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Laila and Sneha talk about movies and life
`I've never managed to see a ghost'
Whoever said actresses cannot be friends? Ask Sneha and Laila. Meeting after a long gap - they last shot together for "Unnai Ninaithu" — they literally fall into each other's arms with joy.
Laughter flows like music in the room as the duo let their hair down and catch up on the happenings in their lives. They start off talking about every girl's fancy - diamonds - before moving on to other interesting matters. Subha J Rao records the conversation.
Sneha: You know, Laila, I used to be a Mumbai-ite too.
Laila: Really! (bursting into one of her trademark giggles) When?
Sneha: Just before my Dad moved to the Gulf.
Laila: There is another similarity - in the way we entered the industry.
Sneha: I know. We got in by chance. Fazil sir (director) saw me at a millennium special programme organised in Dubai and wanted me to act. Soon, I was into Malayalam and Tamil movies.
Laila: My entry was unexpected and hilarious. I had no plans to enter this industry when I got a call from the late Mehmood (comedian) who was casting for his film Dushman Duniya Ka. I heard the message wrong over the phone and went to meet him thinking I was going to shoot for an ad film. I realised something was very wrong when he told me he would take 3-4 months to complete the schedule. I resisted, but before I knew it, I was into films.
Sneha: The same happened to me in Malayalam. But once we enter the field, it does not appear difficult, does it?
Laila: True. The first day of shooting for any movie is not so good. But, you soon grow close to the unit. The last day is especially sad.
Sneha: I too dislike the first day of shooting. You just don't know anyone... soon, all that changes. Pack-up is difficult; but I am used to it now.
(In the middle of the conversation, Sneha mentions ghosts... that's enough to get Laila all charged up)
`Spirit'ed conversation
Sneha: Do you believe in ghosts?
Laila: Of course. And, I've been trying hard to see one. You know, in our Gujarat farmhouse, which is close to 175 years old, everyone has seen ghosts, except me. I even parked myself there all alone for ten whole days, but nothing happened. What about you?
Sneha: I am terrified of the dark. I just can't sleep without a light on.
Laila: (continuing) I had my doggy next to me. I decided that if he got scared, I would too. But, I returned disappointed.
Sneha: You laugh so much. How easy is it for you to cry?
Laila: Very easy. And, imagine, Mehmood would not allow me to use glycerine. Listen, do your eyes water when you use glycerine?
Sneha: Oh yes! (Laila looks on enviously)
Laila: Glycerine simply has no effect on me. I can use half a bottle but only my eyes turn purple.
Playing patient
Sneha: We've both been through accidents. How did you cope with yours? (Sneha met with an accident while travelling to Tirupati during the shooting of "April Maadhathil" and Laila while filming a stunt sequence for "Three Roses")
Laila: I cried and created a racket, insisting I be shifted to a hospital. The local medic insisted I was ok. But, my injury was serious and required hospitalisation.
Sneha: The six hours I travelled in the ambulance were the longest in my life. I had hurt my back and fractured my leg and all I wanted at that point of time was to get all right.
Laila: Do you like meeting people when you are unwell? I did not want to see anyone then.
Sneha: Lucky girl! (she looks at Laila in envy). You are based in Mumbai. If you were here, you would have realised how difficult it is to keep people away. But, I told myself that they were here because they cared.
Dream figures
Laila: People also wonder how we manage to look slim. Tell me your secret.
Sneha: I am fond of eating but it immediately reflects on my weight. If I eat two slices of pizza, one shows up here (pointing to one cheek) and the other there (the other cheek). But, we work it out, no? One song sequence is enough.
Laila: Only my costume designer knows when I put on weight. (laughing) My advantage is that I can put on or lose two inches around the waist in days.
Retake blues
Sneha: Don't you feel bad when you have to go in for retakes? I get nervous after six.
Laila: I take a break and come back. I can't focus when the number of takes keeps growing.
Sneha: The worst time I've had so far was for a Telugu movie. It was a lengthy dialogue and I had read it beforehand. It rained on the day of the shoot and I thanked my stars. The next day, I was well prepared, but the rain did not stop for two whole months. By that time, the dialogue paper was in shreds. Mercifully, after that long break, the shot was okayed in a take.
Laila: You too? My worst nightmare came true also for a Telugu movie. Five of us shared a lengthy dialogue in Urdu, me being the last to speak. And, can you believe it, one person or the other kept making a mistake and it went on for 56 takes. And, I never got to utter a word. I was mad.
Sneha: That's the problem when the language is not familiar.
Laila: Tell me, do you sometimes get the feeling that a scene is familiar?
Sneha: Yes! I remember your scenes in Dheena, Dhill and Paarthen Rasithen. In all the three movies, the introduction scene either showed you on a bus or running to catch one.
Laila: So true. When I was narrated the scene, I was like - "Are you mad? I am doing this again?"
Sneha: We are good pals. Why do people think actresses can't be friendly with each other?
Laila: Don't bother about them. Let's just get on with our lives.
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