FILM INTERVIEW: CAST OF ‘THE DIRTY PICTURE’

Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi & Tusshar Kapoor Risk It All & Push Bollywood’s Envelope

By: Simran Mody

November 29, 2011

It was not too long ago that Love Sex Aur Dhoka rocked Bollywood with its scintillating premise and envelope-pushing love scenes. Dibakar Banerjee’s film may have been one-upped by Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture, which stars Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, and Tusshar Kapoor. Expect to see quite a bit of intimacy, a lot of kissing (Serial Kisser, duh!), and some bare skin action (well, more than usual), courtesy of Ms. Balan.

Three of the film’s cast members talked about the experience of starring in The Dirty Picture, which opens on December 2nd opposite I Am Singh. Below are some thoughts Ms. Balan and Messrs. Hashmi and Kapoor had about this weekend’s highly anticipated release.

Simran Mody: Ms. Balan, you are playing quite the sensuous role in The Dirty Picture. How hard was it for you to get into character?

Vidya Balan: There was a certain amount of mental preparation about being uninhibited and being unapologetic about being uninhibited. But I have enjoyed it. Everyone knows about The Dirty Picture and are excited about the film. I feel very happy about this. I cannot wait for it to release. I just hope everyone reaches the theatre.

SM: Mr. Hashmi, you had a chance to work on a few scenes with Mr. Shah. What was that experience like? Did you ever feel as if Mr. Shah upstaged you?

Emraan Hashmi: We had two or three short scenes. There is a premiere and party shots, but not many. They cross paths as they are in the same industry. Naseer is an actor, Tusshar is a struggling writer, Vidya is an actress. As you are being part of same industry, you end up meeting people.

As far as the bold quotient goes ... I am doing my own bold stuff, but Naseer is the boldest in the film. I think he has taken all my mantle in the film and he is doing what I used to normally do in films.

SM: How were you able to still make your presence felt, despite Mr. Shah’s commanding sense of self?

EH: Everything is dirty in this film. It is the dirtiest film I have done. You cannot make a dirty picture without Emraan Hashmi.

SM: What makes this film worthy of its title? And does the film go too far?

EM: The tone of the film is bold and provocative, but it does not cross the line into vulgarity. Vulgarity is always subjective. The concept is bold, but at the same time entertaining.

SM: Mr. Kapoor, does The Dirty Picture cross the line for Bollywood’s standards? Or have times changed?

Tusshar Kapoor: There are lots of shades to my character. It is not something that will get overshadowed by the title. My image is not going to be damaged. Today, sex is not a taboo anymore. I think, even on screen and even in our society, people talk about it freely. Even if I get a soft-porn image, I don't have a problem with that.

SM: Tell us about your intimate scenes with Ms. Balan...

TK: I think it is part of your job. As per the demand of the script, you have to do intimate scenes. The only awkward feeling you get is when junior artists are watching you … and you want to get it right first. It is not uncomfortable because they are watching it, but you just want to do it fast. You don't want to be stuck doing the same thing again and again.

Balaji Motion Pictures' ‘The Dirty Picture’ has an ‘A’ Rating from the Indian Film Censor Board and releases on December 2, 2011.