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The performance continues

The face that set a million hearts aflutter in her heyday belongs to a woman of steely will. ZIYA US SALAM chats with Jayaprada, whose "Tathastu" hits the silver screen soon

THOUGHT-PROVOKING Jayaprada feels all of life is a learning experience Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Controversies have courted her like moth circles a flame. Be it her acting career, her foray to the stage with the dance drama Amrapali or her stint as a Lok Sabha MP from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, controversy has come to have permanent residence on the face of Jayaprada, the face that has launched a million fantasies besides dozens of box office hits. But the lady is not giving up. Neither on films, nor her stage appearances, or even her responsibilities as an MP.

Almost profound

All set to be seen on the silver screen again with Tathastu - more than two years after she did Khakee - Jayaprada still manages to give those delicious smiles, and convey that twinkle in the eye that once endeared her to cinemagoers. What's more, she also manages to sound almost profound. "Life is a learning process, we have to constantly learn. If a person does not grow with the times, he stagnates," she says in all honesty. The reference here is to her attempt to give the craftspersons of her constituency a platform to showcase their skills to the world.

"We have just had the inauguration of this training centre for women. But it is just the beginning. The centre will be operational early next year. This is an attempt to give local artistes a chance to hone and showcase their skills to international buyers. We are taking the help of Rakesh Kumar, export director, and I have also had a tie-up with the Pearl Academy of Fashion. When I saw the works of these artistes for the first time, I was truly amazed. They are as good as any stuff you will find in the U.S. or England. The only thing lacking is in packaging and presentation. My endeavour is to make the local products worthy of a global stage." Also on the anvil, discloses the first-time people's representative in Parliament, is a Rampur Haat for which the Stage Government has sanctioned a little under two crore rupees. "It will be like a local version of Dilli Haat. It will provide an opportunity to display the creations better, and foreign buyers will be able to find under one umbrella, jewellery, zari and patchwork sheets, cushions and covers, etc." Realising the project will take some time before being completed, she hastens to add, "Please be patient. The house is under construction. A touch of professionalism is required. It is like a film, which cannot be made in a day."

'Tathastu' ready

Sure enough. Her next release Tathastu is reportedly her quickest with the entire shooting schedule involving Sanjay Dutt, Amisha Patel besides Jaya herself, being wrapped up in 25 days. "I have just finished dubbing for the film. It is a beautiful story, a sensitive project that has given me a chance to fulfil a childhood real life dream in reel life at least." Incidentally, she plays a doctor in the film based on the rampant sale of human organs in the market. Meanwhile, she might just be seen in the Moraribabu Festival of Dance next month if the negotiations work out well. And there will be her entire Amrapali troupe. But did not she come under fire for her presentation in Lucknow recently with people alleging she had received Rs.40 lakhs for her performance even as seasoned artiste Pandit Jasraj got one-tenth of it.

`Nobody's business'

"If any corporate house sponsors my shows, what's anybody's problem? I can charge even a crore if the market is ready to give that much. At the same time I can perform for free for the propagation of art. I cannot drink petrol or oil. I can only do what I know. How come nobody asks Kapil Sibal or Arun Jaitley about their practice? I will perform Amrapali wherever there is a demand and understanding of the subject. I will perform where I am given respect and people respect the arts."Then she lapses into the familiar. "We have just had a tie-up with the Pearl Academy of Fashion and are planning to start a four-year course affiliated to a U.K. university," she says about a new avenue for the people of Rampur, then adds, "My dream project of a nursing training centre is also cleared. Also shaping up is an inter-college in Tanda and a stitching centre for women."

Even as the lady with Rajahmundary as the janambhoomi goes around making Rampur her karambhoomi, a couple of her films still wait for completion or release. There is College Campus, launched about a year ago. There is Kitu Ghosh's film "for a change of image" and a number with Adnan Sami. There is Mahesh Manjrekar's delayed Deha. The lady washes her hands off. "I am an artiste. It is the producer's prerogative to release the film when he wants." Controversy, did one say, had chosen her face for permanent residence? Watch that face.

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