‘Sameer’ actress Anjali Patil opens up about her role in the film and more…

Anjali Patil, who has been a part of films like ‘Finding Fanny’, ‘Mirzya’ and many others, is ready with her next venture. She would be essaying the role of a journalist in her next film titled ‘Sameer’. Directed by award winning documentary maker Dakxin Chhara, the trailer of ‘Sameer’ is intriguing and had left everyone stunned. It is dark, it gripping and it is edgy. It stars Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Anjali Patil in the lead.

Speaking exclusively to us, the actress has spoken up about her role and how this industry functions.

Excerpts from the interview.

Tell us something about your role in ‘Sameer’? 

I play a role of a photo journalist in ‘Sameer’, named Alia Irade. She is kind of famous journalist in the circuit who has connections with all these people, these groups who intimate her most of the time before carrying out any attack. She is this kind of a celebrity journalist who always gets notification or a mail from these groups before any attack. Alia Irade has this own personal search of 55 kids who went missing after a bomb blast. Nobody knows about these kids, there is no record in the system and nobody cares about these kids.

Does it have any real life reference?

‘Sameer’ is a political thriller which means that there will be influences from politics, happening around us. You will see some references and images from real incidences, but the story is completely fictional. The premise is from the reality.

What preparations went behind this film? 

Nothing honestly! Answer for this question this varies from project to project. For Alia Irade, because she is a photo-journalist and I am a photographer, myself. So it was kind of nice to portray something connected to photography. My photography is also with real people, most of the time I am into real places and candid shots. I travel a lot and I go into the alleys and villages. I would find places that are not accessible to people to shoot. So that way my whole life was a preparation for this role.

How was it working with Zeeshan Ayyub? 

Zeeshan Ayyub is also my senior from National School of Drama, so we have this nice connection. It was a nice NSD family reunion. We all consider Alma mater as our mother and we have this tremendous love for this institute. Zeeshan is an incredibly talented actor and it was amazing to be with him and act with him.

You prefer doing offbeat films, is it a conscious decision? 

I don’t know. It’s not that I chose it consciously or may be very consciously. I would like to be a part of films that mean something more than only entertainment. Having said that I don’t have problem with entertainment, we need that. Today is a space where we have space for everything. We have great Indie films coming up and then there are massy entertainers.

You were a part of a big film like ‘Mirzya’, but when the movie was promoted, it was more about Harshvardhan and Saiyami. Do you think not promoting supporting actors is something that stops them to come into limelight?

The way this industry has been functioning they have rules. Most of them go by these rules. Then some comes and breaks the rule like Nawazuddin or Kangana. So there are these people breaking these stereotypical ideas. I feel that it will always be about talent. After ‘Mirzya’, I got so many calls and messages on social media praising my performance more that the film. I don’t know whether I can say that (laughs) as I have shot a film with Rakeysh sir.

Recently, I and Rakeysh sir have done a film called ‘Mere Pyare Prime Minister’ which will release next year. It is about a kid who wants to build a toilet for his mother. So for me it doesn’t matter. I shy away from public domain; I do my work and vanish in mountains or interiors. I do my job and publicity and fame and all the other parts are accessories, are additional.

What’s your role in ‘Nimmo’ directed by Aanand L Rai?

I am the ‘Nimmo’, I am the girl. It’s a love story of a little boy who falls in love with me.

What happened to ‘Kill The Rapist’?

I have no idea. I seriously don’t know what is happening with this film. It started as an interesting project, but now I am not sure what is happening with the film. It was strong, but now my idea has now changed. Maybe, it will not release.

Lastly, any director on the wishlist?

Dilip Shankar, Vishal Bharadwaj and Vikramaditya Motwani. But I am more than happy to work with new directors, with new vision. Because the freedom you get is of a different kind.

Nikita Thakkar

A strongly opinionated, free-spirited, budding Bollywood journalist, she likes to write anything in her own quirky style. When not running around to get assigned tasks completed, you will find her either painting, indulging in photography or dreaming in the la la land.