Saurabh Shukla: Humour Found in Darkness by Shekhar Kapur

Veteran actor Saurabh Shukla recently shared profound insights from his formative years in filmmaking, specifically his experience working on Shekhar Kapur’s 1994 film ‘Bandit Queen.’ Shukla, a respected figure in Indian cinema known for his diverse roles and writing, emphasized how Kapur taught him a crucial lesson: finding humor, even within the most somber narratives. ‘Bandit Queen,’ a biographical drama chronicling the life of Phoolan Devi, tackled a difficult subject matter. Despite the film’s intense and often grim tone, Shukla observed Kapur’s consistent effort to inject moments of levity and human observation. He recalled a specific scene, a robbery sequence, where amidst the panic, a villager’s request for a bottle of liquor from the fleeing dacoits highlighted a dark yet relatable human moment. This keen observation of finding the absurd in tragedy left a lasting impact on Shukla’s own creative approach, reinforcing his belief that humor is an essential element for a complete artistic vision. He also lauded Kapur’s innate understanding of dialogue rhythm, even when working with languages outside his immediate familiarity, showcasing an intuitive directorial style.