History all over again
RANA SIDDIQUI
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Sachin Khedekar speaks about the grand experience of playing Netaji in Shyam Benegal's film "Bose - The Forgotten Hero," set to be released this May.
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RECOGNITION: A scene from the film "Bose - The Forgotten Hero".
When Sachin Khedekar shaved half his head, his trademark moustache, gained some weight, especially on the face to conceal his prominent chin, sported those round-shaped glasses and then looked into the mirror, he "couldn't believe" how much he looked like Subhash Chandra Bose! His big, expressive eyes added to the effect. And here he was! Shyam Benegal's "Bose - The Forgotten Hero," actually a film on the life and times of this national hero, is slated for release this month.
And for 36-year-old Sachin, the euphoria of playing the national hero still hasn't died down. And it is not only sentimental and psychological, but also physical. Says this able actor who essayed the critically applauded role of Shrikant, the husband of Aditi, opposite Tabu in `Astitva,' "I am still reeling under the nostalgic feeling. This film is extremely important to me, because earlier I played only fictional roles. But for the first time I am playing a historically important, real-life character who was not only a national hero but also an international figure. The very feeling gives me such a high. At the same time it is a great responsibility also."
And he carried the responsibility by reading every possible material available on Bose. "I read his biography and research-based writings by Shama Zaidi, Atul Tiwari and Shyam (Benegal) Babu. Saw several documentary film shots on him by the Films Division, listened to audiocassettes to imbibe his way of speaking and concentrated on my Urdu. You would be surprised to know that he knew very good Urdu and spoke excellent English and Hindi. But His English was tinged with a Bengali accent. So to absorb that tone in my speech, I took classes from Sharnaz Patel in English."
And there is more. His make-up man Vikram Gaikwaad, the head of the film's make-up department, was constantly giving shape to his "chin." He had to make it small and rounded, which he did with loads of prosthetic make up. Besides, Sachin had to put on weight, which he now says, "is not getting reduced".
Now the most important challenge for Sachin was to be accepted by the Kolkata audience.
"We started shooting at actual locations. We wanted the approval of Kolkata people for my face, because they are very sentimental about him. We met Krishna Bose, Shishir Bose and a couple of other relatives of Bose to know a few things that are not yet documented: his mannerisms, conduct and behaviour at a certain moment of time. It took us one-and-a-half-years for all such research," recalls Sachin whose test to appear before the Kolkata press and public "went off very well".
"I was keeping my finger crossed, because Kolkata people don't know me. Though I had the able backing of Shyam Babu who is known to have credibility among sensible and intelligent audiences, yet when I saw the Kolkata press and other audience looking at me approvingly, I heaved a sigh of relief. No one criticised, no one raised any questions. I was overwhelmed," says an enthusiastic Sachin.
With Sachin are Rajat Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Pankaj Berry and others playing important characters, besides a German and a British actor.
The most important scene in the film for Sachin is Netaji's slogan, Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi doonga. For which Sachin heard this speech countless times. "In this scene he is addressing the entire South East Asia to join his Indian National Congress. For me it was a hair-raising experience. When I shouted that slogan during the shoot, I could feel the blood coursing through my veins. It was the most challenging scene for me. I still cannot get out its hypnotic feel," states Sachin.
Liberty to act
Though Sachin took care to make his portrayal of Bose as authentic as possible, he agrees that Benegal gave him "a lot of liberty for acting." "This film is a bio-pic, based on historical facts, so there was little scope to portray anything other than Bose. Yet, I believe that since Shyam Babu gave me a lot of time to prepare for the role, I could get into it more easily than I could have if it was a hurried affair," he says.
The experience, which has given Sachin "much hype and high" now, is making it difficult for him to choose other films. "After such an important role, I would not like to do roles having a filler value. But unfortunately for an actor like me who always looks only for roles that actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Pankaj Kapoor do, there is so little to do in this industry. It only moves around so-called stars. It is very disheartening," laments the actor.
To quench his thirst for substantial roles, this engineer-turned actor worked in television serials like "Sailab" and "Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai" and films like "Astitva" and "Tere Naam." But people saw him in "Freaky Chakra" in the rather disgusting role of a man hungry for a physical relationship and hence making anonymous calls to a woman in the neighbourhood. "That was not meant for the masses. I accepted it because it was my first English film. It had a nice story, though acceptable only to metropolitan audiences. I don't think I have done something wrong by taking it," he defends.
To satisfy his hunger for artistic expression, he is involved in theatre still. He is playing the lead in the Marathi play "Tujha Majha", an emotional family drama written by Pratima Kulkarni, and this play is going to have its 100th show soon, he adds.
He also has Ashwini Dhandekar's thriller "Siskiyan" in which he is playing an editor, Mahesh Bhatt's "Virudh", in which we will see him as a cop and one more film where he plays the villain.
Says this father of two children, aged eight and three, "I have been shouting from the rooftops that the film industry should see my calibre and give me roles accordingly. This film will help, I am sure."
Hope is the staple of life, after all.
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