By Hindustan Times
Playing an elaborate character at the big screen is something. But essaying three different roles that span across three different eras in a single film, is a another ball game altogether.
That’s what actor Priyanka Chopra realised when she got an opportunity to play the characters of Aradhna, Ruksar and Radha, all of whom belong to different periods in time, in her upcoming film Teri Meri Kahaani (TMK).
To ensure that she does justice to at least one of the characters, Ruksar, who's a 1960s heroine, Priyanka turned to none rather than yesteryear icon Saira Banu for inspiration. She spoke to the veteran actor to be told about actors in that era and their lives off and on camera.
“Saira Banu ma’am is a quintessential beauty who has a grace that takes your breath away each time you spot her. After I was discussing the nature of Ruksar with Kunal (Kohli, director), I felt that I WANTED to get an insight into the lifetime of a movie star from those days.” And Saira Banu was the primary individual that came to her mind.
“When I called her, she was very hot and helpful. Our chat really helped me stitch together the nature of Ruksar. I'M grateful to her for that. And that i can’t look forward to her to peer the film and provides me feedback at the role. Saira Ma’am was my inspiration for this character,” says Priyanka.
Apparently, her conversation with Banu helped her discover trivia similar to the original make-up techniques followed by the actors from that decade, their favourite shopping haunts, and their intricate hairdos, among other things. Director Kunal adds, “People remake films but we remade a whole era while shooting TMK.
We desired to find out about the lives of stars from that period. We all know how they behaved on camera as we will see their movies, but their off-camera behaviour is what Priyanka desired to understand.”
Kohli says he was impressed with Priyanka’s dedication to building her on-screen character. “Priyanka did an excellent job of recreating the aura of a ’60s star within the film,” he says.
