logo

One Sunday afternoon, after a delicious lunch of Rajma Chaval (red kidney beans and rice), went in to my bed room to find my phone ringing. The name ‘Toto’ was flashing. Toto is Anurag’s still photographer in No Smoking. I pick up the phone and go, “ haan bhai Toto Singh”(yeah tell me Toto Singh).The voice from the other side doesn’t sound like him, it goes,” Toto nahin Rohit bol rahan hoon” (its not Toto its Rohit). Rohit Khaitan is Anurag’s assistant and is working as a production manager for a series of short films being produced by the Sahara group. After trying calling me a few times and leaving a sms he was calling from Toto’s cell. He wants me to act in a small role in a short film directed by Manish Jha. I have to be at Gateway of India at 5:00 am sharp the next day. Supposedly my shot will last only for 10 mins. The role is of NRI MBA guy. I anyways had to go towards that area for some urgent work, plus it would be a pleasant experience to see the director of one of the most shocking and hard hitting film Matrabhoomi, to have come out of India, so I agreed. As you all must be knowing, Matrabhoomi won the audience award at Venice film festival in 2003. Manish’s short film ‘A very very silent film’ had earlier won him the jury award at the Cannes film festival in 2001. From my experiences in films I knew for sure I would be doing a small meaningless role, where the audience would not even notice me. Anyways I am not found of acting, so the deal was quite attractive. Manish’s AD, who is also a Manish but Jain instead of Jha called to inform that I need to get dressed in a good jeans, t-shirt, turban and would need to bring along a nice kurta for more options. Later I got a text message confirming the call time as 5:30 am. I packed my bag with required costumes and went to bed earlier than I normally do, setting the alarm to 3:15 am, as I live quite far from the location.
The alarm rang; I got up with little uneasiness, took a shower, did other daily routines, put on clothes, shoes and was off to location catching a 4:15 local train. I reached the VT, which is now renamed as CST at 5:18 am. At 5:28 am Rohit calls to know my whereabouts. To my surprise at that very moment, he was still catching a train at Andheri station. When I reached the location there was no sign of crew. I sat at the gateway. The sunrise was magical, with rains settling the dust one could see very far, the huge ships coming into the Mumbai harbour, cold breeze blowing. I simply loved sitting there. After half an hour a young man came to me and asked if I had come for the shoot. This lent me a little encouragement. Later the vanity vans, production tempos along with cars showed up. I walked towards the Taj Mahal hotel road to find the director’s team and the camera team gathered together, talking, discussing shots. One of the Ads Tanmay, introduced me to Manish Jha. To my surprise the first shot would be taken at around 7:30 am, still more than an hour to go. Tanmay checked my t-shirt n kurta and decided to go with the kurta. Then Manish Jain came okayed the kurta. Inside the vanity van changed the Kurta and tied turban with the help from the dress dada (dress man). There was still quite sometime left for the shoot. The camera for some odd reason had been delayed. It was time for some snacks. A young attractive French girl named Marion was introduced, who would be playing my girl friend. All of sudden my kurta does not go with the NRI image. I have to get into a t-shirt. My t-shirt is no good and they don’t have one. There is a young camera trainee who is supporting a blue t-shirt, which goes with the NRI image. Both of us are asked to exchange our costumes. We agree and now I am seen in a blue t-shirt, red turban, dark blue jeans and white sports shoes. Finally the camera arrived. The DP, Manoj Lobo got on to designing the shots.
The shoot started at around 7:45 am. The first shot is, I think my character’s point of view trying to find Marion in the crowd. The camera wildly swings like a searching eye finally ending on Marion. The second shot had Marion weeping in the crowd. In the next shot I will have to find her and console her. Now its 8:20 am, the police interrupts, we do not have permission to shoot beyond 8:30 am, everything seems to be screwed. Manish tries calling people trying to buy time but its of no use. The shoot needs to be moved to the second location, which is Haji-Ali dargah to complete the lead actor Palash Sen’s shots. Originally there were few shots of Palash at Gateway but none could be taken. I am standing in someone else’s t-shirt, without knowing what to do. I really want to get my other work done and go home. With everybody rushing off to Haji-Ali and the guy impatient for his t-shirt we decide to get back to our original dress. But the vanity van is full of junior artists, who are taking shelter coz of the rains and its their mode of transport to go to Worli. Anyways the guy needs his t-shirt. What to do. We go right next to Taj’s entrance, right on the roadside, where rain can’t touch us. I remove his t-shirt; get into kurta, with the security guard looking at me in anguish. I was almost ready to make a move towards CST, when Tanmay asks me if I can come to other location. Don’t know why the heck I agree. May be to help a director representing the new wave, may be subconsciously I want to act or may be I don’t want to have a negative image of myself in the industry. Anyways along with Rohit and few other production guys we are off to Haji-Ali.
It’s a special feeling to be there, with a narrow passage, leading into the sea, where the durgah stands in its magnitude. Manish, Manoj, myself, Utsav the chief AD and a production guy get into a small hotel, order tea. With the quawalis playing in the near by cd shops, the tea tasted even better. The thought of exchanging the t-shirt made me request production people and the Ads to get a new t-shirt from the near by Hira-Pana comple, which is famous for low cost designer wears. Myself along with other actors got moved to a room in the durgah. There I come to know Marion’s story. She was given a call time of 4:30 am. She took a cab and was on location at 5:00 am. Dressed in long boots, tight jeans and open buttoned shirt, she was standing alone on the street besides Taj. The looks the people on street were giving her made her feel disgusted.
Finally we were called for the shot. In all chaos we reached the spot. Then Mr. Jain realized I was not wearing the blue t-shirt and the turban. He again requested me to get into the t-shirt and turban. There was still no sign of the new t-shirt I had requested umpteen number of times. I blankly refused to get into a t-shirt, which was now drenched in sweat. The turban would take me another 20 mins, so it was out of question. The director Okayed my appearance in hurry I guess. Marion and I were made to sit on a rock, with the sea in the background. In the first shot Manish instructed me to console Marion by caressing her hand and holding her shoulder gently. A decent size crowd of around hundred people had gathered. The reflectors were putting huge amount of light on us. With one rehearsal, we progressed to our first take. To my surprise it was Okayed. I confirmed with ast. Cameraman if it was indeed okay. I jokingly said to Marion now we are one take artist! In the next shot was a mid-close up. We were instructed to have a happy conversation with lots of laughter. We ourselves rehearsed, while the reflectors were being moved. It was a time for a take. The camera rolled. This time it was not good. Manish said that I looked little serious. I needed to smile and laugh. In the second take I looked satisfactory. I guess Manish must have realized that’s the best he could get out of an amateur actor. That’s it, my job was done! I went inside the room to collect my bag to leave. There was another old lady, who was also playing a small role. According to her, I have distinct features and should seriously try to be in front of the camera. She even asked me if I could sing. I said I could a little bit. Another short film required a character, who is a singer. I told her that I would rather opt to remain behind the camera, but if my effort helps someone passionate about his or her work then why not.
As a human being could not resisting complaining to God that, why the heck you put me in front of camera, while I want to be behind it. God must be laughing at me,” son I made you Shahrukh Khan for a moment, supporting you with much needed cash, which is lot better than sitting at home and you are still crying”!

3 readers recommend this post  Loading ...

Email This Post To Friends

Related Posts Shahrukh Khan Successor of AB in KBC? ROCKSTAR JIAH KHAN TAKE LIGHT!!! No Smoking on Sets Part 3 The King Khan - Irrfan khan - A filmography The King Khan - Irrfan khan - A filmography(part 2) SRK - Successful Reliable Khan [Shah Rukh Khan] No Smoking : Pictures from Filmistan Studios Indo Pak Short Film Series In Orange County!! An Asst. Director’s first experience Soda Water Bubbles - Guirella shooting