(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Naseeruddin Shah tells City Times why he chose to direct rather than act in Kambakth Bilkul Aurat (Ismat Apa Ke Naam 2) which comes to town this weekend
Seasoned Actor Naseeruddin Shah who has starred in about 200 films will be presenting his play Kambakht Bilkul Aurat (Ismat Apa Ke Naam 2) this weekend in the UAE. For the first time in Dubai theatre fans will get a chance to see the second edition of the globally acclaimed Ismat Apa Ke Naam series. Presented in the same format as the first edition Kambakth Bilkul Aurat is a collection of three stories: Amar Bel Nanhi Ki Naani and Do Haath narrated by Manoj Pawha Lovleen Mishra and Seema Pawha respectively. The two-hour play is a Motley production and is directed by Naseeruddin Shah.
City Times caught up with the actor at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi where he was shooting for Welcome Back and he spoke about his passion for theatre movies and writer Ismat Chughtai.
Why are you not acting in part two of Ismat Apa Ke Naam
Because I don’t want to be acting in every play I do for a very important reason. Firstly I am not suitable for every role and I must not delude myself that I can play anything. Secondly it is my greatest and dearest wish that my theatre company should outlive me and therefore I want Motley to be synonymous with good theatre and not with my name. Also there are so many wonderful actors I want to work with three of them are in this play so that is really the reason. I also feel that directing and acting simultaneously is a strenuous job and often you cannot do justice to both. But I felt that these three actors would be appropriate for the three stories. The first story is about an older man who marries a young girl the second story is about this aged beggar woman who lives in a village and goes from house to house. It is a very moving and tragic story and the third is a delightfully funny story about a sweeper woman. I thought these three actors were absolutely perfect casting. That is why I am not acting in it but I am in it because I have designed it and directed it hence it is mine.
Ismat Chughtai is one of the pioneers of Urdu literature. Is it tough to decide which of her stories to pick up for your plays
I think every single one of her stories is a gem. I have not read them all; I have read about fifty. I honestly think that if I have the time I will do all fifty of the stories at some time or the other because her writing is so beautiful and perceptive and funny that I do not feel the need to explore any other writer’s work. In my opinion she is the greatest writer in the world and storytelling is perhaps the oldest form of theatre.
The great thing about Ismat Apa is that not only does she write about women and write beautifully about women she has also has compassion for every person she writes about. She does not pass judgment on any character. And even the men she can write about a drunken husband beating his wife but will not do it in a judgmental way. She has a wicked sense of humour.
These days people are on their phones constantly checking their social media accounts even in a theatre. How do you deal with that on stage
How can you not notice it when you are on stage and almost everybody has his or her mobile out As soon as the lights go out you see hundred of little LED lights all over the theatre. I think this obsession with mobile phones might die out in about ten years when we all get mobile phones implanted in our ears and children are born with mobile phones but it is a part of life you cannot complain about. I get upset when a mobile phone rings during a performance or people take photographs. I wish they would be a little more considerate because it is disturbing but living with disturbances is part of a theatre person’s job. In the old days it was people who were coughing or opening plastic packets and taking out chips now it is mobile phones. We cannot help it.
You are active in both theatre and movies. Which medium do you enjoy more
I would say I love them both equally. I sometimes find the process of working in a film boring. You sometimes have to wait; half of your life is spent waiting. As far as the process of acting goes I find theatres more enjoyable.
What kind of reactions are you getting for your latest film Finding Fanny and your book And Then One Day
I am very happy and astonished at the success that Finding Fanny has achieved it was unexpected. As far as the book is concerned I am delighted that people are liking it and that it’s getting good reviews. For the first time in my life I am reading reviews. I never read film reviews but since it’s my first book I am very gratified. It is selling. That feels good.
For someone who has witnessed various changes in the film industry over the last few decades do you think the industry is going through a good phase right now
There is no reason to celebrate. I do not think that anything is changing. There are young enthusiastic people who want to make different movies today. I don’t think there is a drastic change in the offing and as far as commercial movies are concerned I do not think that they are doing anything exciting but there are more and more people like Homi Adjania and Anurag Kashyap who will continue to make the kind of films that they believe in and these films certainly do have a future.
Your son Vivaan is part of the upcoming film Happy New Year. Have you watched the trailer
I have not seen the trailer. I will see the final film.
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