As ‘Mission Kashmir’ completes 26 years, Sonali Kulkarni looks back at playing Neelima Khan in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film, her experience of working with Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik Roshan, and why the film continues to resonate with audiences. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, the actor also recalls a memorable interaction with the then President of India, who recognized her for her performance as Ramabai Ambedkar in ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.’ From revisiting films that were ahead of their time to wanting her work to reach a wider audience, Sonali reflects on her journey and the experiences that continue to inspire her.
Sonali Kulkarni on completing 26 years of ‘Mission Kashmir’ and why Neelima Khan remains special
“‘Mission Kashmir’ has completed 26 years, and I think, as an actor, I have worked on many films that were ahead of their time. ‘Mission Kashmir’ also came at the right time because it was a film made by Vidhu Vinod Chopra himself. Vinod was not only the producer but also the director, which was rare for him.I was really touched by the way he treated all the characters and the way he sketched Neelima Khan, my character. She is a woman who has her sensibilities, spine, and pride intact. She doesn’t fear telling her world, her love, and her son that philosophy is one thing and love is another.You need to understand what a nation has sacrificed. You need to understand the facts before you decide that you want to have animosity towards someone.I really liked Neelima Khan’s character and the way Vinod treated her. She is Sanjay Dutt’s wife and Hrithik’s surrogate mother. We talk about women not getting meaty roles, and here is Neelima Khan, standing strong with an immense amount of love, affection, and pride in her heart,” she expressed.
Sonali Kulkarni on working with Sanjay Dutt: ‘He told me not to take tension’
Sonali recalled, “I remember Sanjay being absolutely easy, chilled out, and extremely cooperative on the set. He supported me so well and asked me to relax. He said, ‘Aisa tension leke mat kaam karo.’We had a small scene, which we used to call the bedroom scene. There was nothing like that; it was just a husband and wife, with the wife blushing because they were teasing each other about who said ‘maa’ first and who said ‘papa’ first.It was a very cute scene and filled with affection. But the way the unit started calling it ‘the terrace wala scene’ or ‘the aangan wala scene’ eventually made it our ‘bedroom scene.’I started feeling nervous, and I was given a sleeveless gown. We didn’t even have to do anything in the scene. So Sanjay finally told me, ‘Dekh, pehle main nervous rehta hoon aise scenes mein. Uske aage tu bhi nervous rahegi, toh scene kahin nahi jaayega. So, let’s relax. It’s just a dialogue scene.’He was very sweet.”
Sonali on witnessing Hrithik Roshan’s growing stardom during the shoot
“Hrithik, till about 90 percent of the film, had not become the frenzy and heartthrob of India that he later became. But during the last schedule of ‘Mission Kashmir,‘ I could see the change. There were so many people on the sets just to catch a glimpse of Hrithik, and there used to be security on the set.Hrithik and I got to do the same scene that we had done for our audition, so it was fun,” she shared.
Sonali opens up on whether ‘Mission Kashmir’ could be made today
“Whether ‘Mission Kashmir’ could be made today. It is a unique film because of the time when it was made. Today, we are seeing a lot of films about spies, two nations, and betrayal.But of course, ‘Mission Kashmir’ will always stand apart from the crowd because it is based on strong emotions. If it were made today, I would have still suited the part. We are talking about 26 years ago, and I still had the courage to play Neelima Khan. It goes without saying that I would do anything for Vinod because he’s such a sensitive director.It’s a lovely thought to imagine having Hrithik, Preity, Sanju, Jackie Sir, and everyone in the film, and we should actually remake the film with Vinod Pradhan’s cinematography, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music, and such lovely costumes. We don’t have Nitin Desai, though, who was the production designer,” she said.On audiences revisiting her films and the beauty of cinema“As I said earlier, yes, I have worked on films that were ahead of their time. People are revisiting ‘Mission Kashmir’. They keep watching ‘Taxi No. 9211.’ They keep watching ‘Daayraa’ nowadays. And they keep watching ‘Dr. Ambedkar.’I feel this is the beauty of cinema. You cannot revisit a theater performance in the same way. Though there is an exception, people keep watching ‘Sakharam Binder’ also, which we had shot about 20 years back when Vijay Tendulkar sir was still there with us.But that’s the beauty of cinema. My husband and I started watching ‘Omkara‘. Both of us were talking about certain films, and we somehow missed ‘Omkara’. We can watch it today, and it’s such a joy to see the times and the actors, who are ever-evolving. It is so wonderful to see Kareena, Saif, Ajay, and Konkona in that phase of ‘Omkara.’In so many of my films, I can see my speech, voice quality, pitch, and body language varying. We have such a rich audience in India. I love reading it when audiences notice the nuances in one’s performance,”
Biggest misconception about Sonali Kulkarni
“The misconception about me has nothing to do with my acting abilities, but many people think that I reside in Pune. I am originally from Pune, and I was the first one among my contemporaries to shift to Mumbai. I remember so many actors from later generations taking the path I took, although they didn’t copy me. I shifted to Mumbai much earlier.I never shared a room in a hostel or lived on a cot basis. I have really nice memories of my rented houses. I lived in a chawl in Dadar, then rented a house, and had the smallest studio apartment, which I am very proud of to this day. Then, of course, I bought my own house.As for other misconceptions, I can’t really say. I am very happy. I am not publicity-shy, and I have always felt that my work should reach people. Perhaps that is one misconception I would like to fight against in the coming years. I want my work to reach a wider audience because I have done more than 100 films and so much work over the years.Both the volume and quality of my work matter to me. I haven’t spoken aloud enough about my own work, but I am coming out of that shyness, which is a welcome phase for me,” the actress clarified.
On the President of India’s recognition for her performance as Ramabai Ambedkar
“When we were invited by the President, I remember the security and even what I was wearing. Hrithik and Sanjay were both wearing denims and light blue shirts. The screening was over, and then we had high tea, which was a very magical experience. We were given saucers, then empty cups, then spoons, followed by tea decoction, milk, sugar, and biscuits.You are not exactly awkward, but you are overwhelmed when the President of India is standing close to you and you are having chai with him.Vidhu Vinod Chopra was introducing all of us. He said, ‘This is Sanjay Dutt,’ and went on to introduce him. Then he introduced Hrithik Roshan as the heartthrob of India, with many adjectives.I was standing a little behind when the president looked at me and asked, ‘Are you Rama?’Instinctively, I looked back, thinking there was someone standing behind me. Vinod realized that the president was talking to me and said, ‘No, no, this is Sonali Kulkarni. She played Neelima Khan in the film that you saw just now.’The president said, ‘Of course, I know that.’ He called me closer and asked, ‘Did you play Rama Ambedkar in a film called Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar?’I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He told me that he had watched my film the previous month and said, ‘What a performance. I loved the film.’He went on talking about me and the film ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.’ I can’t tell you how touched I was, how smitten I was.And he didn’t stop there. Everybody was speechless. He called his family and close friends and introduced me to everyone. He said, ‘Look who’s come. Sonali, who played Ramabai in Dr. Ambedkar. Let’s have a photo with you.’That was the epitome of glory or recognition for me, and it remains so to this day. If the first citizen of my country recognizes me so sharply and treats me so fondly, what more could I ask for in life?I should only strive to work better and better, work harder, pour my heart into my work even more, and make our Tricolour feel proud of what I am doing in my career. I have been so driven ever since that day. And that is all, thanks to ‘Mission Kashmir‘s screening at the President’s residence,” she concluded with a smile.