New York-born Nargis Fakhri, praised for her poised, confident screen presence and deep understanding of her role in Shoojit Sircar’s Madras Cafe, says she was “clueless” after her Bollywood debut Rockstar.
The period of exile after her 2011 debut was confusing for the actress. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actor Ranbir Kapoor and the rest of the Rockstar team had taken Fakhri under their wings. But after the release, when her performance was slated, Fakhri found herself isolated and disoriented in a city and profession she knew nothing about.
“I was clueless,” she said. “It was a disappointing time for me. I couldn’t share it with my mother. Because she would’ve just ordered me home. But there was no dearth of work. I was getting these endorsements, shooting magazine covers. But very frankly, Rockstar was too vast an experience and culturally too distanced from where I come from, for me to handle,” said Fakhri, who was born in New York.
“I didn’t understand the culture or the milieu. Just imagine — if tomorrow you’re offered the main lead in a big Chinese film where they tell you, you are the ideal choice. That’s exactly how I felt when I was did Rockstar,” she added.
Nevertheless, the deglamourised role of a war correspondent in the recently released John Abraham-starrer Madras Cafe fitted Fakhri’s personality, she believes.
“I play a journalist. And I was required to speak only in English. My Hindi is still rusty. But at least now I understand Hindi, so when John Abraham speaks to me I am not lost.
“And I got to speak in my voice in Madras Cafe. So it’s one consistent performance visually and vocally. Speaking in someone else’s voice in Rockstar was very confusing for my performance. I should’ve insisted on using my own voice. I guess I am not the kind of who girl who throws a tantrum to get her way,” she said.
The film collected more than Rs200 million (Dh11 million) in the first three days of its release over the weekend, according to trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
The story revolves around the Sri Lankan civil war and has been praised for its intellectual content.
“The movie is very good. The occupancy this weekend was around 65 per cent. I heard one of the viewers saying that it’s an intelligent and honest film. The audience was mostly mature,” an official of a multiplex in Mumbai said.
Co-produced by John Abraham and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, the political thriller also stars Abraham in the lead and Raashi Khanna, and was reportedly made at a budget of less than Rs100 million.
Even filmmaker Karan Johar said he found the film “intelligent”.
What Fakhri enjoyed most in Madras Cafe was her role’s austere minimalist approach.
“The girl I play is a no-nonsense professional. I didn’t have to wear heavy make-up and false eyelashes. I was required to behave as naturally as possible,” she added.
Madras Cafe is currently showing in the UAE.
