Interview: I can’t draw a line between filmy and real love – Sai Manjrekar

Being the daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, you have seen the film environment since childhood. You have also seen the ups and downs of this world. How much did this experience benefit you in your career?

As you said, the best thing about this is that I understood all the good and bad aspects of this industry quite early. As for failure, I had this clarity from the beginning that your success and failure here is decided every Friday. In such a situation, you are prepared for failures from childhood. You know that there is not only glamour and glitter here. It also has a different side which you will have to accept if you choose this industry. I had this understanding since childhood and I think it was good that I accepted this thing early.

How do you see your journey so far? What are you doing to improve yourself as an artist?

I am still trying to improve myself. I think this is just the beginning. I have a lot to do. Right now I am just trying to set my foundation. No building has been built on it yet, because I believe that a strong foundation is the most important. After that, choosing the right films, the right story, the right role, etc. will decide the way forward and that is what I am doing.

This film is a love story, what does love mean to you?

This is the most important thing in life. According to me, you cannot live a complete life without love. That love for parents, family, husband, wife, whoever it may be, the feeling, the comfort and relaxation in it, is different. For example, when you go out and do not eat rice and dal for twenty days, then you come home and feel happy eating rice and dal, if you feel that feeling with that person, then according to me, that is love. By the way, whatever I have learnt about love, I have learnt it from films only. Because of this, sometimes it also happens that I expect too much from the other person, because in films you see all these romantic things, which do not happen in real life. Therefore, I have to learn to draw a line between that filmy love and real life. (Laughs)

What did you learn while working with seasoned actors like Ajay Devgan and Tabu in the film?

These two are such actors that you learn a lot from them just by watching them work. When they come in front of the camera, they play their character with such ease that it is very inspiring to watch them. Unfortunately, we did not get much time together during the shooting, but the conversations we had later during the promotions, both of them are very sweet. Even after reaching such heights, they are so down to earth and humble, which was very inspiring for me.

In the film, you are portraying the young version of Tabu’s character Vasudha. It is being said that in the future, such young or old versions of lead actors will be generated using AI. How dangerous do you consider this technology for actors?

I don’t know, how natural and emotional will you be able to make the character with that AI? Our younger generation is equally important in this story that you don’t want to take the risk of looking different in them, otherwise your focus will go more on the technology than the character, whether the VFX was right or not. I think it will depend on the film. If the film demands that it is necessary to show the same person as young, then we can understand but I don’t think this is a threat for us. If it is, then I don’t know. Then maybe we will have to be afraid.

Is there any lesson from your father that you have taken to heart?

My father had said a very important thing that whenever you go to work, leave your household problems at home and when you come home, leave your outside problems outside. Only then will you be able to stay healthy, otherwise you will go mad. I always remember this thing of his/her.