Shyam Benegal’s iconic Sardari Begum completes 29 years today. Starring Kirron Kher in the titular role, the movie also starred Rajit Kapoor, Smriti Mishra (as young Sardari Begum), Amrish Puri, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Surekha Sikri, Shrivallabh Vyas, among others. Rajit Kapoor looked back at the movie in an interview with us.
Rajit Kapoor on 29 years of Shyam Benegal’s Sardari Begum, “I was playing three different ages and there were just two scenes in each age groups”
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 Kirron 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.
More Pages: Sardari Begum Box Office Collection
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