Veteran actor Saurabh Shukla has revealed a pivotal lesson learned during the filming of the 1994 biographical drama ‘Bandit Queen’. He credits director Shekhar Kapur with teaching him the essential skill of discovering humor, even amidst the bleakest narratives. Shukla, who made his directorial debut with Kapur on the film, described the experience as a profound learning curve.
‘Bandit Queen,’ based on the life of Phoolan Devi and starring Seema Biswas in the lead role, tackled a difficult and often violent subject matter. However, Shukla recalled Kapur’s unique approach to filmmaking. “Shekhar was the first film director I worked with… He and cinematographer Ashok Mehta. He taught me a lot, both technically and emotionally,” Shukla shared in a recent interview.
Despite the film’s grim tone, Kapur consistently sought out moments of levity. Shukla recounted a scene involving a village robbery where panic ensued. Amidst the chaos, a villager’s observation about the fleeing dacoits – “You’re taking out so many, give us one too” – exemplified Kapur’s ability to find human, even humorous, moments within intense situations. This perspective deeply influenced Shukla.
“In that film, in the company of Shekhar, I understood that without humour, it’s half, not a complete picture. That’s something I still follow,” Shukla stated. He also lauded directors like Kapur and Ram Gopal Varma for their skill in authenticating local dialects and emotions, even when they are not native to those regions. Shukla noted Kapur’s intuitive understanding of dialogue rhythm, often observed with closed eyes, capturing the authentic sound and feel of a scene.
‘Bandit Queen’ achieved significant critical acclaim, earning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and multiple Filmfare Awards. Saurabh Shukla, known for his diverse roles in films like ‘Satya,’ ‘Jolly LLB,’ and ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai,’ continues to apply the valuable lesson of finding light in dark narratives.