Kriti Sanon: I was charmed by Sanjay Dutt Sir's personality in Panipat!
Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon's Panipat is currently the most awaited release of December. It is a historical drama directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and revolves around the third battle of Panipat fought between the Maratha Empire and the Afghan army. The trailer of the film won the hearts of the fans and Kriti was loved in the Marathi look.
While the film is on the verge of release, our team had a chat with Parvati Bai aka Kriti Sanon. Check out some interesting insights about the film that Kriti revealed during her conversation with us.
Q: How easy was it to play a Maharashtrian role? What difficulties came across?
Kriti: To play a Maharashtrian was not so challenging. I have, fortunately, good grasping power and pronounce decently well. I wanted to make sure whatever little bit of Marathi I am speaking in the film has to sound like a Maharashtrian. It is a beautiful language and has got a beautiful flavour to it. I used to try and improvise on set and gradually started enjoying it. It just makes you feel like a different person when you are talking in a different language.
Q: How difficult was it to learn Horse riding and Sword fighting?
Kriti: Fortunately, I had already learned horse riding in Rabta but I never tried sword fighting so I focused on sword fighting as Ashu sir had informed me regarding this scene in the mid of the shoot. Firstly, I was very nervous to complete this scene in two days. The action sequel was rehearsed quite a few times to bring the perfection required to depict the role of Parvati Bai. The biggest challenge was to perform this stunt in Navari Saree as the vision gets blurred due to dust.
Q: How was working with Sanjay Dutt?
Kriti: When I met Sanjay Dutt Sir, I was charmed by his personality. I had always seen him on the big screen and I was happy that I got to meet him. When you meet him in person, his aura is something different. He is extremely humble and sweet as a person. He is a head-turner. You have to look and notice. You feel the energy when he enters the room. I wish I get to do scenes with him in the near future.
Q: How was your experience of working with Zeenat Aman in Panipat?
Kriti: I shot with her for a very important scene in the film. I was little nervous at the beginning because she is the 'Zeenat Aman', a legend, and I didn’t want to say even one dialogue wrong in front of her. But Zeenat ma'am apparently put me to ease during the script reading session; she was extremely warm and lovely. Despite being a legend, she still had the hunger for perfection. She used to ask Ashu sir again and again, “Am I doing it right? Are you happy? Should I do anything more?”
When that comes from an actor who is so experienced, it just inspires you. I wish I would be like her in the years to come, where I am still that hungry to make sure I am perfect in everything. She has so much grace and warmth as a person, and when you are a good person it reflects on your performances as well.
Q: What was the perception of director Ashutosh Gowariker for Parvati Bai?
Kriti: Ashu sir, I feel, is someone who cannot see his women weak. He has this thing and I think it comes from the fact that he has a very strong woman with him, Sunita (his wife). Even though his films are periodic, his characters are very contemporary. He has made Parvati Bai as someone who fights, who can protect her people, if needed. When you get to play such a character, you just feel proud. I researched about Parvati Bai, but there is hardly any information on the internet about her, except her birth, her basic information and how she died. I think a lot of it in the film comes from Ashu sir. My history book was Ashu sir. I think he is better than any history book! He is so well-read and he knows every small detail of what has happened - not only about this war but in general.
Q: Which are your favourite films by Ashutosh Gowariker?
Kriti: I love Lagaan and Swades. If you ask about historical films, then it has to be Jodhaa Akbar. I enjoyed watching it. Jodhaa's character is very strong in the film. She has a voice and is very strong-headed. One of my favourite scenes is the sword-fighting scene featuring Akbar (Hrithik Roshan) and Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). It is an iconic scene and I wish to do a scene like that. I realize Ashu sir has immense respect for women and sees them as strong-headed people who can take a step equal to a man.
Q: You came into the industry without any connections with Heropanti, but the turning point in your career was Bareilly Ki Barfi. The film has opened ‘a lot of doors’ for you.
Kriti: It changed the perception of many, and made people take me seriously as an actor. Later, when I bagged Lukka Chuppi, it made me confident enough to take up different kinds of roles and not be scared. When the films resonate with the audience, it gives you the confidence to take more risks.
Q: Panipat and Tanhaji - The Unsung Warrior, both the plots are based on the Maratha dynasty. Do you think that the audience will get divided?
Kriti: Firstly, both the films are not releasing on the same day. Secondly, both have different storylines. Plus, the makers are different; the characters are different, so why would the audience get divided? It is not like they are making a film on someone's character that is there in our film. I personally feel that it is great that so many more stories of the periodic time are coming up and being presented on the big screen.
Starring Arjun Kapoor as Sadashiv Rao Bhau, the film is based on the Third battle of Panipat and will star Sanjay Dutt as Ahmed Shah Abdali. It also stars Zeenat Aman, Padmini Kolhapure, Mohnish Bahl in important roles. Panipat is slated to release on December 6, 2019.
