t2 was watching the screener of the Zee5 film Saali Mohabbat when the call came with Radhika Apte at the other end. “I haven't seen the film, so I'm quite jealous of you right now,” she laughed on being told about the pause button being hit to take the call. She was speaking from her London home and had chosen an evening hour for the interview. We agree to pretend not having watched the film to avoid giving out any spoilers in the conversation that followed.
First things first, how would you characterise Saali Mohabbat?
It is a crime thriller, definitely, but it's not a whodunnit. It's more of a how-done-it. Even though, genre wise, it's a thriller, it is more about the intimate relationships and the cracks in our relationships, and how we think we know the people who are close to us, but then do we really know them? So it's an exploration of that. It's quite a still film — very calm and still. It's not loud. The aesthetics of it is very beautiful but it is a thriller, for sure.
True. The pace is stately, possibly because it's a homemaker at the centre of the film, one who believes in trees, which are very still.
What I really liked about the film is even if it's a crime thriller, it's quite a dark film. It's so gentle and calm and still — which you rarely see these days, because everything is so fast- paced with things happening all the time. This film is the opposite. In Hindi, there is an expression called thehrav. It has that.
Your character Smita doesn't give out much, except in the pained expression of her eyes.
Yeah. Nobody's ever asked her how she is, right? She's quite an introvert, and she's very happy among her plants when she's gardening. I really like that about the character, because she's mysterious. We don't really know what exactly is going on in her mind, or what she's capable of doing, and yet, as you watch it, you realise that there's something very innocent and quite primal in her.
Her appearance is of a powerless, suffering homemaker but you also get to see her certificates as a double gold medallist in botany.
Yeah, absolutely, she's very smart. She's smarter than the rest of the people in the film. She just doesn't have the arrogance, you know?
What kind of symbolism would you say the trees bring to the film?
I think it's just who she is. Given a choice, she'd be like a forest, like a plant. If nurtured, that’s how she would grow. She represents growth, generosity. I think she takes her energy from the plants. She's close to nature, and that's your clue.
Though Tisca Chopra is an acclaimed actress, it's difficult to believe she hasn't directed anything before.
Yeah, she has written it and lived with this film for a long time. She knows every nuance of all these characters. The difference between the other debutant directors and Tisca is if you are an actor for that long, then you already know how films are made. You're not new to the set. She knew what shots she wanted, how it was going to be edited, and all of that.
You have worked in so many projects directed by Anurag Kashyap. Did you share any frame with him in this film?
Unfortunately I haven't. One day we will share screen, I hope, but not this time.
There was someone from our part of the country in the film — Sauraseni Maitra.
She is so lovely. She was extremely sincere. She's a very good actor. We found a quite natural chemistry. I felt like she could be my younger sister, honestly. She's done a very good job in the film.
In between, you had possibly got disenchanted with Mumbai, moved away to do a course on dance in London, and then shifted to Pune. Are you are kind of a reluctant celebrity?
I think I'm still a reluctant celebrity. I really don't like to be recognised. I really like to perform, and I like the job, but I don't like the things that come with it. So I'm still and I think forever will be reluctant when it comes to being a celebrity.
You had also dabbled in direction with The Sleepwalkers, in 2020.
Yeah, it was such a long time ago. I did a short film, and then I decided to study screenwriting. I'm not doing a course, but I'm doing a lot of work here with script editors, and so yeah, I'm trying to write something. Whether I actually managed to make it or not, we'll have to see. The subjects that I am interested in aren't very fundable, apparently. If I find money, then maybe I'll make something.
Did you enjoy the experience of directing?
Oh, I loved it. I didn't think I’d like it so much, but I really want to write and direct again. I don't know if I'm good at it yet, because I haven't done it, or people haven't seen it, so I don't know. I don't want to commit to doing something. But when I did it, I really enjoyed it.
You used to do theatre as well. Has that taken a back seat?
It took a back seat for a while. I stopped doing theatre a long time ago. However, I've been wanting to start again. It's difficult in India because of you know how it works. But let's see if I get the right opportunity, I really want to do theatre again.
You have done an English film, Last Days, which released in the US in end-October. Will it release here?
To be honest with you, I don't think that it will release in India. I actually don't know, but it's a really nice film. I saw it recently when they did a show in the UK. It was a great experience working with nice people who really believed in the subject. They were very emotionally attached to the story. And it's a really beautiful film.
If we count from Wah Life Ho toh Aisi, which released in December 2005, this is your 20th year in the industry.
That film was like a summer course I did when I was in college. But yes, you're right.
Is there anything looking back that you'd want to change in these 20 years?
I don't have regrets. Normally. I feel gratitude, and I know that now I want to do something else, so I'm reducing work. In fact, I already have in the last few years.
Is living in England coming in the way of work in Mumbai?
No, no. I am living here for the last 15 years. I've always been up and down.
What comes next from you?
I have a few releases now. I don't know if I'm allowed to mention the other three but I've got a web show, Akka, and two other releases.
What's on your wish list now?
Nothing. That's it. I'm very happy, actually fantastic.