Tag Archives: U Turn

Ila Bhate
Interviews

Success can be achieved through hard work and patience – Ila Bhate

Aside

Twenty five years ago, she was running her own science laboratory in Mumbai after doing her graduation with Microbiology and acquiring a Post Graduate Diploma in Laboratory management. But, at that stage, she felt that she was not meant for this job. The glamorous field of acting invited her attention. And that’s how Ila Bhate turned an actress, with her first commercial appearance through Marathi play ‘Apradhi’. Today, she is the popular stage and TV actress. With the success of ongoing productions ‘U Turn’ and ‘Eka Lagnachi Doosri Goshta’, Ila has found the place in the heart of stage and Home TV lovers. Marathi Movie World spoke to this talented actress, who has devoted herself to the field of acting for a little more than 25 years now. Excerpts from the interview:

Ila BhateQ: Who encouraged you to take up career in acting ?
A: At a time, when I could not focus on my lab work; my husband realized that my attention was somewhere else. He had spotted the talent in me; during the debates, where I took active interest. With his support, I just tried my acting skills through Arun Johglekar’s marathi play ‘Apradhi‘.

Q: Was that your acting debut ?
A: yes, you may call it so; as I had never acted at professional level before that. Our entire team comprising of Pradeep Velankar, Sunil Shende, Ramakant Deshpande, Mohan Munge, Rajani Velankar and others were from our Vile parle area. I had a small role, but it was effective one. Soon after that in 1989, I had a role to play in a film ‘Vazir’ starring Ashwini Bhave, Vikram Gokhale & Ashok Saraf. In the year 2000, I made my debut on television through DD’s popular serial ‘Damini‘.

Q: In the recent past your play ‘U Turn’ has received a grand success. What you have to say about that ?
A: The success of ‘U Turn’ is its team work. Like the way, a good recipe is planned with proportionate ingredients for a tempting dish; the excellent team work worked in favour of this play. Actually, Anand Mhasvekar had very cleverly presented this subject based on friendship between two opposite sex people in the second half of the life. Mr. Govind Chavan dared to produce this play on a different subject and our theatre audience and critics welcomed it. I would say that the hard work put in by two of us and the technical team was supported by destiny, to attain success.

Q: According to you, how important is the timing and response of the co-artistes ?
A: I always try to attain comfort level with my co-artistes. Be it the mother-son, Husband-wife, Mother-daughter relationship; I am always at ease. It is always necessary to react with required expressions or body language, when the other artiste is delivering his or her dialogues. This helps in making the play or serial popular, with your indirect participation. I don’t perform for my own self; but for the effective presentation of that scene involving others in my presence. I have been fortunate to work with comfort, in the company of popular actors like Vikram Gokhale, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Mohan Joshi, Dr. Girish Oak, Ashok Saraf, Ramesh Bhatkar & Sanjay Mone,

Q: Do you think that training at acting workshops, help in building a career in this field?
A: I wouldn’t like to comment on acting workshops. According to me, acting needs to be in your blood; but, you need to brush up that talent. Success of Workshops will depend upon the capacity of the trainee. The purpose of attending the workshop should not be to attain quick results. There is a lot of hard work is required with patience, while learning other technical matters besides acting. Success will come, but a lot of word work and dedication is required for the same.

Q: Say something about your ongoing popular serial ‘Eka Lagnachi Doosri Goshta’ .?
A: Here again, it’s a good team work. Thanks to Shrirang Godbole, Chinmay Mandlekar and Rajiv Patil, the people behind the screen. But, I would specially like to mention about Lata Ravindra, who has penned the dialogues. Each one of us is so much involved with this serial that we enjoy every moment during the shooting. And that is the success story of this serial.

Q: Among the recently released Marathi films, which one in particular, invited your attention?
A: I like the film ‘Kaksparsha’. It is a well presented film, which takes you almost into that era of pre independence. It has a story, which is serious with tragic end; but that was necessary to respect the original story. All the artistes have given their best performances. The other two films, which have invited my attention are ‘Masala’ and ‘Khel Mandala’; but I have yet to watch them.

Interviews

INTERVIEWS. Dr. GIRISH OAK

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Girish has completed his studies in hometown Nagpur. He took part in many dramas and plays during his college. And thus it developed his interest in theatre. For a while he did practice as doctor…but then what u called job satisfaction he did not have that so he switched his profession. And then Girish came to Mumbai and landed in few plays by doing small roles. Then did theatre from 1977 to 1983.Offcourse, there was struggle during initial stage. But every actor has to do that. The best thing was Girish got full support from his family. After becoming doctor people tend to ask why acting but at that time my family supported him very much so because of that he could get in to this profession.
After theatre how did you landed in serials and films?
It’s an automatic process, to tend to go towards serials and cinemas. People start knowing you and then director and producer approaches you. But in all this I have done theatre more than serials and films…as such around 48 plays and 20 to 25 serials.
What is your experience in this your career of 25 years?
Very satisfied….during initial stage I felt to go back and start to practice medical again but then I actually took the risk of continuing but today I am more than happy with my decision. The movie ‘Dipastambh’ actually bought stability in my career can say it was turning point of my life. Since then I somewhat got established as an actor. but ya for sure I don’t repent my decision, I don’t practice now but just try to keep me update by reading books on the subject and also sometimes referring someone to any doctor.

What you want to say about tremendous response you are getting for your play ‘U Turn’?
It gives me immense pleasure and the best thing is theatre audience is coming back over that it is coming because of the play in which I am acting this gives more happiness. Its being houseful most of the times and even translated in gujrathi for gujrathi theatre.

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Now your play ‘To Mi Navhech’ is coming on the stage…how does it feels to do the play like this done by legendary Prabhakar Panshikar?
Yeeaah…it feels great. I mean it is more than a dream role…seriously never thought that I would land up doing this play ever in my career…It is really fantastic. When I was very new to this industry I had nearly done 200 shows, a very small role by playing character called Aginhotre in the same play but frankly never thought that in this 25years of my career I would do this play. It is really big achievement. Prabhakar Panshikar said to me that you will definitely make it possible. Seriously
expectation are very high and need to be very perfect in every task while doing this Girish Oak
play. It is really very challenging and tricky but very interesting. So as for now I am just concentrating on my practice. Hope to turn out very well.

Ya sir, It will surely. Our best wishes are with you…Now we will turn to serials. Your character from serial Agnihotra is very famous. Tell me something about that?
Its very tedious…I mean the character is written very well by the writer Mr.Paranjpai but this character is very strict and always angry on very high on principle and ya rude too; so sometimes I really find it difficult as it is very opposite to what I am in personal life.

Besides these what are your upcoming projects?
I have completed a very good movie with Bharat Jadhav named ‘Hello Gandesir’. But ya very interesting with a very different subject. Sandeep Despande is the director of this movie. About serials I am already have very busy schedules. Currently I am doing Agnihotra and kukuchku on Star Pravah then Hya Gojirwanya Gharat on etv and Ardhangini. I must say that I am very lucky enough to have telecast serials of different genres at the same time on television.