they dnt make it as well anymore).. Few months later I remember watching my first play, 'All the best' at prithvis. It started then, I did not know what it was.. Over the years, I often visited prithvis to watch plays or just hangout at the cafe. The fascination kept growing as I ventured into theatre and started performing at different venue's in the city.. Some of them bigger and more modern. But it was'nt the same, not quite. The feeling of not being on that 'very' stage made me feel like an outsider..Every time i saw a play, I started seeing myself on stage and most of the times I would loose track of the actual play somewhere in the middle..But it hardly mattered.

26th January' 07, first day of Yatri rang utsav. Mr Katare called me over to prithvi's in the morning for our workshop. 9 am in the morning, its deserted. Not a soul in the theatre. I walk in from the back entrance to the stage, there is set from the play staged the previous night and empty seats. AWESOME! I finally am on the prithvi stage and just sit there for an hour alone till Mr Katare joins in. I am an hour before our scheduled time, just to be there alone. I start rambling a monologue from play given by sir. Absolutely magical to say lines, shout, walk around the entire stage and even into the audience seating area, mouthing lines written by Sharad Joshi. The acousitics of the theatre are superb and it sends your voice right back at you. Quite surreal.. I love it! Spent 3 more days after this, reharsing few scenes and reading plays in the mornings.

I rememeber reading once in Mr. Bachchan's interview that, 'it is the smell of studio, lights, greasepaint, morning chai' which keep's the magic of cinema alive and drives me to work day after day'. Well i understand that now, just the idea of reharsing at prithvi's makes me want to do even better work, become a better actor, a better human being. Its a feeling any actor in the world would want to experience. I have tasted blood and i am rearing to go...