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Canadian director Deepa Mehta is one of the most distinguished contemporary filmmakers in alternative Indian cinema, with films dealing with both fringe and traditional Indian culture, several of which have caused outrage in India owing to their charged social or political content.
Mehta, who is coming to Dubai next week for the screening of her latest release, Heaven on Earth, at the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) spoke to tabloid! about working with Preity Zinta in the film and her upcoming collaboration with Salman Rushdie.
Your film Heaven On Earth will be screened at DIFF. Tell us about it.
The film is based on the true story of a Toronto-based Punjabi woman, Amardeep, who is a victim of domestic violence. She uses fantasy to escape a violent marriage. Preity gave a superlative performance.
Preity Zinta won the best actress award at Chicago Film Festival for the film. How was it working with her, considering that until now she's only done typical Bollywood masala films?
She's an excellent actress. We had to work under extremely difficult situation the weather was freezing in Canada while we were shooting for some scenes but she's given her best. I respect her more for her strong social conscience.
Your films are not experimental but they deal with everyday social issues. Do you try to make a statement or send out a message through your film?
No, I don't want to send any kind of message.
I just want to make a good film. I am a storyteller.
You are a regular at DIFF. Tell us how you rate the film fest.
I attended the inaugural DIFF with Rahul Khanna when my film Earth was screened. From thereon I tried not to miss any. The festival truly is bridging cultures and bringing in powerful and brilliant films, not only from Middle East but from all over the world. It has put the Middle East on the art and cultural map of the world.
We heard that you are doing a film of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children. How did this collaboration come about?
Salman and I have been friends and we always wanted to work together. Some months ago, he was in Toronto and he came over, and I told him that I'd really love to do a film on Midnight's Children. And he said yes. And that's how it happened.
Is it true that Rushdie has a cameo role as a fortune teller in the film?
Absolutely. I'm sure he is as good an actor as he is as a writer.
In the past filmmakers have made trilogies, like Satyajit Ray's Apu trilogy. Were you influenced by him when you made Fire, Earth and Water?
No not all. But I truly admire Satyajit Ray as a director and for his humanitarian cinema. He was not just a defining factor for Indian cinema but one of the best directors in world.
You have made films on every element — Fire, Earth and Water. What about space?
(Laughs) Space? It doesn't interest me. I wanted to do a trilogy and I did it.
What other projects are you working on?
I'm working on Komagata Maru. Akshay Kumar will play the lead role. It is based on a true-life voyage of an ill-fated passenger ship from India to Vancouver with 376 passengers on board seeking a new life in the promise land.
Your choice of Akshay Kumar, is it an attempt to keep the film in the media glare?
I chose Akshay not because of his market value but because he's very sensitive actor who fit the part perfectly and is dedicated enough to play his part.
But Akshay comes at hefty price. How much did you pay him?
Nothing. I am saved. He's co-producing the film.
You worked with big stars like Aamir Khan in Earth, Preity Zinta in Heaven On Earth and now Akshay Kumar in Komagata Maru. Do you plan to make a film with Shah Rukh Khan or Big B?
I would love to work with Mr Bachchan and Shah Rukh. I just need to get appropriate scripts that will suit their personality. Both are fine actors and I really look up to them.
Don't Miss it
Deepa Mehta film Heaven On Earth, starring Preity Zinta, will be screened at Mall of the Emirates on December 13 and 16. The film is in the competitive section at DIFF.
Did you know?
Deepa Mehta produced and directed her first feature film, Sam & Me in 1991. It premiered at Cannes — the first of many prestigious festival appearances for Mehta's films.
With her third feature, Fire, Mehta launched her controversial “elements" trilogy of films set in India. Fire, Earth and Water all premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received broad critical acclaim.
Deepa Mehta's many honours include an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film for Water, and a Genie award for best screenplay for Bollywood/
Hollywood.
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