Love that surpasses time: Sidharth & Katrina on Baar Baar Dekho
Ever since the first trailer of Baar Baar Dekho was launched, the fresh pairing of Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif has got everyone hooked. Director Nitya Mehra’s debut film is an unusual love story that involves an element of time travel.
The film has been compared to a number of Hollywood movies, a comparison that has been vehemently denied by the team. While Sidharth calls it is ‘a new age love story’, Katrina believes that it is a film that will connect with all women. The pair get candid with Pandolin as they talk about their characters, chemistry and what makes this film relatable to the youth of today.
Sidharth Malhotra
Sidharth Malhotra
Tell us about the character you play. Do you think that Jai Varma is a relatable character?
I can relate to Jai Varma to a great extent and I think that he represents a lot of the youth today. The current generation is obsessed with their work and their goals in life are career-oriented. They want to reach a certain position and earn a lot of money, but in today’s generation nobody wants to settle down at the age of 30. Jai is exactly like that; he is a professor of maths and is consumed by the desire to study abroad and further his career. Even though he has a girlfriend like Diya, someone he has been in love with since childhood, he is still commitment phobic, which I think a lot of youngsters are. The film shows how the character goes on this journey to the future and sees how this love story unfolds. And the things that he learns, is something that all the youngsters will be able to relate to.
The film shows how the character goes on this journey to the future and sees how this love story unfolds
The movie spans over 30 odd years, how challenging was it to transform yourself, physically and mentally to fit the different personas?
It was difficult to play a 46-year-old. It was tricky yet interesting because I was playing a 46-year-old, but in my head I am 30. So I started observing my elder brother and father. Also it was very hectic to get the prosthetics on, which would take five hours and then we would shoot for eight hours straight. To change your face at such an early age, that too in a very real manner and not the old-school way where you simply dye your hair white, was great. Again it is a very rare thing to be shown in Indian cinema and hopefully people will like it.
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In a still from Baar Baar Dekho
The movie is being compared to Hollywood films like Click and About Time that revolve around the concept of time travel. Are there any similarities at all?
Yes, there have been comparisons, but the only thing common between these films is the concept of time jumping or skipping. Otherwise, once you see the film, you will realize that there is nothing common between them. The story is not inspired by any film. It is not like Click where there is a device to control time nor is it like About Time, which has a family angle to it.
The only thing common between these films is the concept of time jumping or skipping
This is the first time that you are sharing screen space with Katrina Kaif. How did you’ll work on your chemistry?
As actors who have to work closely, especially in the case of love stories, it is important to know your co-actor because we are pretending to fall in love. This was important particularly in this movie as we are not only falling in love, but we have loved each other since we were eight years old. Therefore, we needed to have that familiarity.
So before the shoot began, we did workshops together. During the first session, all I had to do was to sit in front of Katrina and look into her eyes for 15 minutes. Such workshops helped us to break the ice and explore our roles. I discovered how hardworking Katrina is and one of the positive qualities that you can learn from her is that she doesn’t take her position or experience for granted.
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Katrina Kaif
What was it that encouraged you to be part of Baar Baar Dekho?
Baar Baar Dekho, as a script, is one of the best scripts that I have heard. It touched me personally. I felt that I could relate to so many moments that Diya goes through, and when I thought more about it, I realized that not just me, but a majority of people would be able relate to the character. I believe that if this connects to me, it will connect to most women.
I realized that not just me, but a majority of people would be able relate to the character
As actors, how do you bring out the chemistry shared by the characters on screen?
I believe that chemistry has to first be present in the script for it to be portrayed by two actors. And it surely helps if you get along with the person. If there is a good vibe between the two of you, along with trust, and if both of you are working as a team then that chemistry can be brought out on the screen as well. And Sidharth (Malhotra) is a nice guy to work with; he is an easy and steady person. He is also a great performer so that helps you.
READ: LOVE STORIES WITH A TWIST
With Sidharth Malhotra in a still from the film
Has the movie influenced you in any way? What is your takeaway from this film?
The message that I took with me at the end of the movie was that we need to focus and remember that it is not always the destination, but also the journey that matters. We are all in such a rush to achieve a position or gain a name that we sometimes forget to ask ourselves, whether we are happy in this journey and are we enjoying every moment.
Apart from that, as a woman it resonated very strongly with me because I do believe that a lot of times, especially when a woman is at home, she does not get that importance or attention from the man in her life. And that is a very frustrating thing to feel. Particularly in the case of women who are raising children; they can almost be made to feel inconsequential and that is a very sad and lonely feeling. So I think that the loneliness and frustration that Diya’s character goes through in the film was something that was very emotional for me. And I think that it’s going to be something that everyone can relate to. There will be moments from the movie that most women would have experienced in their life.
There will be moments from the movie that most women would have experienced in their life
What reasons would you give the audience to watch this film?
Firstly, the movie has a great story. It deals with real emotions. Other than that, the movie is made by a fantastic director (Nitya Mehra) and lastly it has a wonderful character that women can relate to.
