Reel life meets real life once again in Ram Gopal Varma’s Not A Love Story and actor Mahie Gill, who’s portraying Maria Susairaj, is wondrous about the interest the film has generated. “Little do they know how difficult it was for me to play a character inspired from a real life person (in her case, Maria Susairaj),” she says.
The actress, who grabbed eyeballs with her portrayal of Paro in Anurag Kashyap’s Dev.D, says about her role in Not A Love Story, “This was the toughest role I’ve played till date — it drained me mentally. The initial bit was easy since I too have been a struggling actor in Mumbai but eventually, when there’s one man in the house and the other man knocking at the door or when the couple make out, with the dead body in the other room or even the interrogation scene — these have been really taxing,” she recollects.
But Mahie is all praise for her director. “We finished shooting in just 22 days and I was amazed to see how soft-spoken and shy a person Ramu is,” she informs.
Not A Love Story and Timanghsu Dhulia’s Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster has Mahie shedding all inhibitions in lovemaking scenes. “It’s been quite awkward, but I’m glad that my directors shot these scenes aesthetically. In fact, both these films have realistic approaches and the roles actually needed the intimacy. Timangshu gave me enough time to get comfortable with Randeep (Hooda) and we shot these scenes towards the end of the schedule whereas in Not A Love Story, Deepak (Dobriyal) and I shot for it right on the first day,” she says, adding, “My trust in the director is the deciding factor in such cases — it’s not something I would do for every other film of mine.”
The actress feels she has matured over the years and the same reflects in her acting. “It also helps to have co-actors of the caliber of Naseeruddin Shah and Irrfan Khan (in Michael and Paan Singh Tomar respectively), who are so talented,” she states.
Mahie, who has been tagged as the thinking man’s actor, wants to break free though. “I’m burdened with a tag and am yearning to break free — I want a role that needs me to get dressed, put make-up, dance and sing,” she wishes.
