The Dream Diva

Actor Hema Malini speaks about her obsession with ballet performances and her long association with the Pune Festival

In 1977,she cemented her position in Bollywood,and in the hearts of her fans as the Dream Girl. Even after 36 years,Hema Malini is worthy of the title. She puts on her most charming smile as she sits down for a chat in the city. I was shooting till 11.30 pm last night and headed for Pune early in the morning. My guruji wouldnt let me rest and kept on telling me,Show me everything that I have taught you and I could not disappoint him, she says with youthful energy. Malini was in the city for the announcement of the prestigious 10-day Pune Festival,which starts on September 13.

Though it is this year that Malini has been appointed as the chairperson for the silver jubilee of the festival,her association with the Pune Festival goes back to over two decades. She recalls the first time she performed a Bharatanatyam piece at the festival. There was a pandal-like set-up in the first year and the stage was badly made,but I had to make do. The ground was packed with people who had come to watch my performance. Although the crowd enjoyed the performance,they did not understand it. Then somebody suggested that I must try my hand at ballet to get the audience involved in my performance, says Malini.

After doing her research on the form,she composed and performed her first ballet,titled Durga,at the Pune Festival. When I got off the stage,I was asked by the organisers if I can perform the following year,and I agreed. Thats how I got hooked on to performing a ballet every year for the festival, says Malini.

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She points out that composing a ballet is nothing less than a Herculean task for a Bharatanatyam artiste like her. I first have to select a story,which is mostly derived from the Indian mythology,and research on the topic. Lord Krishna and Radha are the most popular religious figures. I meet with scholars who have knowledge about Indian mythological subjects. It helps me figure out a way to narrate it through body movements and facial expressions, explains Malini,adding that she then looks for a music director who can understand the theme and produce music accordingly. The plan and visualisation for the ballet are documented by her and a choreographer is given the task of training her dance troupe.

Her daughters Esha and Ahana not only lend her a hand in the planning process,but also perform with her on stage. Next year,they will plan and perform a ballet at the Pune Festival independently, she says. Though her younger daughter Ahanas wedding preparations are taking up most of her time now,Malini is planning a tour with her latest ballet piece,titled Radha Raasbehari,to the US. The ballet was first performed at ISKCON temple,Juhu,Mumbai,on the occasion of Janamasthami and will be performed as a part of the

Pune Festival on September 14 at Shree Ganesh Kala

Krida Rangmanch.

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