Raazi actor Amruta Khanvilkar: Meghna Gulzar was my inspiration behind playing Munira

Written by Mimansa Shekhar | New Delhi | Publi..

admin May 17, 2018 8:40 am

Written by Mimansa Shekhar | New Delhi | Published: May 17, 2018 7:51:44 am Raazi actor Amruta Khanvilkar will also be seen in Satyamev Jayate opposite Manoj Bajpayee. Related News

Amruta Khanvilkar is getting flooded with praise post the success of her latest Hindi film Raazi. The Meghna Gulzar directorial, starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, is winning hearts for its sleek plot and amazing performances. And Amruta is part of its formidable cast. In an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, the popular Marathi actor spills the beans about her casting, working with Meghna and Alia and her biggest support – her husband and actor Himmanshoo Malhotra.

Amrutas flamboyance is evident as we began our chat. She told us how Raazi has brought her accolades from even Hindi speaking audience. “I was very confident that my Marathi audience will love Raazi. But Hindi people also received it so beautifully, especially my character. There was a mention of my name, my acting, my Urdu… That was very surprising and good. Though my Marathi films are known to people, being a part of a Hindi film and such a good one makes a lot of difference. And that difference I can see in peoples treatment and the way they look at me right now,” said Amruta.

A still from Raazi starring Alia Bhatt and Amruta Khanvilkar.

Amruta Khanvilkar plays the character of Munira, Alias sister in law, who loses her husband. Recalling her auditions, she told us, “I had auditioned for the scene where Alia and I are climbing up the stairs. Next day Meghna Maam told me what exactly she loved about the audition. Though it was only four lines, she told me I got a hold of my character with perfection, while others (who auditioned) did not even understand the tone. Obviously, we did work on the dialogues and diction, but that nerve of the character, she told me to follow exactly that.”

Elaborating more on playing Munira, Amruta explained, “Every dialogue or emotion I portrayed, I thought at the back of my mind that this happened with someone in real. So that kind of really shook me. For no reason, her husband gets killed. We shot the funeral scene extensively, though it wasnt shown as much in the film. Playing a Pakistani Muslim from that era based on a real character, I think that was very difficult. I never heard so many Urdu words in my life!”

Amruta Khanvilkar said she signed Raazi because of Meghna Gulzar.

I asked her how was it having two powerhouse women on sets, Meghna and Alia, and she said, “There used to be a pin drop silence on the set of around 300 people. Thats the kind of aura Meghna Maam has. She is the warmest person you can meet. There were times when I wasnt there in the scene but I will still sit in the corner and just watch her. Because the film is set in 1970s, the body language of Munira is so homely and graceful, and somewhere Meghna Maam was an inspiration. Also, I did this film because I wanted to work with her.”

Amruta Khanvilkar further said Alia Bhatt comes with no air on the sets. She shared how Alia checked over her when she was down with high fever once. From having badminton sessions to Alia sending handwritten notes to everyone, Amruta has fond memories of working with her co-star. “Alia is such a secured actor. You hardly find such actors. At such a young age, she has achieved so much stardom, but despite that, she is the most grounded person Ive ever worked with. It really reflects in her upbringing. So being around these two women in the film is really something,” said Amruta.

Raazi also stars Shirish Mishra and Ashwath Bhatt.

And as for working with Vicky, who has a very prominent supporting role in Raazi, Amruta said, “You give him any character and Vicky just transforms onscreen. But he is very mischievous too. He jokes a lot. So I had fun with Vicky.”

“This is a film where the supporting cast has received the same credit and footage. And there was no differentiation. I think thats what comes across onscreen as well. Every character has been given an important part to play,” she added.

Amruta Khanvilkar, who has appeared in Bollywood films like Mumbai Salsa, Hattrick, Phoonk, Himmatwala and Rangoon, explained why Raazi actually works. “Raazi does not preach about any one country. The time when the film is set, war was a matter of fact. Everyone was doing their duty for their country. You cant say who is right or who is wrong. On a human level, somewhere for me what is special was to live that character named Munira who must have lived at that time, whose entire family was destroyed. Its a true story. So Meghna Maam was confident that this subtleness will definitely work. We dont need to scream on top of our voice if we have patriotism in our heart,” she explained.

The cast of Raazi during one of their badminton sessions.

So whats her preferred space – Marathi cinema or Bollywood? “Marathi films has made me a household name. Today, Marathi people are very proud of me that our Marathi mulgi is a part of Raazi. So, its like when people at home praise you, you get a different kind of kick. Marathi cinema is my first love. You can never take that away from me. Thats my roots,” she said.

Amruta also mentioned how her latest projects have pushed her as an actor. “Last year, when I shot Raazi, Satyamev Jayate and a Hungama web series, I realised these are the characters Ive never played before. In the Hungama web series, I play a Christian psycho killer which Ive never done before. Im really excited about Satyamev Jayate. Firstly, Im paired opposite Manoj Bajpayee. That itself was so nice. So this year I got to work with some really powerful talent houses.”

Amruta Khanvilkar and Himmanshoo Malhotra tied the knot in 2015.

I further asked her about how her husband takes her success. She said, “Im a very typical Maharashtrian middle-class person. If people in my state know me, Im very happy with that. So, today if Im doing Hindi films, it is only because of Himmanshoo. He tells me, I should audition for this part and that part. He has a bigger vision for me.”

Amruta and Himmanshoo had won the dance reality show Nach Baliye 7. Revealing more about her personal life, she told us, “Someone had said that Amruta is like a flag who keeps flying here and there but the one keeping her grounded like a pole is Himmanshoo.”

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A self-proclaimed Ranveer Singh fan, Amruta Khanvilkar couldnt gush any less at the mention of his name. Mentioning her fangirl moment when she met him recently, I asked her whatll happen if she actually gets to work with him, and she replied, “I dont know! I really dont know! But his energy is so fabulous. He is infectious, contagious. I think this is amazing. Somewhere I try to follow him in real life. He is there for his fans. I love that about him. For me Ranveer Singh is magical. I try to maintain that kind of connection with fans. I totally love him. He played the character of Bajirao and spoke Marathi, that was enough for me! (laughs)”

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