I’ve written a few pieces around a film, Dilwale (the good hearted), and its lead actors Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Kriti Sanon, and Varun Dhawan.
In amongst the conversations and media encounters we had with the cast of the film, one theme emerged that I haven’t looked at yet.
It was how each of the females that took main roles in the film; one, veteran Kajol, the other, newcomer Kriti, was feeling about her acting work.
Kajol is an actor who has worked in Bollywood film for 23 years.
The Dilwale story is about the children of two competing families who meet after a 15-year separation. Shah Rukh Khan plays a charming car modifier. Varun Dhawan is his younger brother who ends up falling for the character played by Kriti Sanon. When SRK meets Kajol’s character, whom he loved and got separated from, his past comes back to disrupt his present.
The film was directed and produced by Rohit Shetty.
Live meets for the media and screenings for fans took place around the world prior to the film's opening.
At one live meet for Dilwale, Kajol was asked about whether or not the role of a female in mainstream Indian film has changed over the years.
Kajol: Well, honestly, I think there have always been women-centric films being made. I think that’s something that has not changed. Maybe it’s become more obvious today. Right now, it’s a fantastic time for actors to be in the film industry. May it be male or female, or any age group that we have. It’s a lovely time because you have films of every genre, of every economic stature being made. You have small films, you have big films. You have medium films and you have medium big films as well. So it’s lovely because you have a whole array of things in front of you as an actor. And you’re told to choose. You can choose a carnation, you can choose a rose, you can choose whatever you feel like. You can [choose] a daisy for that matter. So it’s a lovely time, honestly, to be a female in the film industry.
Kriti: I’d actually agree with her because I think today very different kinds of films are being made. I personally don’t like the word ‘women-centric’ because we don’t call the other films ‘male-centric’ but yeah, I think people, directors, are getting a little more confident with making a film with the main character as a woman because the audiences are reacting to it. [In 2014], we had about five or six films where women were heroes of the film. And they all did really well. So, I do believe that it’s a great time to experiment and do different things as an actor.
Kajol: …And I just want to say that she just called the woman the hero of the film. I have not changed. I think I am the same. I don't think the basics change, to be honest.
Also at the meet, Kajol was asked how different Rohit Shetty’s style of romance had been compared to that of other Indian directors like Yash Raj or Karan Johar.
Kajol: Well, honestly it’s been very, very different. And that’s one of the reasons why I agreed to do the film. I wouldn't have, if it was a regular, regular love story or a regular, regular film. I probably would not have agreed to do it. It’s different from whatever we’ve done so far. There’s a lot of love in it, but also a lot of angst. And there’s a lot of other stuff happening around it. And I think that’s really what’s making it interesting. It would not be interesting otherwise. For us to do or for you to watch for that matter. I mean we’ve done a K3G, we’ve done Kabhi Khushi Khabi Gham (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness, we’ve done Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Big-Hearted Will Take Away the Bride)… we’ve done a helluva lot of films. They’ve kind of encompassed a huge genre and pretty much when you see us on the screen, you’ve seen us in probably every kind of scene there is to see. So I think we should do something unusual to watch.
Kriti was asked, “if you had an opportunity to play a character Kajol’s ever played, what would that character be?”
Kriti: I think there are so many films that she’s done and they’re all so different. I can think of two of them. I really liked her character in Kabhi Khushi Khabi Gham. That tomboyish girl turning into this woman wearing a sari and looking all beautiful. I loved that. I also loved her role in Gupt (secret). I think it was really interesting and she did a fab job! And I think if I get a chance I’d like to do both.
I asked Kriti what her hopes were for herself in the Indian film industry, and what she felt she brought to the film Dilwale.
Kriti: Hopes for myself in the film industry. I think I'm just too new right now and I'm still trying to just put myself out. Make myself visible as an actor. I don't think two films, three or five films can actually show the potential that you have as an actor. At the same time, you want to also keep experimenting and do different things and kind of shock yourself. So I'm still trying to do that and I hope I succeed.
