From fighting cancer to her new film, Manisha Koirala on her courageous comeback
Five years ago Manisha Koirala was battling for her life after she was diagnosed with cancer. “From this whole experience, I got a lot of gifts,” said Koirala in an interview to India Today in 2014. “Now I am enjoying life much more.”
Cancer-free now for three years, the actress best known for Bombay, Khamoshi, Dil Se and 1942 A Love Story is ready for phase two of her acting career. June 2 marks the release of Dear Maya in which she plays the titular character — a reclusive, traumatised artist whose life changes when she starts receiving love letters.
What starts out as a prank with good intent by two schoolgirls soon has dramatic consequences.
“I was waiting to work with a newer lot of directors and with a better script and story,” says Koirala. She found Sunaina Bhatnagar, an erstwhile assistant to Imtiaz Ali. The story, said Bhatnagar, was part inspired by a true story of a Sikh woman who locked herself in a room after the 1984 riots, not even allowing her own husband to enter.
“We just clicked,” said Koirala whose performance and presence are the saving grace of Bhatnagar’s meandering film. Koirala uses her eyes and make-up-free, expressive face to evoke the fear, distrust and turmoil of Maya. Without Koirala the film would be a difficult watch.
Bhatnagar isn’t the only newcomer that Koirala works with in the film. Two young actresses — Shreya Chaudhary and Madeha Imam — make their big screen debut.
“They are brilliant, gorgeous and positive,” said the 46-yearold Koirala about her co-stars. “I love today’s generation because they are so talented, intelligent and focused about their work. I see so much wisdom in them. I hope that is preserved as they embark on this tough journey.”
Koirala will soon be sharing screen briefly with Ranbir Kapoor in Rajkumar Hirani’s biopic on Sanjay Dutt in which she plays Nargis Dutt. “Whatever little I have seen he is so subtle, real, I’m completely in awe of him as an actor,” she said. “He is clearly the best we have in today’s generation.”
(Courtesy of Mail Today.)