Om puriom aLegendary actor Om Puri passed away last year. We are in possession of the last interview Om Puri gave just after he finished dubbing for the film, Lashtam Pashtam, to the director of the film, Manav Bhalla. Produced by Manav Bhalla and Gheorghe Seran and directed by debutant Manav Bhalla, Lashtam Pashtam will release worldwide today.
As a mark of tribute to the iconic actor, Bold Outline presents to you the rare interview,
where Om Puri has spoken in his characteristic bold style, tinted with a mark of impish
humour.
Q. How was your experience of working on LashtamPashtam?
A. I enjoyed working with Manav, he is very jovial and sweet. I have many sweet memories of making this film. My role in the film is great. The work happened smoothly without any hurdles, I have done my dubbing and now I am waiting to watch it. I am really happy with my performance in the film, I know I am praising myself but ab sachhaitohkyakare? (What
can I do if it is the truth?).(smiles)
Q. Tell us something about your character.
A. I play a Pakistani taxi driver. An Indianis lost in Pakistan, and wishes to go to Islamabad, which is burning due to bomb blasts. He asks my character to take him there. I refuse him, but the youngster is desperate to get to Islamabad. Though that youngster is an Indian, the taxi driver decides to help him despite knowing that there is a lot of risk involved. They halt
mid-way and the driverrequests the youngster to eat, but he starts doubting the driver’s loyalty, thinking that he might have an evil plan. Eventually, he is happy by the gesture for opening his eyes to the value of relationships.
Q. What message would you want to give to the audience through your character in the
film?
A. My character itself is giving out a message. It tells people that hatred should end as it has
no specific reason. We are all humans and have stayed together for years. Mughal rulers
stayed here for almost 600 years. Before independence, we all stayed together, we have learned tehzeeb (ettiquettes) from them. Yes, there have been some issues but a dialog in the film captures this problem beautifully. It says,‘Issues happen at home too, even amongst Hindu brothers as between relatives.’
There is another line in the film where this driver says that his father is been buried in
Lucknow in India and how he wishes to go there, ‘Mai unkikabrkesajde pe baithu.’ (I wish to bow to his tomb)’. This is actually true. I have been to Pakistan six times and people come to me and say that their fathers are been buried in various states in India. It’s the biggest tragedy that in a short span of time, more than 10 lakh people died (during Partition). When the Partition happened, brothers thought that let one brother stay this side and another one on the other side so that they would remain close. But they never thought the situation would become so bad. So, this Partition was the partition of relationships, emotions and feelings and
it’s a really painful thing.
