Reality Bites

Redemption came in the form of a film based on the struggles of the mill workers. “It’s an effort to go back and find out what exactly went wrong. Why did we choose to ignore these workers who embodied the true unbridled zeal and unflagging spirit of the city and played a pivotal role in the evolution of Mumbai as the modern day business capital of India,” says Manjrekar.

Recreating the 1980s was another challenge that Manjrekar found “daunting”. “1980s is a difficult period to recreate because it’s vividly etched in the public memory. We ha dto ge the costumes right,the architecture right and even shots of traffic on the roads had to be carefully shot because we didn’t have all these fancy cars on Indian roads then,only Fiat and Ambassadors. We also had a tough time selecting a chawl for the film because most chawls nowdays are way more posher than they were then. They are no longer abodes of the middle-class. Rows of air-conditioners obstruct every view there,” he says.

Yet,Manjrekar is more confident about this film than he has been of his recent films. “I have a gut feeling that people will relate to it. More so because the topic is relevant even now,” he says. With a cast comprising actors like Sachin Khedekar and Seema Biswas,Manjerakar claims that he has not compromised on casting. “I have not succumbed to the temptation of casting a star in my film. All the actors are theatre veterans and have delivered powerhouse performances,” he says.

His own acting career though,has taken a backseat. “I get the same kind of roles. You,know the edgy gangster or sociopath. I’m a bit tired of such roles,” he says.

Manjrekar’s longststanding dream of making a Bengali film will be fulfilled this year too. “I’m remaking my Marathi hit Mee Shivaji Raje Bhosle Boltoy in Bengali with Muthun Chakraborty. I feel the film will work in Bengali too because there is a lot of similarities between Marathi and Bengali cultures,” he says.