Oh My Gauche! The first ever ‘professional’ photo shoot in Bombay (it was Bombay then, not Mumbai). I have forgotten the photographer’s name, I remember only that he was a kindly Sardarji with a photo studio in Bandra, Linking Road from where I went to pick up the negatives and prints of the photoshoot a few days after the shoot (not to forget the ubiquitous ‘contact sheet’ that enabled us to choose which prints to enlarge) There was no makeup person or hair dresser or ‘team’ to help or to fuss around me, just me with my little makeup pouch and a rubber band to tie up my mane which was glossy and abundant and seemed to have an energy of it’s own, (and never needed any setting to look good) The magazine that wanted the shoot had sent over some oversized ‘fancy clothes’ that I wasn’t sure suited me (how self- conscious and picky I was at that age with ‘this is not me’) and I felt the least uneasy in this ‘sasta’ t- shirt that I had come wearing to the location for the shoot… The poor sweet photographer tried getting me to look less gauche and more ‘alluring’ …. But Gosh! Even though I was three films and five tv serials old, off the film camera I was just Gauche! #actressworld #indiancinema #photoshoots #bombay
Starving for Perfection The first of television that Mangal and I acted in…a single episode story…this was in Delhi. Remember nothing of the name, or the director, or the team except vaguely that it was a story about a freedom fighter and his wife. I remember this though, that this scene was to be shot immediately after lunch break and Mangal and I refused lunch so that we could cry real tears and allow the emotional upheaval to happen in camera (which is not possible if you have just eaten food) The scene kept getting delayed and by the time it was finally shot at 7 pm we were fainting with hunger….but we achieved the quality of performance that we were so nervous about achieving…. Days of innocence, when we would starve to achieve perfection… (Years later you use glycerine for tears, and eat your lunch on time, while acting, because you’ve learnt by now that more often than not, perfection will be put in the dustbin if perchance you are not in the lead role…) #actorslife #MCD #mangaldhillon # hindiserials #televisionindia #DD
Throwback to the early Bombay days….a very young us– I and Anant Mahadevan in the lovely director Mazahir Rahim’s limited episode tv serial Peele Patte (पीले पत्ते) for Doordarshan….shooting and stories had such elegance….we would go home so creatively joyous at the end of each day .. Thank for the pic Mazahir….and for the wonderful Peele Patte. I think we can find it on you tube or dd archives #Doordarahan #ddindia tvserialsindia #anantmahadevan #actorslife #mazahirrahim
PORTFOLIO WALE DIN Photo, courtesy Rakesh Khatri. My friend Rakesh Khatri was an amateur photographer. I had just graduated from the National School Of Drama. While moving to Bombay, and to films was not on my immediate agenda…I did neet a ‘portfolio’ as it was referred to those days. ‘Photos ka portfolio hai?’ the director will ask you, I was told. (Those days there were no casting agencies or casting directors, you met the director who would be directing the film or the tv serial). “Khatri, portfolio chahiye yaar” I wailed dramatically over the land line phone. “No problem, kal” (tomorrow) and Khatri disconnected the call. Khatri was a guy of few, VERY few words. I think it was that paan- masala he so loved chewing which restricted his speech to a few sounds or at best to a huge grin—it was a vocabulary that I had to learn to decipher, and managed to, in the course of the many photo shoots we did… Prep for the shoot was something like this: Rummage through my younger brother’s cupboard for a denim shirt, One Lakme lip gloss which was past the expiry date (I didn’t check, actually, but I know I had bought I four years prior and used it sparingly, so in hindsight it must have expired). Ready???? ready!!! Thereafter to stand on the terrace of my house where ever Khatri gestured ( where the light was falling the best)…. Khatri loaded the film in his camera and did about ten or eleven clicks per ‘costume change’ till we finished the roll of 36 frames. A few days later we would pore over the contact sheet and choose which ones to make large- sized copies of. These photos that Khatri had clicked circulated for the next two years, as my ‘portfolio’ and sometime later, one of them found its way to an half page article in the Times of India, by the hugely celebrated (and almost iconic) film journalist Khalid Mohammed. Khalid’s article featured Shabana Azmi and Me and Dimple Kapadia. My photo clicked by Rakesh Khatri sat in the centre flanked by the photos of the two veteran stars… Thanks Khatriiii…!!!! #
‘You need to get more mainstream Mita…’ Photo shoot for FILMFARE magazine Photographer: Vinesh Gandhy Here I was, living now in Bombay … I had to move to Bombay because I was shooting every single day of the first three years after graduating from NSD…and all the shoots were in Bombay… Five films and several tv serials down the line ….’You need to become a commercial film star so we can keep making films with you…’ one of my iconic art film directors jokingly said to me one day… He was in part serious, I realised. My heart sank…’Why do I? You have already cast me in three of your films when I was absolutely unknown’ I wanted to argue, but bit back the retort. (I knew already how tough it was for my directors to make the cinema they did…) Anyway FilmFare magazine wanted a photo shoot for an interview so here I was….as usual, just me and my makeup-kit. Vinesh Ghandy or Vinya, to his friends, was commissioned to shoot this portfolio. This was my third photo shoot with Vinya, and as always, the preferred location was his simple, yet eclectic studio in Mahim where the sea waves would come crashing below his window. The sound of the waves was the background music score as we clicked photos, sipped coffee and sometimes just gazed out at the sea. Vinya is one of the gentlest people ever…we were probably the same age…however he had a maturity and serenity I didn’t… I was then, as restless as the sea. Spending time at Vinya’s studio an hour after each photo shoot was somehow enormously calming and I would leave Vinya’s studio with some of his serenity……or perhaps it was the sea making those mad waves outside the windows– The sea was after all a presence more elemental and restless than I was….and who am I in front of it…
In the Divine Presence of the Divine Flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia ji!!! So happy to have found his ‘NOW’ and ‘HERE’ recently on you tube. My student years at NSD were made all the more magical, listening endlessly to these two albums… We are at the airport, heading for the Bangalore Poetry Festival.. Pandit Hari Ji’s session with his biographer Satya Saran inaugurates the festival. ( My session follows just after…..feeling blessed that he’ll be there ….and a wee bit nervous too..) Thanks Satya Saran for this lovely pic. #flutemaestro #bangalorepoetryfestival #actorslife #satyasaran
Just post my presentation on Lal Ded…what an amazing day this has been… fabulous audience #bangalorepoetryfestival #mitavasishtactress #lalded
What’s a Modigliani? I asked… In those early films, and in those early days, I, as a twenty six year old actress of the the several feature films of Kumar Shahani, Mani Kaul and Govind Nihalani just took it for granted that life was about being surrounded by greatness and great people all the time. Govind Nihalani and the team was in Pune for a screening and seminar of his latest film in which I featured and he said, I am meeting Vijay Tendulkar Saab for lunch, would you like to come along??? VIJAY TENDULKAR!!!?? Ofcourse I ‘came along’ and sat quietly through the lunch at ‘Krishna Dining’ eating from my thaali and listening to these two brilliant artists in discourse… One winter in Delhi, Kumar Shahani said, I am going to meet Nirmal Verma at his house near the Deer Park, would you like to come along? NIRMAL VERMA!!!? Ofcourse I ‘came along’….and again, sat quietly listening to these two greats as the winter evening slipped into a winter night with the same quiet, intense and gentle energy that emanated from them… Mani Kaul was happy with how ‘Siddheshwari’ had shaped up. He wasn’t one for complimenting his actors however (much less his actresses). We had captured the nude scene for the thumri ‘Thadi Rahun’ without much fuss. Later that evening, over dinner he turned to me and remarked ‘You are like a Modigliani…long limbed..!’ ‘Don’t you think, she is?’… He turned to his Cinematographer and Assistant director with that question… What’s a Modigliani Mani?’ l asked… I had grown up with a passion for Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Toulose Lautrec…. That day thanks to Mani I was introduced to the wonderful painter, MODIGLIANI … #actorslife #indiancinema #modigliani
Kneeling at his feet… So blessed am I that Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia ji attended the Lal Ded presentation,. And was happy…’ अरे तुम गाती भी हो, और सुर में।।।? (Ah you can sing, and in tune.!’) he chuckled as he blessed me.. He had just finished his hour long interview with his biographer #satyasaran , her must read book titled #breathofgold, … His wit, genius, gentleness, compassion and humility literally brings tears to my eyes that such a person as Hari ji lives in this world, and graces the very air that we breathe…. He chose to stay back after his session, said to Satya ‘ ये सेशन देखना है मुझे, उसके बाद ही जाऊंगा /I want to stay for this session, after that I will go..(to his suite to rest) I couldn’t have asked for more!!! #divineflautist #mutavasishtactorslife #bangalorepoetryfestival2023
There’s a cosmic connect here… The beautiful Shubha Mudgal, I met for the first time in Delhi in the early 1990ies….knew her from afar, through mutual friends. She was the cynosure of many eyes…beautiful, talented and the new voice…. In 1999 A phone call from Delhi…’we are shooting a music video’ ‘Whose the singer?’ I ask ‘Shubha Mudgal’ — says the voice on the phone, (Shoojit Sirkar was it? or his then business partner Gary..) I jump inwardly, a surge of such excitement, but keep my voice calm… Okay…, is all I say Can you drive a truck? The voice asks I can drive anything except an aeroplane, I say Do you have the dates…the voice asks ‘I figure them out’ I cut in …’give me your dates’ I was shooting round the clock and 30 days a month those days, but I wasn’t going to miss this for anything.. ‘Mann ke Manjeera’ was the music video….and yes, I drove the truck It won the best music video of the year, and remains one of my cherished roles…I worked hard to find the gestures and the body to fit the phenomenal voice… The video also led, strangely, to my work with the trafficked minors in the remand home in Deonar…that would possess my life for the next four years… Then a few years later (2006) I am asked to sing the recitation part of the title song being sung by Shubha ji for the YRF film ‘Laaga Chunri Mein Daag’ My to- be- sung- lyrics are penned by Swanand Kirkire… I reach the studio nervous as hell….how am I going to sing with HER.??? I am told to my relief (and to my slight sense of deflation) that the recording is done separately…she has sung and gone and now it’s my turn. I couldn’t help but think that some pretty awesome happenings in my life…like the fabulous music video, and then a first time singing, (and that too for a Yash Raj film are some how connected to Shubha Mudgal…that we are somehow connected by a God up there… #Mannkemanjeere # laagachunrimeindaag #shubhamudgal #actorslife #bangalorepoetryfestival2023
‘SAALGIRAAH’ a Saturday Suspense episode (Zee tv) that I had scripted… ….those were the days when I had taken the plunge into writing and producing…apart from acting… It was BOMAN IRANI’s first on camera appearance if I am not mistaken, (he plays the serial killer husband to my ‘wife’ and he was amazing, though he had a tough time struggling with the Hindi (unbelievable now, isn’t it ?!) IRRFAN my NSD soul sibling and classmate played the rejected suitor who comes to the wife’s rescue—this was the first meeting of Anup Singh and Irrfan that would lead to a long creative collaboration in the years to come… ANUP SINGH at his brilliant best directed the episode that was filmed by K.U MOHANAN, the wonderful and highly acclaimed cinematographer… What a team !!! #mohanan #anupsingh #irrfan #bomanirani #zeetv #saturdaysuspense #mitavasishtactress #hindiserials
The mind is new, the moon is new, the vast expanse of water is new, I, Lalla, am a new phenomenon (A.K Ramanujan’ s translation ) #mysticwomenpoets #mitavasishtperformslalded #Suvendu C
The Fledgling between the two Swans!!! (The Rakesh Khatri portfolio wala shoot …that I mentioned earlier….) In the article by THE Khalid Mohammad… (Credits —ha ha) Hair and make up—one comb and a clip and a dash of lip colour Styling: Rust pure wool sweater is the one that knit for myself in first year college. The hint of a blue scarf –it belonged to my cousin Geetanjali Lal as did the oxidised earrings. Now pose.. Done! PS: I loved knitting and embroidery and chrochet so much that when in college the neighborhood aunties were sure I was the first one (of my gang of college friends….) Heading for the perfect marriage… However my preoccupation had nothing to do with the ‘perfect girl for marriage’: It was actually, (as I later realized) the deep need to craft with hands, to enter into fine detailing with the mind when one read the patterns from the knitting books, and the slow but steady creation of a form that would begin to emerge in my hands—-it was a pre-cursor to entering the world of theatre….and to the four years of officially training in the theatre (Department of Indian Theatre, Punjab University ,followed by The National School Of Drama, Delhi)
Bangalore Poetry Festival’s session with Javed Akhtar was wonderful! His deep wisdom and incredible wit go hand in hand….it was laughter with learning, this was my first time listening to a session with him live, and I confess I now am a diehard fan…. Here he signs two of his books for my Mom and me! I have yet to buy JADUNAMA…I will soon ..this I know will be a fascinating read about a fascinating artist, humanist, and poet, of our times!!! We need our poets more than ever before, in today’s times!! May the tribe increase… P.S thank you Satya Saran, you amazing person, fascinating woman and rare friend to have, for these pics. #bangalorepoetryfestival2023 #Javedakhtar #poets #indianpoetry #satyasaran #actorslife
The director speaks, we actors internalize his words and then the magic —not just IN us but BETWEEN the actors, and between the actors and the camera… #mazahirrahim #DDarchives #anantmahadevan #actorslife #hindiserials
Mazahir Rahim giving us the finer points….we absorb…Anant Mahadevan and I, and the script was always at hand… Peele Patte (पीले पत्ते ) #doordarshan #DDarchives #mazahirahim #anantmahadevan #hindiserials
My Mornings are Magical Now. Discovered, RE-discovered, thanks to being at the Bangalore Poetry Festival, the joy of reading a poem every day. The Hindi poetry session featured three wonderful women poets: in picture, extreme left, is the marvelous Hindi poetess Anuradha Singh who read from her fabulous collection, उत्सव का पुष्प नहीं हूं, one of the several books I bought and had her autograph it. Reading a poem or two every morning with my cup of tea, is akin to having a brief but profound and enlightening discourse with the poetess/poet herself/himself— My morning tea time has now transformed into a sacred ritual…. ‘A Cup of Tea and A Poem’ time #poetry #poetsfromindia #bangalorepoetryfestival2023 #anuradhasingh #hindipoetry
Presenting the vaachs of LAL DED at the Bangalore Poetry Festival on the morning of the 5th of August. A fabulous audience and a very beautiful hour that went very fast. The image in the background is from my play ‘Lal Ded’, my solo performance that has entered it’s 19th year of being performed…. People who have seen the play ask, 19 years ago you were 19 years younger, how do you today, manage the energy, to perform for an hour; nine characters sing, move, recite, speak.. I don’t have an answer…. It’ s the energy of Lal Ded’s vaachs…. #lalded # mitavasishtactorslife #mysticwomenpoets #bangalorepoetryfestival2023
The Space of Anytime , Anywhere Performance… The Lal Ded ‘stand- up’ recitation and presenting the vaachs at the #bangalorepoetryfestival2023 has led to several wonderful invites to upcoming lit fests to present Lal Ded… While the experience of a one hour solo play is unmatched, this opening up of a space to present Lal Ded as ‘stand up poetry —recite, sing, speaking impromptu, taking off from the vibe of the audience in front of you, is an incredible experience too… Thanks Suvendu C for these wonderful images….they are so evocative — a me standing in front of an image that isn’t me, even though it is… #Suvendu C #lalla #womenmysticpoets #bangalorepoetryfestival2023 #actorslife
An armful….when you are trying to hug two powerful girls at one go… To the right in pic, the multi talented Satya Saran who needs no introduction but to whom I will devote a whole chapter in my book soon.. to the left in pic. the wonderful Hindi poetess Nitesh Raghuvanshi— .I ran to the book stall right away, after the session…and was dismayed to find no sign of her books there…it turned out her parcel of books was unfortunately delayed in the courier… so she gave me her personal copy of खिड़की खुलनें के बाद and some sheafs of paper from which she had just read her poem, आघी जगह.. fabulous…of our times and yet timeless… We women I discover, listening to these poetesses, are amazing beings— brittle yet resilient, deeply emotional yet with an intellectual bandwidth that plummets the depths of the ocean and pierces the sky all at once….yes we are God s very special creation… #niteshraghuvanshi #satyasaran #bangalorepoetryfestival2023 #mitavasishtperformslalded #actorslife #hindipoetry
A Delhi winter some years ago When we were planning The next schedule of My film…. My favourite people all together…. #omaradamkhan #sidrahfatma #mothersblessings #filmshoots #indiancinema
Celebrating the vaachs of LAL DED at the Bangalore Poetry Festival. 11 am on the 5th of August #lalded #mysticpoet #mitapresents lalded #bangalorepoetryfestival
Bangalore Poetry Festival….a very different from the usual, description of me/ my life and work… making the connect between journeys of geography and journeys into the Self.. #bangalorepoetryfestival # lalded # kashmirimysticpoet #indianactress #mysticpoetry
The festival played some images from my play performance ‘Lal Ded’, on the screen, as I recited, sang, spoke about Lal Ded at the Bangalore Poetry Festival…. #lalded #womenmysticpoets #mitavasishtactorslife #bangalorepoetryfestival2023
