Bollywood star Aamir Khan revealed that the first play by William Shakespeare he read was Julius Caesar, when he was in 10th grade, and that his first film was inspired by another of the Bard’s works. The actor was taking part in a discussion about the work and legacy of the playwright with British actor Ian McKellen at the launch of the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images’ (Mami) Film Club on Monday night.
Marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, McKellen and Khan explored the many film adaptations and interpretations of Shakespeare’s work as a part of Shakespeare Lives — a global programme launched by the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign.
“There is nothing old-fashioned about Shakespeare,” said McKellen, a veteran of many Shakespearean plays staged around the world. “You cannot understand Shakespeare in a classroom or by reading.”
“The right medium to discover his true genius is through theatre with the right actors, the right director, as theatre, film and cinema are the best media to experience him. His thinking is about modernism and issues that are relevant even today, hence his work travels across the globe,” he added.
Khan said that Shakespeare’s work greatly influenced his life.
“The first time I experienced Shakespeare was in the 10th grade when I studied Julius Caesar. It opened my world to a newness I had never known. In fact, my first movie [Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak] was also inspired by Romeo and Juliet, a true Shakespearean classic,” Khan added.
“I feel discussions like these influence the artists in all of us and inspire us to become better at our crafts.”
Joined by the who’s who of the Indian film and business fraternity, the star-studded launch event also saw actors Kangana Ranaut, Sonam Kapoor, Imran Khan, Kiran Rao, Kabir Khan, Mini Mathur, Rajkummar Rao, among others.
Through year-round activities such as screenings, master classes, in-depth conversations and workshops, the Mami Film Club aims to serve as a platform for filmmakers and film lovers.
Khan’s wife, Kiran Rao, is the chairperson of Mami.
“It is time for the world to stand up and take notice of Indian cinema and its contribution to filmmaking globally. Shakespearean adaptations in Indian movies are a testament to the fact that we are on the brink of an amazing journey ahead. Mami via its Film Club and other year-long initiatives aims to satiate the exact same hunger for great storytelling one movie at a time,” she said.
Mami director Anupama Chopra said that 2016 is a “year of transformation for Mami and this conversation piece was a strategic move in the right direction towards its bright future”.
A film festival will be held from May 25 to 29 at three venues (Liberty cinema, Alliance de Francaise and Max Mueller Bhavan), screening over 182 films from 53 countries; McKellen will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony on May 25 at Liberty cinema.
