I liked the second film a little more than the first… and I loved the first film — Lillete Dubey’s first words to t2. “There have been some people who have said, ‘Why another film?’ but the audience has loved the fact that there’s been another film. It’s number 1 at the UK box office and that says a lot,” says the theatre and film veteran about The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (currently playing in cinemas), in which she plays Dev Patel’s overbearing and domineering mother. A chat.  

While you were doing The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, did you know that a second film was being planned and that you would be a part of it?

I didn’t, actually. Anyway, this film is not really a sequel. The director likes to call it a companion piece. It takes the characters forward in completely unexpected directions. The first film was that rare film for me — after (Mira Nair’s) Monsoon Wedding — that we had so much fun during the process of making it. We knew that we were making something joyful and positive, with both films. We got attached to each other while making the film. It was one of the most rewarding and enjoyable film experiences ever for me.

It was much, much later that the plan to make a second film came out and when the script came to me, I was very intrigued to discover how the story was being taken forward. I was very happy when I came to know that my character, Mrs Kapoor, was going to be in this one too… and that there was going to be some sort of a romance subplot for her as well (laughs).

Apparently you were quite ‘cool’ when you were told that Richard Gere was going to be your ‘romantic interest’…

(Laughs out loud) I wasn’t cool! I was happy. When I read the script and this particular character, I thought of a number of names who would fit this part… and Richard Gere was one of the names that popped up. When John Madden (the film’s director) told me that Richard was playing the part, I didn’t really get hysterical (laughs). I didn’t react in that sort of palpitation-al manner that was expected (laughs), but I was happy because I felt it was well cast....  I had a lovely time working with Richard. He’s such a gentleman… so charming and down to earth, with a great sense of humour. He’s known to get women quite hysterical!

Weren’t your daughters Ira and Neha excited about their mother being romanced by Richard Gere?!

(Laughs) They are also like me… not really the excited, hysterical sort. They were happy, but not scream-y and squeal-y! They both met him on set while we were shooting and he was very warm towards them. He’s a very affectionate person with everyone — from the actors to the lighting guys to the make-up men.

Was the foreign cast and crew more comfortable in India shooting the second film than they were for the first?

Yes, they were. In fact, Bill (Nighy) and Judi (Dench) were quite adventurous… they went out and did some shopping in the bazaars and a whole lot of sightseeing. But these guys are unbelievable… they adapted to India very well. What happened to them in the first film — trying to acclimatise to India and its weather and its people — is what they were doing in real life while shooting for the film. With the second film, they were far more at home. Bill Nighy is a rockstar… he kept us all entertained. It was a party on set.

How was it working in a Holly production vis-a-vis your experience with the making of a Bolly film?

The level of professionalism is very, very, very high. A film is all about teamwork and in this one even the big guns have worked like an ensemble. While we were shooting the climax of the first film in Jaipur, I remember I had a show of my play Dance Like A Man in Mumbai a couple of hours later. But we had to shoot that climax that day, which was that scene in the courtyard of the hotel. It was a very hot day and there were multiple shots. Maggie Smith (who plays Muriel Donnelly) wasn’t even in the frame, but she had to give me a cue of just four words — and she sat four hours in the sun for that! I was so embarrassed because she was 78 at that time and an assistant director could have given me the cue. But Maggie told me, ‘My darling girl, this is my job!’ That’s the level of professionalism I am talking about. She and Judi were so worried that I wouldn’t make it on time for my play — they are such involved and understanding and committed people.

Judi had her knees done just four months before the second film and she wanted to dance in the finale sequence. It was shot at 2.30am and she was like:

‘I don’t care about my knees… I want to dance!’
Also, one big thing with these people is that they respect you even more when they know you do theatre. In India, theatre is the third cousin after films and TV, but in the West, it holds a very special place. And Judi and Maggie are such stalwarts of the British stage.

Is a third Marigold film in the works?

You can’t believe the number of people who have asked me this. I was doing a media junket in London for this film and about 75 per cent of the reporters asked me this question. People were asking this even at the premiere in Odeon at Leicester Square which looked beautiful done up with marigold. It was crazy to be walking down the red carpet and having non-Indian fans shouting out my name. So all this tells me that a third film will definitely be very welcome.

Priyanka Roy
What would your reaction be if you were cast opposite Richard Gere? Tell t2@abp.in