Swastika Mukherjee says she felt ‘miserable’ while shooting Qala, reveals her daughter called after watching film: ‘She was howling’ – The Indian Express
Swastika Mukherjee says she felt ‘miserable’ while shooting Qala, reveals her daughter called after watching film: ‘She was howling’ – The Indian Express
Swastika Mukherjee said she was so moved by Qala, that she kept feeling a creatin helplessness as she wrapped her head around the fractured relationship between the mother-daughter.
For Swastika Mukherjee, there was heartbreak in every frame of Qala.
In the latest Netflix offering, Swastika plays Urmila Manjushree, a chillingly unkind mother, whose daughter yearns for her love and acceptance.
Swastika said before filmmaker Anvitaa Dutt–in her second directorial outing after Bulbull– offered her the part, the duo had long conversations which ran through the day, where they discussed everything but the film..
But five days later, the actor read the script of Qala and an emotional dam burst open.
“When she gave me the script and I heard the narration, I felt like I knew these people, this world, because while having those conversations, Anvitaa had told me what she was wanting to do with the film.
Now I have done a lot of films, but this time I was in tears!
The actor said she was so moved by Qala even on paper, that she kept feeling a creatin helplessness as she wrapped her head around the fractured relationship between the mother and daughter..
“I kept telling Anvitaa, can’t these people talk?
Because I felt so helpless.”.
Swastika carried that helplessness to the film’s shoot, which she credits for “sailing her through” to portray Urmila to perfection.
But it all came rushing back, months later, when her daughter watched the film and felt equally broken..
“As an outsider to their space, I felt miserable, I really wanted to do something.
When my daughter watched the film, she called me, she was howling on the phone.
She kept telling me the same thing: Why couldn’t they just talk?.
But I also felt good that the helplessness I felt as an actor, others did too.”.
Swastika is aware that what Qala offered her as an actor is rare.
As an actor I want to look for roles that make me work harder.
Qala also stars Amit Sial, lyricist Varun Grover and has been produced by Karnesh Ssharma, who previously collaborated with Anvitaa Dutt for Bulbbul.
The film’s music is by Amit Trivedi with lyrics by Anvitaa, Varun, Swanand Kirkire and Kausar Munir..
Read Article: The Indian Express