Move over, Romeo and Juliet, the folklore of Mirza Sahiban is one of the world's most fascinating tales of romance between star-crossed lovers.
The tragic tale of love in Punjab has so mesmerised Indian filmmakers that several versions have appeared in film, the first one dating back to the silent-movie era.
So it is no great surprise that filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, one of the most creative directors in Bollywood, has been wanting to make his version of the story for 30 years.
When he finally decided, two years ago, that it was time to finally start work on his dream project, Mirzya, he recruited Gulzar, a noted poet behind some of Bollywood's most profound love stories, including Ijaazat and Masoom, to script it.
The Mehra-Gulzar partnership is a dream team for a first-time actor – so, when Saiyami Kher, 24, until now best known for her modelling work, auditioned and was shortlisted for the lead role of Sahiban she was in awe.
“For me, starring in a film that had the touch of Rakeysh sir and Gulzar sahab was a big thing,” she says.
The process that ended with her winning the role took more than a year. After the first six months of auditions, Kher was sent to Delhi for three months with the other remaining contender for the role. They received acting lessons and honed their skills by performing scenes from the film. Then they returned to Mumbai for more screen tests before Mehra made the final decision and chose his heroine.
“Those three months in Delhi transformed me completely,” she says, adding that she would have been happy even if she had not won the role.
After she was cast, Kher and co-star Harshwardhan Kapoor (son of Anil Kapoor and brother of Sonam Kapoor), took part in several workshops with Mehra as they really began to live the film together. They met every day to discuss scenes, brainstorm, rehearse and have meals together, all of which helped them to bond and feel at ease with each other.
“Our comfort level was high when we started filming,” says Kher. “The first day of the shoot just felt like another rehearsal, this time with the right make-up and hairdo.”
As a result, she adds, there was little apprehension.
The plot of Mirzya shifts between two worlds – much like Mehra's Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – which gives the stars a rare chance to portray two different characters in the same film.
Kher plays Sahiban, the heroine of the original folk legend, and Soochi, a modern-day woman fresh out of college.
“Sahiban is beautiful and vain and has a strong character,” says Kher, “while Soochi is very relatable.
“The film is a visual and musical treat. It shows how old folklore is still relevant in this day and age.”
Soon after she finished working on Mirzya, Kher signed up to appear in a film by Mani Ratnam, a noted director of Tamil films. Shooting is due to start soon.
Kher hails from a family of successful Bollywood stars. Her grandmother, Usha Kiran, starred opposite Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar.
Her aunt Tanvi Azmi, meanwhile, is known for her powerful performances, the latest of which was as Radhabai in Bajirao Mastani, for which she bagged the National Award for best supporting actress.
“If I’ve inherited even five per cent of their genes, I should be able to manage well in the industry,” says Kher.
Despite this star-studded lineage, Kher’s parents, who were models in Mumbai, wanted to keep their children away from the spotlight. Kher and her sister grew up in Nashik, 165 kilometres from Mumbai, where they got close to nature. They spent weekends climbing mountains and swimming in lakes, and worked in their parents’ restaurants during school holidays.
“We were not allowed to watch films until our teens, but I made up for the lost time in just a few years,” she says with a laugh.
Kher moved to Mumbai to attend college, where she took up theatre and modelling.
“Acting gave me the scope to learn more about myself, introspect and draw out my life,” she says.
Mirzya is in cinemas now
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