Shyam Benegal’s classic Sardari Begum which completes 29 years on May 23 starred Kirron Kher, Amrish Puri, Smriti Mishra and Rajit Kapur. In a conversation about the film with Subhash K Jha, Rajit Kapur reminisces on the making of the film and his challenging character.
Your memories of Sardari Begum?
Yes, there are memories. Most of it was shot in Film City here in Mumbai. Very interesting for me because the character came straight after playing Mahatma Gandhi in Shyam Benegal’s The Making of the Mahatma.
It was a complete switch?
This halo of the good Samaritan I was able to shed by playing this lecherous pimp. And the interesting thing was that I was playing three different ages and there were just about two scenes in each of these age groups. So, yeah, I found it meaty and challenging to, you know, have these just two scenes in each age group over the passage of time to still make it convincing.
It was challenging given the narrow parameters?
I remember discussing it with him and he said, yeah, that’s the challenge, let’s do it. Meeting and sharing screen presence again with Amrish Puri, Uttara Baokar, Surekha Sikri, you know, my seniors and veterans. It’s always a pleasure to work with them and learn from them.And we had young Kumud Mishra being introduced.
Your character went through three stages of aging?
It’s a huge team and to play all the three ages whereas for the lead we had Smriti Mishra and then Kiran Kher kind of take over. But I think it kind of worked beautifully, you know.At that time a lot of people had doubts whether one actress should play it.
Sardari Begum remains one of Shyam Benegal’s underrated works?
There’s going to be a special screening of Sardari Begum on May 31 in Goa as a tribute to Shyam Babu, which I’ll be attending along with the music directors.
