Acclaimed actor and filmmaker Saurabh Shukla looks back on his formative experience working with director Shekhar Kapur on the seminal 1994 film ‘Bandit Queen,’ identifying it as a crucial period that instilled in him the art of finding humor in even the most somber narratives. This cinematic collaboration proved to be a significant learning ground for Shukla.
The biographical film, chronicling the life of Phoolan Devi with Seema Biswas in the lead, was a challenging project. Shukla, who was working with Kapur, a director he admired, found the experience to be both technically and emotionally enriching. “He taught me a lot, both technically and emotionally,” Shukla stated in a recent interview.
Shukla vividly remembers Kapur’s persistent search for comedic elements, even within the film’s inherently dark and violent themes. “There was a scene we shot… So there was a robbery sequence in the village. People were running here and there in panic… There was a liquor shop where two dacoits were throwing bottles, and a villager watching them said, ‘Itni nikal rahe, ek aad hume bhi dedo’ (You’re taking out so many, give us one too),” he recalled. This incident exemplified Kapur’s knack for spotting the absurd in tragic circumstances.
This insight has become a cornerstone of Shukla’s own creative philosophy. “I understood that without humour, it’s half, not a complete picture. That’s something I still follow,” he asserted. He further elaborated on directors like Kapur and Ram Gopal Varma, praising their capacity to authentically represent regional cultures and languages, often through an intuitive understanding of rhythm and cadence rather than direct experience.
‘Bandit Queen’ garnered substantial critical acclaim, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Saurabh Shukla, a prolific actor recognized for his contributions to films such as ‘Satya,’ ‘Yuva,’ and ‘Jolly LLB 2,’ carries forward the invaluable lesson of weaving humor into dramatic narratives, a skill honed under Kapur’s guidance.