Nandita Das exclusive interview

Nandita Das, who is all set to bring her play to the city, gets talking about working with her hubby and the lack of human stories in the film industry.
She���s been in the news recently for her Cannes sojourn, where she served as a member of the Cin��fondation and short film jury. But unlike other Cannes-bound Bollywood stars, whose appearances are talked-about mainly for their fashion statements, Nandita Das��� presence elicits a sense of seriousness to the proceedings, which is otherwise mostly about the red carpet.And now, the award-winning actor, filmmaker and philanthropist will be in Hyderabad this weekend to stage the play, Between the Lines, which will see her don the hat of actor, director and producer. Even though Nandita is excited, she is self-admittedly nervous as it also marks the stage debut of her husband, Subhodh Maskara!
���From the time I have known Subodh, I have seen how comfortable and creative he is when he is narrating stories or mimicking people. He has a natural flair for acting and always wanted to explore this side of him. As a partner, I thought what better way to give him that opportunity, than to make him act in our home production,��� says Nandita, who adds that her husband took his debut assignment ���very seriously���.
And this was one of the reasons why she had the faith to cast him in this play. ���He even did workshops with Waman Kendre and Mahesh Dattani to learn about the craft. As a producer, I had no doubts at all as he has been an entrepreneur for a long time. He was an inherent part of our writing journey as well. And through our rehearsals and shows, I saw him getting closer to the character he is playing.���
With the hubby making his debut, Nandita has her platter full as she takes care of every other aspect of the production. And the task, as she admits, is quite an uphill one. ���This was my first foray into theatre direction and it was much more challenging then I had imagined. I had to focus on Subodh���s acting, my own performance, and most importantly, I needed to have a third eye, which could look at everything on stage, as a director.���
But the most challenging part was directing her husband, she reveals. ���To direct your husband on stage is not the easiest thing! At times egos come in, we bring in home arguments on to the stage and vice-versa,��� admits Nandita, who also adds that the experience has been rewarding too. ���All-in-all, directing Subodh was an amazing experience. Despite all the arguments and disagreements, it actually helped us get to know each other better.���
Known for her multi-tasking skills, Nandita has over the years, found herself working harder at her projects. With a son to take care of, the priorities naturally lean towards the home-front. ���After my son, Vihaan, was born, I found myself juggling between many roles. And like most working women, I was multitasking and going quite crazy!��� she says.
But in-between all the craziness that life threw her way, Nandita found a creative outlet. And that���s how her debut play was born. ���Amidst all the multi-tasking, I felt the best way to channel myself creatively would be to write a play about the inequality that exists between couples, even within the privileged class.���
And it was the actor���s own life that found reflections in her work. ���My life and those of many women around me, was the trigger for the play. If you see my work in films, both as an actor and director, you will clearly see that I instinctively anchor towards stories that I feel need to be told. I feel it is very much possible to make engaging stories with a social conscience,��� says Nandita, whose directorial debut Firaaq, based on the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots, was honest, discomforting and haunting at the same time.
Despite the celebrations marking 100 years of Indian cinema, the actor confesses that there���s a lack of ���human stories��� in the industry. ���In our country, economics often interferes with art. So sadly, the moneyed projects tell mainstream stories to appease the masses, and many human stories that need to be told, that represents the lives of many, get sidelined. Yes, there is a big paucity of strong, well-made films that address issues of human condition.���
However, Nandita has been trying to contribute in her own way towards society ��� whether it���s through films, plays or even philanthropy. The play to be staged in the city is part of the anniversary celebrations of a city-based breast cancer organisation, the proceedings of which would go towards free breast cancer screening in rural areas.
���Women in countries like ours, are not treated equally, so the first casualty is their health. No amount of celeb involvement can bring about a change unless it comes from within. I feel it is our (celebs) moral responsibility to use the available platforms to raise our voices for issues that impact a large number of people. It���s just a drop in the ocean, but we all need to add our little drops to make a difference.���