Since starring in Gharat Ganpati, Nikita Dutta has made her screen debut in Marathi cinema. In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, she talks about learning about the rich traditions of Maharashtrian culture
SHIKHA DUGGAL
Actress Nikita Dutta, who recently completed a Marathi film, is reaping several gains as she ventures into different cinema genres and acquires new knowledge. She told us in an exclusive interview that there are many more opportunities to advance in this field and that her efforts will ultimately have a lasting impact on her career.
“In Gharat Ganpati, my role has more to do with the movie and less to do with Kriti. To be honest, this movie belongs to my favourite genre. I have been dying to be a part of this variety! When I want to treat myself, I would like to see a movie of this type if I had the option,” the lead actress sums up her delightful experience in her Marathi debut in this way.
Fans are thrilled for the actress’ latest endeavour after seeing the highly anticipated movie’s trailer. “I instantly said a “yes” when reading the script,” she exclaimed, expressing her excitement too. “For me, my role was introducing a relatable concept. Having to play a Maharashtrian girl fascinated me in so many ways at once. I knew very little about the strict Maharashtrian customs. Because Mumbai is such a global metropolis, I never really got to experience the heart of this state during my 23 years there. I’m sure a lot of readers will concur with me.” Subsequently, the actress continues with the same phrase, stating, “This movie gave me a new perspective on Marathi, including its cuisine and culture. And let’s not overlook the music and clothes! This new regional identity won my heart. I became accustomed to their eating habits, their speech patterns and my own habits whilst filming Gharat Ganpati.”
Nikita, who is well-known for her impactful roles in Hindi movies such as Gold, Kabir Singh and The Big Bull, embarks on a new endeavour by joining the Marathi film industry. Isn’t that interesting? She does, however, also remark, “I had never been involved in a regional movie. I had doubts! However, I didn’t see much change in that regard. With my fourteen fellow actors, we made a stunning ensemble that didn’t have any conflicts on the Gharat Ganpati sets. Due to the fact that the crew was Maharashtrian, there were moments when they would all start speaking Marathi and I would be left sitting there in complete confusion. Hehe!” However, following that, Nikita said to us, “I also began to notice the language. They began to include me in all of their attempts at conversation once they realised I was there. You perceive that as the beauty of a fresh set? To be completely honest, I just don’t have chemistry with my leading man and when you watch Gharat Ganpati, it’s evident with all the other cast members as well.”
Kabir Singh fame further says, “My film is extremely rich in showing the culture,” while reminiscing about some of his happy moments spent on the Gharat Ganpati set. “For example, one thing Mumbai is well-known for is Ganesh Chavithi! It has been at this time that I have participated in several darshans. However, what’s the deal? I learned from this movie that, up until it came out, my knowledge of this festival had been incredibly limited. I immersed myself in the “mumbaiya” way of life. When it came to carrying out the rites, the director followed the text! I had the impression that I was celebrating all month long because we spent more than a month filming this movie. Because of Gharat Ganpati, I can now truly appreciate the significance of Ganesh Chaturthi.”
Nikita recalls, adjusting to the part, “I was finding it difficult to respond to the sentences that were being uttered in Marathi. One of my main concerns while on the sets of Gharath Ganpati was seeing my fellow performers, who are adept at swiftly improvising on the scene. Sometimes they are known to stray from the plan. However, they used to give me hints, hehe. I had never worn a ‘nauvari’ saree, either. How difficult is it to wear that? Oh my goodness! It was exciting for me to know that I would be wearing it on screen, but I have to admit that shooting it was challenging.” But her fondest memory was of, “My first marathi saree, which I wore, was an ancestral saree. Ages old and incredibly costly! To ensure I didn’t dirty it, I constantly had a huge team standing on my head. Could you believe that the heritage saree was guarded? And not the main actress! Not to mention that the process of draping used to take over three hours. I used to have three people come help me drape the saree. I have been nagging my team to let me recreate that look again since I am so in love with it when I am doing my promotions.”
Her character in Gharat Ganpati is Kriti Ahuja, a girl from North India who enjoys the colourful world of Maharashtrian traditions and sets out on a cultural odyssey. Nikita appears to be settling into the part with ease in the trailer, wearing a classic appearance that goes well with the touching story of the movie. As the interview was drawing to an end, the well-known actor from Dybbuk also said, “I haven’t worked with any production houses, directors, or actors that I wouldn’t want people to see any of my films with. I’ve prevailed there, then! Without coming across as corny, I want to push myself, but not in an obvious way. I signed up for a Marathi debut; why? There are two reasons: one, it’s not my native tongue and second, I was meant to operate in an entirely different environment. Thus, why not? I don’t always have to play out and audacious parts! It was difficult for me personally, but I’m glad I did it.”
