The ‘Free Britney’ movement was one of the most landmark episodes of recent times as it saw millions of people coming together and demanding that Britney Spears be freed from her father’s control over her finances and personal life. Those who remembered Ram Gopal Varma’s Mast (1999) immediately drew parallels and for them, it was the perfect real-meeting-reel moment. Mast was the story of a film star being controlled with an iron whip by her maternal uncle. How this girl runs away with her fanboy forms the rest of the film. The fan was played by Aftab Shivdasani and this was his first role as an adult actor. Mast completed 25 years on October 15 and on this joyous occasion, he spoke about the film, his memories and a lot more. This writer shared his experience of watching Mast 25 years ago in the balcony of Eros Cinema, Churchgate, Mumbai and the actor replied that he, too, saw his debut film in the same theatre, that too three times.
25 Years of Mast EXCLUSIVE: Aftab Shivdasani talks about Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘special appearance’ and Amitabh Bachchan connection; reveals, “I received letters saying, ‘The way you went to Mumbai to meet Urmila Matondkar in the film, I have come all the way to meet you’”
How did you bag Mast and how did you come into contact with Ram Gopal Varma?
He got in touch with me. I used to do a lot of commercials at that time and he had seen me in a Coca-Cola ad. He called up Mr Kiran Deohans, the DOP of the ad, to find out who I was. Mr Deohans passed on my number to him and he randomly called me one fine morning. When he said, ‘I am Ram Gopal Varma speaking’, the phone almost fell off my hand! I had just seen Satya (1998) in Eros coincidentally, by the way! I had told my folks after watching it that I wanted to become an actor and work with this director. Little did I know that my whole destiny was going to change soon after.
He said that he wanted to meet me and that it was about a film. I couldn’t believe my ears. I went to Andheri to his house to meet him. He didn’t audition me; we spoke for a while and then he asked me if I’d be interested in being an actor. I replied, ‘Of course’! There were no cameras and he asked me to perform. I improvised a little skit that I made up on the spot. He liked it and a week later, he came over to my house. He narrated the film to me and my parents. Then we had dinner and I dropped him down in his car. Before driving away, he shook my hand and told me, ‘Congratulations. My casting is complete’!
Life changed after that. I started shooting for the film on December 19, 1998, and the film was released on October 15, 1999.
Anurag Kashyap said that he prevented Arjun Rampal’s casting in Mast as he hated him since he was dating a girl that Anurag liked. Did you know about it?
A lot of people had apparently auditioned and I don’t have confirmed news on this, to be honest.
What was your reaction when you learned that you’d be cast opposite Urmila Matondkar?
I couldn’t believe it as I had just passed out of college. I was even looking at universities to study further though deep down, I knew that I wanted to become an actor. I was very thrilled as I had seen her in Rangeela (1995) and Satya. I knew that it would be a great experience to work with somebody like her. When I met her, she was very polite and kind. She was a big star and I was a newcomer. Yet, she treated me like an equal. Nevertheless, there was that respect as she was senior to me. I can’t say that she was a buddy but of course, there was a great amount of respect for her and her craft.
She was known for her dance moves. Did dancing with her make you nervous?
(Laughs) I was never nervous. I wanted to enjoy what I was doing. When you do that, you don’t feel nervous. So, I was always confident but never overconfident.
How was it working with Ram Gopal Varma?
He is a man of lesser words and also, he is a genius. He was also a trendsetter. When I saw Rangeela and Satya, I was wowed; those films were ahead of their times. He used to explain the scene and ask me to do whatever I wanted, within the parameters of the scene. He wanted me to improvise. That is the mark of a genius director. He used to guide us if we were not within the parameters and at the same time, gave us utmost freedom. Hence, everything you see on screen is extremely natural and organic. Nothing was rehearsed, except the dance steps!
In the first half, you used to wear a Raj Kapoor and Charlie Chaplin-style hat. Was that a homage to those great personalities?
Yes, it was. Mr Ram Gopal Varma loves Chaplin and Raj Kapoor as well. He wanted to incorporate that aspect in a subtle way. Someone like you observed that which is great. I heard him mention Chaplin a few times.
In the beginning, we see your character watching a film named Pehli Nazar Mein Pyaar Ho Gaya and it stars Shah Rukh Khan. Did the superstar know about it and was his permission taken?
I have no idea as it was the production aspect and I was just an actor. In those days, copyright issues were different. Now, things are by the book. Then, people would still do it and get away with it. How he used Shah Rukh Khan on the posters, I honestly don’t know.
I guess both worked together in Dil Se (1998) and hence, there must have been an understanding…
I am sure they knew each other. Shah Rukh was also at one of our events as well. So, I am pretty sure they knew each other quite well.
Which event was this?
It was the audio release.
It must have been a big thing for a debutant to have Shah Rukh Khan at the audio launch…
Absolutely. I remember at the audio launch, I opened the door of the banquet hall and Mr Amitabh Bachchan walked in. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Though I had worked as a child artist in Shehanshah (1988) and Insaniyat (1994), I had never met him. He saw me and said, ‘Hello, Aftab’. Then, he put his arm around me and hugged me. I couldn’t believe he knew my name and he knew who I was. These are anecdotes that I’ll never forget.
You mentioned that you saw the film thrice at Eros. How was the experience?
I used to live a stone’s throw away from Eros and used to see all my films there. I went on the first three days just to see people’s reactions. I wore a cap and went inside after the film started. I had seen the film in trials but there, you don’t come to know the real reaction as there, people watch it differently and diligently. No one would say anything bad about the film. Hence, it’s important for me as an actor to go to a cinema hall and gauge the reaction of the audience. They might be talking to each other and that way, you get to know the level of concentration of the moviegoers.
You mean you’ll get to know for real whether or not the film has worked with the audience?
Sometimes, in an emotional scene, somebody might start laughing! You might think you have cracked a funny joke but the audience won’t laugh. This reality check is very important for an actor.
Thankfully, in Mast, people enjoyed the songs and the humour. They loved the whole feeling of a common man or a boy reaching out to a film star, rescuing her and getting married to her. That way, it’s a fairy tale for most people.
Did it happen that people started coming to Mumbai with the dream of marrying their favourite film star after watching Mast?
(Laughs) You know, I used to receive a lot of letters saying, ‘The way you went to Mumbai to meet Urmila in the film, I have come all the way to meet you’. I was quite amused and fascinated.
How did Boney Kapoor and Sridevi react to dialogues about them in the film? Did they ever say anything to you?
No. I worked with Boney ji and Sridevi ma’am in Mr India (1987). I also worked with Sri ma’am in Chaalbaaz (1989). If there was anything, he would have said it to Ramu ji, not me.
How do you look back at your journey of being an actor for 25 years?
I feel I have not even begun (smiles). I have done around 55-60 films. I got a chance to work with some lovely people and I learned so much. Once a learner, always a learner. There has never been a point where I could say that I know it all. There’s so much more to do. I hope to keep on working as long as possible.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Jassie Gill joins cast of Kasoor on Aftab Shivdasani’s birthday
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