I don't think I've ever cried so hard during any movie as I did during Tara Zameen Par. It brought me back to my highly emotional adolescent years when crying seemed like the only thing I could do sometimes. Turns out the making of the film was just as interesting as the movie itself . For those of you who have been dying to know what it was like here it is, brought to you from the eyes of Vipin Sharma in Mumbai to your eyes wherever you may be!
Reshma:How has life been after the success of Tara Zameen Par?
Vipin: It's been completely different now! Before I was walking on the streets and no one knew who I was but now...for example I was sitting in an auto rickshaw (I was not used to traffic here, I just bought a car actually) and my auto rickshaw guy was being pushed to the side. The poor guy didn't know where to go so I leaned out the window and yelled to the car why are you harassing this poor guy and this guy lowered the window and he was abusing the driver again. But then suddenly he realized I was in the movie and the whole confusion disappeared. Another time a small girl came running to me and said you are in the movie Tara Zameen Par! And then she said you are very good. I was kind of worried kids might be scared of me. People recognize me most of the time! I have lot of confidence now to do more work since I'm back after 16 years. Kind of looking forward to more to come!!! It's a very unexplainable feeling when a stranger comes up to you and they get emotional about it. You feel like you are connected to the world around you. It has nothing to do with pride. It's a very human aspect of being recognized.
Reshma: What was it like working with Aamir Khan?
Vipin: I unfortunately had not seen Lagaan. When I was in Canada I rarely watched Bollywood films. I was not very connected to the scene. So the first time I met him everyone around me stood up and I did not know why and he came up to me and introduced myself. I did meet him at the Toronto film festival when Lagaan showed there. He was very respectful. I did tell him that I was away for sixteen years and he never made me feel that I was an outsider in anyway. He really respects people. Being an actor himself he knows how to treat actors. He did not get angry for little things; he's a very laid back guy.
Reshma: What was it like working with a costar as young as Darsheel?
Vipin: I met him at an audition. He narrowed it down to 16 sixteen kids so I was helping. I did the strawberry scene with him, he was very shy when I yelled at him he got a little scared. I felt really bad that he got so shaken but it was the scene and he had to do that. But his mom assured him that it was acting and it had to be done. He is a very intelligent lovely boy. He remembered everyone's name on the set. I couldn't even remember everyone's name! That just shows what kind of heart he has. Then he came and sat down next to me. And I got nervous too since he's so little so I didn't know how to interact with him and I didn't want anything to ruin his comfort level. I think he felt I was trying to help him we had a very good connection. At the narration he sat with me. During the shoot we became very good friends. We r both vegetarian so one day he jokingly asked if I was and he says cutely "that's great all these people who eat meat they will go to hell". He used to love playing Uno. Very innocently he would try to keep all the good cards for himself and I wouldn't tell on him.
Reshma: What scene or line in the film really moved you?
Vipin: I was very moved when the kid came around to see the painting Aamir painted. And when he was crying in the bathroom at the hostel. I also loved the scene when he was trying to put on the tie by himself and he couldn't.
Reshma: Do you think the film portrayed Dyslexia accurately?
Vipin: I am not an expert I did know about it living in Toronto but I did a little research. I think in films you can't tell everything and you can't go into major details and if you are interested you can do further research.
Reshma:Did you always want to go into acting?
Vipin:As a kid growing up I grew up on Bollywood I really wanted to be a movie star. I did not go to go to college in India I was a bit disappointed with the system so I studied at the National School of Drama based in Delhi. When I came to Bombay Keten Mehta assisted me. I was a bit disillusioned with the scenario and I was kind of an angry soul I didn't like the scene in India I wanted to go out an discover the world for a while. I went to Berlin and Europe, when I reached Canada I fell in love with Toronto. I couldn't act and I didn't want to act. My English was not very good at the time I don't know how it is now! (laughs a little) The unions are very strong in Canada. So I ended up becoming interested in post production and experimental films in while I lived there. I was also drawn to editing the Canadian film center it's a very reputed film school in Canada I attended that. About four or five years ago I thought about acting again since I did enjoy it but I did not think I was very good. Then I saw that Indian movies were changing for the good so I thought I would take some classes and refresh. I was lucky to meet Jacqueline Mclintock she did a ten week introductory course after 8 weeks I felt oh my god if this was the concept of acting I don't think I can live without it now. I wanted to perform in Hindi since it is my first language. So I decided to come back. Wrapped up my fifteen years I never thought I would never go back to India since I loved Toronto so much. I was kind of disturbed but I knew I had to do this. I knew if I didn't ten years from now I would regret not doing it. I thought I would get small roles I never expected what my life would be now. I was actually not first choice for the father role but I asked Amol who is a friend if I could audition and both Amir and Amol decided together. I was actually called for another role I had to pack everything in ten days and come back for a very small role I would not have gotten this one.
Reshma: How do you like living in Mumbai after Toronto?
Vipin:It's difficult to adjust to the dust and pollution. I was getting a lot of throat infections and coughing because of the weather. I did go through a lot I was getting a viral fever every two months. The traffic is kind of crazy. Plus Bombay throws a lot of things in your face. It keeps you humble it and grounded all the time. the importance of being human you really understand in Bombay.
Reshma: Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Vipin: I like Irfaan right now a lot. I also like Naseer and Tarika gave a stunning performance in Parzania if you have not seen it you must. I loved Hritik in Jodha Akbar. Aamir in lagaan. Saif is a good actor. Brad pitt Denzel Washington are two of my favorites and I really enjoyed Hilary Swank in in Boys Don't Cry.
Reshma: What is your favorite movie of all time?
Vipin:Chinatown and 400 blows by a French film maker Trufo.
Reshma: Was it hard doing the emotional scenes?
Vipin: Yeah it is hard but then you into the groove of the scene. The last take when I thank Aamir at the first take I was able to feel the emotions strongly in the next five to six takes I was able to feel the same emotional scenes. Sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn't. The scene when I went to see the three teacher that scene took a long time for me for some reason I could not get to that emotional level. I wasn't supposed to cry I just needed to look vulnerable and it was hard being in between. I got a lot of comments on the scene when I was coming down the steps when Darsheel was reading the board I had to do that scene a few times. It was a particular time of the day and the camera had to coordinate with me moving down the stairs. Aamir actually said jokingly the scene was jinxed. It became a thing where all the unit members would say oh no this scene again! One actually said if it doesn't happen we will sacrifice an animal. They actually broke the coconut on the steps and I came down and noticed it was wet and I asked why and they decided to break the Nariel that day.
Reshma: Tell me about your future projects?
Vipin: I am shying away from the films I did before, I am playing a part in Color of Passion which is my friend Ketan Mehtas film and we will see what happens next!
There you have it, the tears, the laughs, the film that is Tara Zameen Par. ~*~Reshma Dhawan~*~
