Riding high after the recent success of her film Faraaz, which is based on a terrorist attack in Dhaka, her play, With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara, which is about to complete 60 shows in 15 months, actor Juhi Babbar Soni gets candid on leaving a lasting impression with her comeback performances in both theatre and films.
My Kolkata: Being the daughter of two acclaimed actors, did you grow up wanting to be an actor yourself?
Juhi Babbar Soni: I can't really give you a particular date as when I decided to be an actor, but subconsciously, I always wanted to be an actor.
You started your career with theatre, followed by TV and mainstream cinema. Then, you took a break. Why?
Yes, I started off with theatre. My mother and I run our own theatre company, Ekjute, which is now 42 years old. And I never moved on to TV as such, but I did one show for Red Chillies Entertainment because I’m a very big fan of Shah Rukh Khan. It was a big opportunity to be associated with him, so I took it up. Before I did television, I had done a film too. But after I got married, I took a long sabbatical because I wanted to spend time with my son.
Do you have any plans of returning to the big screen? Is there a dream project?
I’m back to doing films now. I did Faraaz, which premiered at the London Film Festival. God has been really kind and I have received fantastic reviews for it. I’m also doing another film that should be out in the next couple of months. Plus, I am also working in a web series. As for dream projects, I'm always up for good films and expect better roles this time around.
You have worked in both theatre and films. As an actor, how are the two mediums different?
As an actor, you end up working for both mediums, but there’s a difference in acting style. In theatre, you're connecting directly with a live audience, so there could be a requirement for a voice throw of certain kind. Also, your body gestures, hand gestures and expressions need to be larger than life. While acting for a film, you need to be as realistic as possible in front of the camera. If you don’t pay attention to your hand gestures, your movements would be out of the camera frame. Performance-wise too, you need to tone it down.
Did your parents, Raj Babbar and Nadira Babbar, influence or inspire you in any way?
I would not say influenced, but they definitely inspired me in every way possible. Whatever I am today is because of them. I feeI I have inherited their talent. I have two legends in my house and I’d be stupid if I did not learn from them.
‘I have two legends in my house and I’d be stupid if I did not learn from them,’ says the actor
How long have you been involved in theatre?
My first stage performance was in 1999. It's been an enriching journey of close to 24 years — catering to the Indian theatre audience in varying capacities.
Tell us about the experience of working with your mother...
My mother is an amazing director, writer and actor. I’m very fortunate to have experienced all of that while working under her in plays she has written and also as a co-actor. I belong to the Nadira Babbar school of acting. Somebody, who’s watched my mother’s work, will come back and say, ‘Oh! That expression was so Nadira’.
Tell us about the story of With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara.
This play was written during the Covid-induced lockdown. Saiyaraa’s story is such that not just women, but everybody can relate to it. It's unheard of that a Hindi play, in a span of 15 months, is going to touch 60 shows. Calcutta saw my 54th and 55th shows, post which I’ll be performing in Mumbai. I'm also the writer of the play. So, I can sense what’s doing well and when the audience gets uncomfortable due to a few comments and questions raised on society. So, I have tried to maintain the balance of seriousness and entertainment in this play.
A scene from ‘With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara’
Are the characters loosely based on real people or purely a figment of your imagination?
Saiyaara’s character was actually a part of a play called Kiske Roke Ruka Hai Sawera. The character was conceived by my mother. Later, she asked me to develop it. On stage, Saiyaara is a story of a woman, but in real life, it’s a story of a billion women around us.
So, what’s next for you in theatre?
The expectations are high after the success of Aap Ki Saiyaara, which makes me very sceptical about what I'll do next. But I'm itching to do something new and very different from Saiyaara.
‘OTT is definitely the future. The phase we are going through right now is the best one because there's so much work out there for everybody’
How did Faraaz come your way and what was the experience like?
In 2019, Dharma Productions offered me a film through Mukesh Chhabra, a casting director, who asked me not to miss such an opportunity. We shot 60% of the film, but then the pandemic hit us. Also, due to a major rift between the lead actor and the production house, the film got shelved.
Few months later, Mukesh rang me up again. He told me even if I was not keen on doing a mother’s role, I should do Faraaz. Firstly, it is a Hansal Mehta film and secondly, it's based on a terrorist attack that took place in Dhaka. When I further discussed the role with Hansal, I realised that it was one of the most pertinent, sensitive roles in the film. So, I said yes to it.
Do you think OTT is the future? Do you have more web projects coming up?
Yes, OTT is definitely the future. The phase we are going through right now is the best one because there's so much work out there for everybody. I'm really glad that I'm doing a web series with an ensemble cast, and I can't wait for it to be available for public viewing.
Do you enjoy coming back to Kolkata?
Yes, of course. Kolkata fascinates me because of its rich heritage. The most beautiful thing about this city is the love and respect people have for art and culture.
