Vidya Balan has a unique sex-appeal: Milan Luthria
Milan Luthria is a filmmaker who knows exactly what he wants to say - whether it's his films or discussions regarding them. Not the one to mince words, the director of The Dirty Picture speaks at length about his film in a candid conversation with Gaurav Malani.
Is 'The Dirty Picture' a spoof on the formulaic functioning of film industry in the 80s?
Certainly not! Even when I made Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, we ensured that it shouldn't look like a spoof on the era or its characters because the audience doesn't respect it then. We have done the same in The Dirty Picture and have tried to tell a tale like it was. The idea is not to laugh at them but to laugh with them.
The film is being hugely promoted as a comedy. Won't it overpower the inherent tragic essence in the story?
We tried the same strategy with Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai by promoting the film on its action and music to draw in audiences. Subsequently through the reviews and the audience feedback, the dramatic side of the story came out. Even The Dirty Picture has a strong dramatic side to it behind its gloss and glamour. And I believe it will come out logically as the film releases. We Asians are largely an emotionally-driven audience.
What made you think that you could change Vidya's girl-next-door image to that of a sex-symbol?
I was obsessed with the idea of having Vidya Balan in the lead role. When I met her, I was assured that I have made the right choice. Not only is she a great actress, she has a unique sex-appeal. And I was looking for this combination in my leading lady. Vidya Balan has the voluptuousness of actresses like Sridevi and Vyjayantimala which we don't see in the present lot.
Was it awkward for you to direct Vidya in any of the raunchy sequences?
It was extremely difficult because it was a man-woman equation. It is of course not easy for a male director to discuss necklines and hemlines with the actress. And I had to direct Vidya for many such provocative scenes. Initially even Vidya was nervous but she knew she had only me to turn to. And I tried my best to make her comfortable - like we had limited people on the sets and I had handpicked a female crew. Once Vidya gained her confidence in me, she was completely focused on the performance. I told Vidya that it was more my responsibility than hers to ensure that her performance comes out beautifully. It didn't matter whether she looked raunchy; she had to look erotic and sensual.
Wasn't it difficult for a good actress like Vidya Balan to portray a mediocre starlet in the film?
The character that Vidya plays in the film is extremely aggressive. She was so strong in her persona that many other actresses of her era wanted to follow her in terms of wearing less clothes or being bolder onscreen. And I think the perception changes when mainstream actors like Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah agree to be part of a film like this. That assures the audience that the film can't he merely cheap. The Dirty Picture is exciting and erotic but not vulgar.
So the film never gets vulgar despite the liberal skin-show?
There is a difference between erotic and vulgar. I have never resorted to vulgarity in any of my films so far and I was very clear I had to stay away from it even in The Dirty Picture despite the skin-show levels. We have not tried to exploit Vidya Balan but explore her.
What kind of research was involved in getting the 80s sex-symbol image correct?
The research involved watching a lot of Hindi and Tamil films of the 80s to understand the cinematic language - like what props were used, how were the camera movements, etc. The second part of research was to understand the life of South in the 80s. Like how would the studios function, what would the sets look like or how was the director's chair like. Then again we had to understand how people would be in regular life. The research took a good eight months, which also included a lot of internet search. All the products of that era are off the shelf now, so we had to manufacture anything and everything we needed in the film - then be it a matchbox.
And how close does Vidya Balan's character come to Silk Smitha?
She comes close to the stereotype of the era that includes the likes of Silk Smitha, Disco Shanti, Polyester Padmini or Nylon Nalini. Her character isn't modeled on anybody in particular. These so-called sex-symbols had the ability to do something different in a male-dominated film industry. For that matter even Marilyn Monroe was a reigning sex-symbol but had a very distressing personal life and a mysterious end.
Also is Naseeruddin Shah's larger-than-life superstar character modeled on the lines of Rajnikanth?
We have tried to give the flamboyance and stardom of Rajinikanth to his onscreen persona in the film in terms of the applause he receives from his fans. But for his off-screen character in the film, we have gone a generation behind and modeled it on the lines of superstars who used to lead a double life. They had a wife and a mistress at the same time and were shameless about it. There was hypocrisy surrounding them where these sinners were seen as saints. We have tried to tap that element.
Your recent films have had English titles (Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, The Dirty Picture) yet a strong mass-appeal.
Many films from Mother India, Mr & Mrs 55 to some recent ones have made it big despite having English titles. Also I think that the mix that you talk of, symbolizes me in a way. I am a man who thinks like the mass-audience but reads, writes or speaks in English. It's striking the correct balance between style and substance.
Is a sequel to 'The Dirty Picture' in the offing?
The Dirty Picture is not a film which has scope for a sequel. But the setting is so interesting that if I find a fascinating story in a similar setup, we shall surely think of a sequel. However nothing is on the cards as of now.
Finally, who is the claimant of the sex-symbol tag in present times?
I think the sex-symbol of yesteryears were not just good-looking but brought great chemistry with their costars, which stayed with their fans for years and ruled their hearts. If you ask me in today's times, I would say the claimant to the sex-symbol title, unexpectedly so, is Vidya Balan. Not because she is the heroine of my film but because a lot of young and old men are attracted by her unique sex-appeal.
Is 'The Dirty Picture' a spoof on the formulaic functioning of film industry in the 80s?
Certainly not! Even when I made Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, we ensured that it shouldn't look like a spoof on the era or its characters because the audience doesn't respect it then. We have done the same in The Dirty Picture and have tried to tell a tale like it was. The idea is not to laugh at them but to laugh with them.
The film is being hugely promoted as a comedy. Won't it overpower the inherent tragic essence in the story?
We tried the same strategy with Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai by promoting the film on its action and music to draw in audiences. Subsequently through the reviews and the audience feedback, the dramatic side of the story came out. Even The Dirty Picture has a strong dramatic side to it behind its gloss and glamour. And I believe it will come out logically as the film releases. We Asians are largely an emotionally-driven audience.
What made you think that you could change Vidya's girl-next-door image to that of a sex-symbol?
I was obsessed with the idea of having Vidya Balan in the lead role. When I met her, I was assured that I have made the right choice. Not only is she a great actress, she has a unique sex-appeal. And I was looking for this combination in my leading lady. Vidya Balan has the voluptuousness of actresses like Sridevi and Vyjayantimala which we don't see in the present lot.
Was it awkward for you to direct Vidya in any of the raunchy sequences?
It was extremely difficult because it was a man-woman equation. It is of course not easy for a male director to discuss necklines and hemlines with the actress. And I had to direct Vidya for many such provocative scenes. Initially even Vidya was nervous but she knew she had only me to turn to. And I tried my best to make her comfortable - like we had limited people on the sets and I had handpicked a female crew. Once Vidya gained her confidence in me, she was completely focused on the performance. I told Vidya that it was more my responsibility than hers to ensure that her performance comes out beautifully. It didn't matter whether she looked raunchy; she had to look erotic and sensual.
Wasn't it difficult for a good actress like Vidya Balan to portray a mediocre starlet in the film?
The character that Vidya plays in the film is extremely aggressive. She was so strong in her persona that many other actresses of her era wanted to follow her in terms of wearing less clothes or being bolder onscreen. And I think the perception changes when mainstream actors like Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah agree to be part of a film like this. That assures the audience that the film can't he merely cheap. The Dirty Picture is exciting and erotic but not vulgar.
So the film never gets vulgar despite the liberal skin-show?
There is a difference between erotic and vulgar. I have never resorted to vulgarity in any of my films so far and I was very clear I had to stay away from it even in The Dirty Picture despite the skin-show levels. We have not tried to exploit Vidya Balan but explore her.
What kind of research was involved in getting the 80s sex-symbol image correct?
The research involved watching a lot of Hindi and Tamil films of the 80s to understand the cinematic language - like what props were used, how were the camera movements, etc. The second part of research was to understand the life of South in the 80s. Like how would the studios function, what would the sets look like or how was the director's chair like. Then again we had to understand how people would be in regular life. The research took a good eight months, which also included a lot of internet search. All the products of that era are off the shelf now, so we had to manufacture anything and everything we needed in the film - then be it a matchbox.
And how close does Vidya Balan's character come to Silk Smitha?
She comes close to the stereotype of the era that includes the likes of Silk Smitha, Disco Shanti, Polyester Padmini or Nylon Nalini. Her character isn't modeled on anybody in particular. These so-called sex-symbols had the ability to do something different in a male-dominated film industry. For that matter even Marilyn Monroe was a reigning sex-symbol but had a very distressing personal life and a mysterious end.
Also is Naseeruddin Shah's larger-than-life superstar character modeled on the lines of Rajnikanth?
We have tried to give the flamboyance and stardom of Rajinikanth to his onscreen persona in the film in terms of the applause he receives from his fans. But for his off-screen character in the film, we have gone a generation behind and modeled it on the lines of superstars who used to lead a double life. They had a wife and a mistress at the same time and were shameless about it. There was hypocrisy surrounding them where these sinners were seen as saints. We have tried to tap that element.
Your recent films have had English titles (Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, The Dirty Picture) yet a strong mass-appeal.
Many films from Mother India, Mr & Mrs 55 to some recent ones have made it big despite having English titles. Also I think that the mix that you talk of, symbolizes me in a way. I am a man who thinks like the mass-audience but reads, writes or speaks in English. It's striking the correct balance between style and substance.
Is a sequel to 'The Dirty Picture' in the offing?
The Dirty Picture is not a film which has scope for a sequel. But the setting is so interesting that if I find a fascinating story in a similar setup, we shall surely think of a sequel. However nothing is on the cards as of now.
Finally, who is the claimant of the sex-symbol tag in present times?
I think the sex-symbol of yesteryears were not just good-looking but brought great chemistry with their costars, which stayed with their fans for years and ruled their hearts. If you ask me in today's times, I would say the claimant to the sex-symbol title, unexpectedly so, is Vidya Balan. Not because she is the heroine of my film but because a lot of young and old men are attracted by her unique sex-appeal.
