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Grapes and grapevine
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Meera shares her preferences over a chai
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Meera: What's a kiss between two countries? — Photo: V. Sudershan
HER STACATTO responses — ranging from the sublime to the audacious — reveals that she is yet to become a Bollywood star. She has yet to learn the use of `no comments' shield. While Indian heroines relish talking about their habits and lifestyle, Meera, the Pakistani star, finds talking over the table a wee bit difficult. Especially on food.
Meera says her food choices are very limited. "I like normal food." Tell her such open and shut quotes will kill the prospect of a lively conversation, she elaborates: "I like to have water." Water! "I mean I love fruit juice." And... "I love to pray."
Hold on. Look beyond words, a not-so-perfect English pronunciation and Meera Rebab — the Shia from Lahore attracted widespread attention for over a smooch. The fruit bowl arrives, and Meera picks her preference — a bunch of grapes — and poses for the camera, picture perfect. Quotes can wait. The shades that she wore all day thanks to an eye problem are no longer there. Her mentor should not feel left out, so she rushes to Mahesh Bhatt, makes him feel "like the Prince of Arabia" as the director puts it. Some friendly banter, and she returns for the glass of orange juice.
"Mahesh Bhatt is the biggest intellectual in South Asia." Well, we understand. Finally Meera seems at ease. She comes back to the point. "I relish papaya and watermelon as well."
Dal-chawal girl
At home, dal-chawal is her favourite. "I eat lots of chicken and beef, and to keep myself in shape I take lots of boiled vegetables." Can she cook? "No, I can just prepare tea and coffee. Jab shauhar hoga to uske liye banaoongi."
Here is a girl who boasts she can look sexy as well as innocent, western as well traditional, is open to all kinds of roles and still maintains she will not let her country down. "Mine is a conservative country where people are wedded to customs. I am proud of my nationality. There is a limit to which I can go. Apni tehzeeb ki had ko par nahin karoongi."
No smooch
Switching to apple, she denies there is yet another smooch in the movie with Ashmit Patel. "There are some fundamentalists in Pakistan who are jealous of me. They want me to sit at home. People love me in Pakistan." She doesn't want to comment on Pakistan audiences failing to distinguish between the reel and real, but points out that things were no different in India a few years back. Doesn't she fear similar so-called fundamentalists in India, and does the deportation of a foreign actress from India make her anxious? "Abhi to mahaul theek hai. Anyway, I have a business visa and a work permit valid for a year. I have the permission to visit various Indian cities. This doesn't mean I have stopped doing films in Pakistan, but I am still open to offers in India. I want to work with Subhash Ghai and Yash Chopra. Talks are on for another film with the Bhatt banner." For once biscuits get her attention.
Authorities in the two countries might try to impede her mission, but Meera promises she will continue to play the role of peace ambassador. "I have asked the Government of Pakistan to give me the title of Peace Ambassador." Suddenly she realises all she's getting through her straw is air and that the glass is minus the juice
Perhaps Bhatt captures her persona better. "She is an artiste. At times she is in a shell while at times she becomes euphoric."
Time to sign an autograph for the cover of a magazine. Meera wants the film name to go with hers. "Bhatt sahib, how do we spell Nazar?" The balancing act continues.
ANUJ KUMAR
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