Meet Geetanjali Thapa, Sikkim’s rising star

Her inbox was packed with congratulatory messages when she switched on her phone after arriving in India. Bollywood actress Geetanjali Thapa had just returned from Istanbul, where her film Liar’s Dice was screened at a film festival there. Jet lagged and tired, Thapa found to her delight that she had been selected for a national award in the best actor category for her role in the film.

Liar’s Dice, directed by Malayalam actress Geethu Mohandas, is about Kamala, a tribal woman from Chitkul, (a village on the Indo-China border), who goes in search of her missing husband, a construction worker. Kamala is accompanied by her three-year-old daughter and their pet goat. On the way, they meet an army deserter, who, understanding the perils that lie ahead for Kamala, decides to join them. Thapa plays Kamala and Nawazuddin Siddique the army deserter.

“I met Geethu during the shooting of I.D. [Thapa’s debut film],” remembers this native of Sikkim. “She narrated the story and I liked it, but I did not think of being a part of the film until Geethu asked me to audition for the role.”

Once on board, Thapa was involved in the film from the beginning. She travelled with Geethu to Shimla where auditions for a child actor were being held. Visiting Chitkul and observing its women helped Thapa understand their dialect and body language.

“The women manage everything while the men while away time playing cards. Simple and friendly, these women are strong and hardworking,” said Thapa.

She was a bit anxious about playing a mother to a little girl, but the kinks were ironed out during workshops with Manya Gupta who plays Kamala’s daughter.

“Manya and I got along well. She is an intelligent child. Off the sets we found things to do together,” smiles Thapa.

Bonding with the goat was easy for the animal lover whose pets include dogs and cats.

Having found a good friend in her director Thapa said: “I used to be super anxious about getting my delivery right, especially the climax scene. Geethu understood that and guided me well. You will know that the film has been made by a woman when you watch it and notice the little touches to the story.”

Praising co-actor Nawazuddin Siddique, Thapa said: “I am a huge admirer of his work. Despite his stature as an actor, he is humble and helped me with my scenes. Nawaz had amusing stories to share with us. He is a sweet guy.”

An English honours graduate, Thapa never planned a career into films. A stint in modelling for a designer friend while in college in Kolkata brought her a film offer. Thapa took it up, but that film never saw the light of day.

“That first film just happened,” recalls Thapa who aspired to become a commercial pilot and was working towards procuring a licence in Delhi.

Yet it was her unreleased film that stirred up the actor in her. Eager to try again, Thapa auditioned for I.D. and with it she took her first walk into Bollywood. I.D fetched her two international awards, one at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the second at Madrid Film Festival.

Thapa’s second film, Monsoon Shootout was screened at Cannes last year. She has also just finished Academy award winner, Danis Tanovic’s next film, White Lies.

Thapa plays Emraan Hashmi’s wife, “beyond that it is too early to talk about my role,” she adds.

Crediting her parents for being supportive emotionally and financially at a time when she was a newcomer not only to the country but to the industry, Thapa said: “They stood by me during the difficult times.”

— Mythily Ramachandran is a journalist based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.