Subhash K Jha

Mumbai

Manisha Koirala is fuming again, this time over her latest film ‘Tum’ being projected as titillating. She feels the story of an ordinary housewife who is very much in love with her husband and children but who ends up having a one-night stand, has been blown out of proportion.

“By projecting ‘Tum’ as titillating, you’re undermining everyone’s hard work,” she told in an interview.

So is ‘Tum’ as blue as it’s being made out to be?

Absolutely not! I’m extremely unhappy with the projection of ‘Tum’ as a hot film. It’s demeaning not just to me but to the producer and director. Aruna Raje has made bold films like ‘Shaque’ and ‘Rihaee’. They weren’t sleazy. Why would she compromise at this juncture of her career?

When I saw the publicity in the main papers, I called up my producer to complain. It’s just not right for me or the film.

But unless you stimulate the audience, how do you get it to come into theatres?

Maybe so. But by projecting ‘Tum’ as titillating you’re undermining everyone’s hard work. Packaging of a sensitive film as sleazy makes me feel dirty.

I think ‘Ek Chhotisi Love Story’ has really damaged me. People think they can compromise my reputation and get away with it. The director Shashilal Nair was supposed to be a friend, and he projected me as some kind of a porn star in ‘Ek Chhotisi...’ Would he do the same to his own daughter?

The whole experience has made me distrustful and cynical. Now I won’t indulge in an iota of body exposure. And there’s none in ‘Tum’.

In fact, Netanya Singh’s lovemaking scene with Karan Nath is far more explicit than mine... I’m not comfortable with doing lovemaking scenes. There was one in ‘Agni Sakshi’. But that was essential to the script. But catch me falling on the bed for no rhyme or reason? No way.

So no titillation in ‘Tum’?

None at all. It’s the story of an ordinary housewife, very much in love with her husband and children, who ends up having a one-night stand. There’s absolutely no skin show. It’s very aesthetically done. It’s the story of a woman who suffers the consequences of one mistake. Far from feeling titillated the audience would feel her guilt. The emotions in the lovemaking scene are far more vital than the physicality.

I’ve worked so hard on my role in ‘Tum’. And it’s frustrating to think the audience is being invited to see sex instead of a performance. I think from now on I’ll have it mentioned in my contracts that I’ll do no love scenes. I’m happy with two flowers touching each other in a kissing scene (laughs)! It’s unfortunate that now because of the way ‘Tum’ is being projected, sections of the press are comparing it with films like ‘Hawas’ (a forthcoming film being directed by Karan Razdan). I don’t want to comment on other films. But ‘Tum’ doesn’t belong to this genre.

How was it working with Aruna Raje?

It’s strange that after so many years in the film industry I hadn’t so far worked with a woman director. I was very comfortable working with Arunaji. In spite of having gone through so much in life, she’s such a happy person. After all the trauma, she has come out a strong and positive person. I think one of the male directors who understands a woman’s psyche completely is Gulzar bhai. One of my biggest losses is not to have worked with him so far. By and large I think female directors are far more sensitive.

You’re taking it easy with offers?

I’ve discussed this with my boyfriend Cecil many times. He has advised me to do no more than three films a year. I think I’m going to go by his advice... Cecil is taking care of all my financial matters. I’ve been working for 13 years but until recently I didn’t even know how much money I had earned and how much of it I still had. However, I take all my career decisions.

As a producer you’ve lost money in ‘Paisa Wasool’.

I have. The film went over-budget by 50 per cent. I was a new producer and wasn’t very cautious with my money. From now I’ll be a very tight-fisted producer. I’ll have to take time off to produce my next film.

There’re two projects on the anvil. I’ve already spoken to Sudhir Mishra to direct a script that Vishal Bhardwaj gave me. In fact, I wanted Vishal to direct the film. But he’s busy with other projects. I’m really looking forward to working with Sudhir as a producer and as an actress. Then there’s another film that I want to produce with a new director, Anwar Jamaal. This would be an offbeat film.

Cecil seems to have given up his own career in London to look after you?

Well, he’s been with me for a while. He took time off in January and February to be with me. But he has to return in March. I know his devotion and sacrifices are incredible. We’re now going on a long two-week holiday, something we haven’t done in the two-and-a-half-years we’ve been together.

Hopefully, I’d have taken some hard decisions about the future of our relationship by the time we return. Right now I can’t say for sure whether this is it or not. He’s here now. But he can’t live here with me.