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 Critics are going ga ga over Akshaye Khanna's performance in
"Gandhi My Father" as Mahatma Gandhi's little known son Harilal
and he too is quite pleased with the outcome. But the actor denies
taking help from his personal experiences to essay the role. "I've
never used my personal life to play any character. I read about
actors digging into their experiences. I don't carry my roles
home. Yes, scenes in 'Gandhi' have eaten into my soul," Akshaye
told IANS in an interview.
Like many, Akshaye was not aware of Harilal's existence and
says this lack of knowledge made it easier for him to get under the
skin of the character.
"Before I read the script, I didn't even know he existed! Of
course, I was aware Gandhiji had a family. But I knew nothing about
Harilal. So it was relatively easy for me to play him. I didn't
have to copy someone people knew about."
Critically acclaimed "Gandhi My Father" is Akshaye's third
release" of the year. The earlier two films "Salaam-e-Ishq" and
"Naqaab" didn't work and the actor says he was hugely
disappointed.
Excerpts:
Q: "Gandhi My Father" was made under an oath of secrecy among the
cast and crew?
A: It wasn't secrecy, just a low profile until we were ready to
release. A film like "Gandhi My Father" isn't easy to make. And we
haven't made a small art film - it is a big commercial film. It's
important to plan a film's promotion properly, specially when it
comes to Mahatma Gandhi, who's so much part of our lives even
today. Now when we're finally allowed to talk, we feel we've been
let out of jail.
Q: You play Gandhi's son Harilal. Not much is known about him.
A: Before I read the script, I didn't even know he existed! Of
course, I was aware Gandhiji had a family. But I knew nothing about
Harilal. A very minuscule number of people know about him. So it
was relatively easy for me to play Harilal. I didn't have to copy
someone people knew about.
Q: So how did you get a grip on the character?
A: I asked my director Feroz Abbas Khan how to play him. He gave me
Harilal's biography by Chandulal Dalal. For me the research was in
capturing the spirit of the man. Then I read letters that Harilal
had exchanged with Bapu and Kasturba. That was pretty much it.
Q: Do you see Gandhi's son as a dark character?
A: Not dark at all. I see him as the most courageous character
I've ever played. For any person, even the son, to stand up to
Gandhi required a tremendous amount of courage. The entire British
Empire couldn't stand up to Gandhiji. Harilal could!
Q: Did you delve into your own relationship with your father to
play Gandhiji's son?
A: Let me say one thing ... I've never used my personal life
experience to play any character. I read about actors digging into
their experiences. To date I've never done that. I look for the
emotions in the moment, and then I let it go. I don't carry my
roles home. Yes, scenes in "Gandhi" have eaten into my soul.
Q: Did you get a lot of support from your co-stars?
A: Darshan Jariwala, Shefali Shah and Bhoomika Chawla were
extremely relevant to my performance. Let me tell you Darshan had a
thankless task. It's terrifying to play Gandhi, especially after
Ben Kingsley. I wouldn't have been able to do it. In spite of the
enormity of his burden, Darshan has carried Gandhi off with ease.
Q: And Shefali as Kasturba?
A: Please do not take my words lightly when I say hers is the
single greatest performance given by an Indian actress. I can write
this in blood.
Q: Have you told her this?
A: Yes I have. She's one of those rare actors with an inborn
talent. Highly underused and underrated. She just needed to be
given the right opportunity. I can't put words to her performance.
Q: How do you rate your own performance?
A: Yes, this is one film where I'm immensely satisfied with my
work. I feel happy about my work. Not that I've ever left any
stone unturned. But there's a quality to the film that benefited
my performance. Every actor has excelled.
Q: Feroz Abbas Khan as a director?
A: He's such an intellectual. In one sentence I'd say he's
aesthetically intellectual. Anil Kapoor said he had yet to meet a
director as deep as Feroz. He has immense integrity and honesty.
This is his screen debut but it looks like he has done 20 films
before. Coming from theatre and being an actor himself, Feroz has a
tremendous sense of performance. It'd extremely interesting to see
where Feroz goes after "Gandhi".
Q: You did two comedies "Shaadi Se Pehle" and "Salaam-e-Ishq". Now
you've done a very dramatic role in "Gandhi".
A: I don't want to suffocate myself by playing the slotting game.
I see myself as an actor who does his job. And look at the variety
of roles this year - "Salaam-e-Ishq", "Naqaab" and now "Gandhi My
Father". The very fact that I'm offered such a variety proves
writers-directors have faith in me.
Q: Were you disappointed when "Salaam-e-Ishq" and "Naqaab" didn't
work?
A: Hugely. I feel there was a lot of negative attitude towards
"Salaam-e-Ishq". It was virtually targeted. But I feel
"Salaam-e-Ishq" pushed the envelope. I adored the script and the
film and I can work with Nikhil Advani any time of the day.
Right now, I'm in full Gandhi mode. I'm in the best place I've
ever been.
By Subhash K. Jha
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