Smita Jaykar heaps praise on Sanjay Leela Bhansali for ‘giving recognition to roles played by character artistes’

“It is a sweet and beautiful movie that still gives people a nostalgic feeling whenever they revisit it. I have to thank Bhansali for giving me that role. I was new at that time. He probably did not know what I am capable of doing,” she said during an interview with YouTube channel Rajshri Unplugged.

“Not that I did something outstanding with the role. My role was very simple. But the way I am presented in every scene and the way Bhansali choreographs his scenes is amazing. He brings so much life to every scene. Heroes and heroines are there all over the film. But giving recognition to the roles played by character artistes like us is the quality that makes him amazing,” Jaykar added heaping praise on director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Recalling her experience working with the filmmaker on Devdas (2002), Smita Jayakar said, “When I was cast, he bought 15-20 saris for me. He then called me and asked me to choose my favourite one. No one had given me so much importance before that. I was so elated and told him the ones I liked.

“Devdas’ introduction was a 12-minute shot which was filmed using a hand-held camera. We shot it once on the first day… After that, Bhansali said that we won’t shoot anything else that day and asked us to go back home and rest well. The next day, we returned and did it twice and the third take was used.”

“To see a director understand actors that way and provide them with enough breaks was very overwhelming for me. The way he introduced all the characters in the film, including me, was amazing,” she added.

Smita Jayakar further recalled another incident which moved her to tears. “He is very particular about every little thing, which you can tell from his films. One day, when I reached his set, my face was looking very tired after having juggled multiple schedules of various projects. We had a close-up shot planned that day, but he said we won’t film it. He asked me to go home, rest well and return the next day. It doesn’t happen for a character artiste. So, I was so touched by that and I almost had tears in my eyes when he said that. No one takes so much care.”