Sonali Kulkarni and Juhi Chawla share memories of working with the late Girish Karnad

Girish Karnad passed away yesterday at the minimal age of 81. The multifaceted actor-filmmaker worked with numerous actors over a career spanning half a century. Some of the prominent names to have worked with him are Juhi Chawla and Sonali Kulkarni. The two pretty ladies spoke to about their memories with the late thespian.

Via her PR team, Juhi Chawla sent forward a statement which read as, “A very, very fine actor, we had no scenes together, but I was so glad he was playing Shabanaji’s husband in ‘Chalk n Duster’. He lent such warmth and dignity to every character he essayed.”

Talking to DNA in an open letter, Sonali Kulkarni spoke a lot about Girish Karnad. Her debut film ‘Cheluvi’ (1992) was directed by Girish Karnad. She was barely 16 when she made her debut with Girish Karnad’s Kannada film. Here’s what she had to say about the legendary actor-filmmaker in her open letter to DNA:

I still remember the first time I met Girish uncle. He was casting for ‘Cheluvi’ and he needed a fresh face. I was 16, I was wearing a new Punjabi suit and had cycled to the venue. I had a complex then and I was pretty under confident. One of the elderly ladies there asked me, ‘why have you come for the audition, only fair and good looking girls are invited.’ I was quite nervous. Pandit Satyadev Dubeyji, who was holding theatre workshops then had sent a message to people who would fit into Girish uncle’s description for the audition.

When I met Girish uncle, he asked me what I was doing and at that time I was part of a play ‘Apule Maran’ by Chintamani Tryambak Khanolkar. He said he had done another play of his, ‘Ek Shunya Bajirao’. I never dreamed of doing a film with him, just meeting him was an enriching experience. Since that day I never had any complex!

My casting was done after photo shoots and video auditions. I didn’t have a phone those days. My aunt had, she called and told me Girish Karnad is on the line. When I spoke to him, he didn’t say he is giving me a break in films, or anything like that. Instead, he said, ‘Sonali we have gone through a couple of tests, and you suit the role. Would you like to be ‘Cheluvi’ of my film?’ It was such a cultured question — he was the epitome of culture. I happened to give him a weird answer. I said I had my mid-term exams coming up, so he wrote a letter to the principal of Fergusson College for permission. I still regret not having a photocopy of that letter. He came across as a fine human being rather than just a good director.

I had kept in touch with Girish uncle. He had an update of what’s happening in my career and family life. I still have the letters he wrote to me before we started communicating through email and WhatsApp.

Over a decade ago, he shifted to London for three years as Minister of Culture in the Indian High Commission. I was shooting in London then, and I can’t tell you how happy he was to meet my husband, Nachiket, and daughter, Kaveri. When he held Kaveri in his arms, he said, ‘Cheluvi’ continues to flower and this is the small bud. I had played the title role in ‘Cheluvi’, who was a flowering girl. I still have a picture of the four of us, and I want to hold onto that moment. There are many such instances. He is my father in the film industry and I am extremely lucky to be his child.

I wanted him to inaugurate my second book, which I am editing now. But some things have to be missed and you have to cherish the memories.

Also Read: Girish Karnad Dead: Veteran film and theatre personality dies at 81 of multiple organ failure

Prateek Sur

Born a Movie Buff, working as a Film Critique and enjoying life as a Bollywood Reporter.

Email: editor@bollywoodbubble.com Phone: +91 8355910465