Actress Kareena Kapoor and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran are currently drawing significant attention for their upcoming cinematic project, 'Daira'. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film marks a special family collaboration as her father, the legendary writer and director Gulzar, has also contributed to the venture. Gulzar joined hands with Yash Keswani and Seema Aggarwal to pen the screenplay for 'Daira'. During a recent promotional campaign for the film, Meghna Gulzar shared several intriguing and lesser-known details about her father's distinct style of working on set.
The Sweets Incentive for Outstanding Performances
Having spent decades in the Indian film industry, Gulzar has developed his own unique methods of encouraging actors and crew members during shoots. He explained that he used a very distinct approach to boost the morale of everyone on set. Whenever someone delivered an exceptional shot, he rewarded them on the spot with a small treat. Gulzar recalled that he always kept toffees in his pocket to hand out to actors and technicians who performed exceptionally well. This simple gesture not only lifted spirits but also fostered a positive and cheerful working environment for the entire team.
Uncompromising Stance on Natural Aesthetics
While Gulzar was known for his warm nature and the habit of distributing sweets, he maintained a highly disciplined and strict atmosphere when it came to the authenticity of his characters. He strongly believed that actors must appear completely natural on screen to connect with the audience. If an actor arrived on set with excessive cosmetics, Gulzar would insist they wash their face before any filming could begin. In his view, realistic portrayals hold much more emotional weight and leave a lasting impression on viewers compared to heavily made-up faces.
Meghna Gulzar Recalls Humorous Set Anecdotes
Elaborating on her father's strict guidelines regarding realistic looks, Meghna Gulzar recalled how he would promptly send actresses back to their vanity vans if their makeup looked too heavy for the scene. She playfully mentioned that actor Sharmila Tagore would surely remember this aspect of his directing style. Responding to his daughter's revelation, Gulzar added in his signature witty manner that whenever someone turned up with too much makeup, he would start the conversation by telling them to wash up first.
Rewriting Scenes to Discard Heavy Makeup
Meghna further revealed an ingenious tactic her father employed when actresses resisted toning down their cosmetics. She explained that Gulzar would sometimes quickly rewrite a scene to include a sequence where the character is shown washing her face. This meant that removing the heavy makeup became an actual part of the film's narrative. The veteran writer added that once actresses caught on to this creative strategy, they would voluntarily request an extra ten minutes before the camera rolled to wash off the excess makeup themselves.
