Interview: Manisha Koirala
By: Simran Mody, India Correspondent
Two weeks before experiencing the day many women across the world dream of during their childhood and early adult days, Nepali-born Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala is spending the final moments before her wedding to businessman Samrat Dahal promoting the Rachana Singh-produced Parsho Ghosh film Ek Second … Jo Zindagi Badal De, which also stars Jackie Shroff and opens on June 11th. In the lead up to Friday’s wide theatrical release, Manisha spoke to reporters, in an afternoon press conference at a Mumbai hotel, chiming in on both her sabbatical, marriage, and final film as a single woman.
A film about confused identities, Manisha made no bones that she has her actual and fictional roles in order. Still, her character in Ek Second … Jo Zindagi Badal De is quite at odds with herself.
“It’s not a double role but shows two characters within a single person. One side of the character is very submissive, docile and innocent,” Manisha told reporters. “The other side of her is very strong; she is decisive just like women of today’s world. I am playing two shades of the same character. It’s quite an interesting concept.”
The actress, who is widely known among Bollywood insiders and fans alike as a connoisseur of art-house cinema, was hard-pressed about her much-ballyhooed sabbatical in which she all but cut acting out of her life. Yet Manisha told reporters, at the cordial press conference this week, that she views acting like riding a bicycle — once you know how to ride one, you never forget.
“Once an actor, always an actor, so getting in front of the camera after a bit of a gap wasn’t really a big deal,” she candidly informed the press. “I could be comfortable, relaxed, and confident because I knew that I was doing what I loved doing, and I am happy to be back after my sabbatical.”
Manisha further explained that many fans and industry insiders were baffled by her sabbatical, questioning why an actress who is as talented as she is adored and respected would want to step away from her natural calling.
“A lot of people can’t comprehend why I would have wanted to take a break, but my reasons were simple. I was tired and I wanted to travel the world,” she explained. “And that is precisely what I did. At some level, I also wanted to get away from the public eye and the media glare.”
She went on to explain that there were moments where she did have an itch to return, though perhaps her sabbatical was a good thing, as it allowed her to focus on honing in on her talents, ergo allowing her to return to acting bigger and better than ever.
“I have these sporadic urges, I guess. Even when I was doing well in Bollywood, I took a break to study direction. I enrolled myself in the New York University and enjoyed being away from B-town. Then I was back with Chaahat – Ek Nasha,” she told the press. “But all said and done, I’ve matured over the years. I am emotionally and mentally ready to settle down, and this time I’m not getting any jitters or cold feet.”
Interesting that Manisha should mention the words “cold feet,” with her marriage a mere two weekends after Ek Second … Jo Zindagi Badal De releases. Then again, Manisha says she is far from having second thoughts of tying the knot, even with her promotional work behind this film serving as a hindrance to wedding planning.
“I am excited! My wedding is just 15 days away and there is still so much to do,” she said. “I’m just not being able to make enough time for the preparations because of the tight film promotion schedule.”
Of course, that schedule is not preventing her from leaking to the press what she will be wearing at her wedding or from chiming in on what she thinks of her husband-to-be. Nor is her impending marriage a road block to her acting career.
“I’m going to be wearing an ethnic Sabyasachi outfit, and there are lot of preparations still to be made. My family is extremely excited about my wedding and have been busy with all the planning,” she joyously explained. “It’s always a good feeling to know you’ve found your Mister Right. And for all of you who have been wondering whether I will continue to act, the answer is ‘Yes.’”
