Posted: Jul 22, 2020 6:28:03 PM
Dil Bechara will air on Disney + Hotstar (Photo: Sanjana Sanghi / Instagram)
Dil Bechara would be remembered primarily as Sushant Singh Rajput’s last film, but it also marks Sanjana Sanghi’s first film as a leading actor. The 23-year-old will be seen playing Kizie, a cancer patient who makes the most of her last days. She will meet Manny (Rajput), who will bring a new ray of hope and love into her life.
Still trying to accept the loss of her friend Sushant, Sanjana, in an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com, she spoke about Dil Bechara, the obstacles she faced and received abundant love from fans.
Excerpts from the conversation:
There are only a few days left until the launch of Dil Bechara. What is the emotion right now?
Right now it is very different from what it would have been. Those nervous nerves before launch is not what I’m feeling right now. There is numbness and many extreme emotions. I am also very proud to be able to bring our love’s work to the audience. However, there is deep pain at losing a friend, my partner on this journey. I think that really overcomes all possible emotions right now.
From appearing in many commercials to becoming the lead actor in a movie, what has the journey been like?
When Rockstar happened, I was only 13 years old, and now 10 years later, here I am with Dil Bechara. Mukesh was the one who found me, and now he has directed me. It feels like one of those surreal ties that is sometimes really hard to believe. Mukesh was the one who showed me that I could act and knows me exactly for who I am. That makes the trip special for me. I made hundreds of announcements because I took advantage of all the opportunities that were presented to me. Acting was everything to me. I think being on a set was my escape from normal life.
A look at his Instagram id, and one would know that he has multiple fan clubs. Speaking of surreal, what is it like to be loved so much even before the movie’s release?
I was just saying to my mother the same thing. My parents, like anyone else, feel that I am too young to go through all of this. They just see their serious son rush in every day. But when I see so much love, it feels magical. I was curious to know who they are and I discovered that they are all girls and boys from small towns, who see themselves in me. People who have known me know that fame does not hit me and I aspire to be an influence and impact lives. Either through the art I create or giving back in any way. So the amount of fan clubs appearing on my trip will only make it more special.
It must have been a dream to see herself on the big screen as a protagonist. What was your reaction when you learned that the movie would now be released on an OTT platform?
We set out to make a movie that will be released in theaters on May 8. However, in early April, everyone started talking about how the pandemic will continue. I mean, we’re sitting in July and it’s still around here. My producers and a studio like Disney entrusted me with this great project, and they explained to me that it was important that the film reach as many people as possible. In the midst of this pandemic when people are under so much frustration and negativity, this movie will celebrate love and hope, which is really necessary.
Dil Bechara also faced a lot of negative publicity last year. How did you stay positive then and keep faith in the project?
It’s been tough especially when you’re so young, raw and passionate. I would feel like I’m giving it my all and why the wrong things are happening to me. But because of the way they raised me, they told me to just keep doing my part and be good. However, after many challenges, here we are breaking so many records and receiving so much love. It was not easy and the least I can do is learn from it and use it for all my future endeavors.
Like most young people, you must have also read or seen The Fault in Our Stars. How difficult was it to keep that aside while acting?
That was hard for me. I was 16 when the movie came, and I skipped school to see it. I remember when Mukesh Chhabra handed me the script and said the Hindi adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars, I thought, ‘Are you kidding me? How can we try to do something like this? But all my doubts disappeared when we went to the flat. We have taken the soul of the classic and meticulously located it. Manny and Kizie are Augustus and Hazel, but they are also very different people. Kizie is the Indian hazelnut, but she is different. Therefore, the pressure was not mine, and we followed the flow. Plus, it’s an official adaptation, and it’s not like we’ve stolen a book from the shelf to make a movie. So everything has been done very well.
How much of Sanjana will we find in Kizie?
Interesting that you asked. All the best friends or people close to me have been sending me messages about how I react like her. Not just me, but even Sushant, we are going to be many of us in these characters. And I think that’s why we were chosen because the director wanted me to bring something to the table. However, I wish I was Kizie. She is much kinder and braver than I am.
Given that Mukesh Chhabra was directing a movie for the first time, what was the type of vibes on set? Was he a homework teacher or was it a collaborative approach?
Both myself and Sushant have known Mukesh for a long time in different ways. We have been in contact for over 10 years, and he has been my acting coach. He had faith in me when I didn’t have any, and that’s why everything was so organic to me. The bond that we all share and the energies was just. It was very organic and balanced.
Tell us about the happy memories you made with Sushant Singh Rajput. Something that still makes you smile.
We are in the process of releasing songs or BTS every day, and it’s like revisiting all those moments once again. Sushant and I share a very special bond. We connect in many things: academia, dancing and food. There was simply no end to our conversations. Since Dil Bechara is from Kizie’s perspective, I was shooting every day, while he had a breather here and there. I remember as soon as it was over, I’d call him and we’d be listening to Taare Ginn or discussing the Yuval books (Yuval Noah Harari).
Anything you want to tell the audience who is waiting to see you both create magic on screen?
I just want to tell you that I’m as fanatical of Sushant as they are. I was luckier to have him as a friend and colleague. This is a great gift on your way, and you should enjoy and celebrate it so many times and on any screen.
Also starring Swastika Mukherjee and Saif Ali Khan, Dil Bechara will begin airing on Disney + Hotstar starting July 24.
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