She has always been a fine actress and ruled the screen decades ago. Today, thanks to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’, she’s being lauded and appreciated all over again. The one and only Manisha Koirala opens up about work, triumphing over cancer, and wanting to evolve into a global artiste in this exclusive tête-à-tête.  

By Andrea CostaBir

“Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) is absolutely the best that we have in the world.” 

“Sanjay and I have changed a lot. Whereas I had career breaks and many multiple things happening in my life with my health crisis and whatnot, Sanjay has basically been going from strength to strength; he has become a way better director and he’s absolutely the best that we have in the world, especially for female-centric subjects. He’s easily the best we have in the world at present and his growth has been phenomenal. As for my growth, post-cancer, I have been working on small projects or doing smaller roles in big projects. ‘Heeramandi’ has been a substantial role for me in a substantial project, so it is most definitely something that I cherish.” 

“I just trusted Sanjay blindly, I had faith in him and also the fact that this could be the role of a lifetime for me.”

“Did I imagine I would have an author-backed role like Mallikajaan in ‘Heeramandi’? Not at all, it’s beyond my imagination… When Sanjay called me and gave me this role, I was super thrilled, but you know the thing is, we keep on improvising and all that, so I had no clue, nobody had any clue, how it was going to shape up. But we all knew that it was going to be marvellous, we all knew that the kind of set that he made, the kind of costumes we were wearing, the jewellery, the makeup, the attention to detail that was going on, we knew what we were doing was exquisite but we had no idea how grand, how beautiful, it was going to be. It surpassed everything. I had absolutely zero idea about my character, though Sanjay kept on saying, over a period of time, ‘You don’t know what you’ve done Manisha…’ I just trusted him blindly, I had faith in him and also the fact that this could be the role of a lifetime for me, so I gave it my all and I enjoyed every bit of it.”

“My heart is full of gratitude that I’ve had a chance to work with phenomenal directors of India.”

“What do I say about the great directors I worked with? Be it Subhashji, Ramgopal Varma, Mansoor Khan, Mani Ratnam sir, Sanjay sir, and so many other good directors that I have worked with… for instance, Shankar Guru in the South (South Indian film industry). So, I was blessed working with some of the finest directors and finest filmmakers with great actors and big stars and all that… Anything I say will be less, but all I can say is that my heart is full of gratitude that I got work; that I had the chance to work with several phenomenal directors of India.”

“I have the complete strength to work, which I think my filmmakers will vouch for.” 

“Cancer leaves an impact on your body and your mind and it all depends on the circumstances of each cancer patient. Mine has left me hungry to do more and take more out of life, and so I push myself when it’s needed, when I want to work on interesting projects. I’m hungry to work. I think physically and mentally we all are fine at some level or the other, or we have to work with our new body, but that shouldn’t limit us. I have the complete strength to work, which I think my filmmakers will vouch for.” 

“I just wanted to talk more and motivate more and more people, and be a part of somebody’s healing process.”

“My goal was to basically have a cathartic experience as well as talk and motivate other people because when I was going through my cancer, the diagnosis and early stages of treatment and all that, I was searching desperately online, for books, in various places to find hope and there weren’t many people who had spoken. Many people, after they get well, don’t really speak out and so I had promised myself that if I get well, I will be talking about it and I will be advocating that there is life after cancer and maybe a better life, because we now know the value of life, we know the value of health, so automatically the priority shifts and we don’t take life or health for granted. I just wanted to talk more and motivate more and more people, and be a part of somebody’s healing process.”

“I’m extremely grateful that this film industry and this nation have embraced me. I am truly grateful.”

“How did the Indian film industry treat me? Well, I think the industry is what the world reflects… We all do a lot of growing up in life, life is what it is, you can’t say life treated me bad or you can’t say life treated me well – it depends on how you perceive your life to be, what is your perception of life. Honestly, life is great, and the industry is one of the finest places to work and thrive in. It’s a place that demands focused, dedicated hard work and excellence. If you’re willing to do that, it will give you the fruits of it as well. The industry is filled with creative people – whether it’s writers, camera people, the art director, the story writer, the director, the editor, the actor… it’s filled with creativity. So, how can it ever be bad? It’s one of the best places to be in. I love it and I’m extremely grateful that this film industry and this nation have embraced me. I am truly grateful.”

“The  media was always interested in my life and that hurt me sometimes…”

“The media was always interested in my life and that hurt me sometimes… Nowadays, actors and actresses are far more savvy than we were or, let me say, than I was. Yes, it did hurt but that’s the way you live and learn, and you move on and you forgive and you take the good, the good part of the memory, and you forgive the rest. You forgive yourself, right? So why not forgive others too? And it’s okay, it’s part of life, and life is beautiful – that’s how I see it.”

“Be a warrior from day one; accept equality, accept your space under the sun equally and, in fact, even better.” 

“My grandmother was the one who gave me the nod to join the Hindi film industry. The greatest piece of advice she gave me was: Whatever you want to do, make sure you’re going to be the best in it. Even if you want to be a gardener, make sure you’re the best gardener available. This means that no job is bigger or smaller than another. Everything is equal, as long as one enjoys doing that, as long as there is something which motivates us. So, people joining the film industry should love cinema, should love acting, should be hungry to perform and if you have that level of passion, you automatically will be dedicated, focused and hardworking. 18-20 hours of hard work will seem like 18 minutes or 18 seconds. It all depends on how motivated one is, so please choose the profession not for the fluff, not for what it gives you, but for what you can give to it and, in the process, you will love it, it will be a joyful process for you.

“I have really slogged, but I was also blessed with good directors, good filmmakers, good actors and all that. So, things will fall into place provided you put in your bit and stay focused. Don’t get dissuaded by the ups and downs in this profession, it’s not a steady 9-5 job. This is a profession that takes you down, up and down; it’s a roller coaster ride. It challenges you emotionally, mentally and physically. But just stay true to your art, stay true to your commitment, and enjoy your work, enjoy your life, and enjoy the whole process of living, creating and being a part of it. 

“I just feel being a girl child in a family in our part of the world, somehow we tend to feel like a second-grade citizen and we tend to be  second to the son and stuff like that, but just don’t accept that. Be a warrior from day one; accept equality, accept your space under the sun equally and, in fact, even better. For instance, since I had cancer, I had the double responsibility of making sure my life came back on track and people didn’t see me as a victim or as anything less than what I was before. So, I worked harder to achieve it.” 

“I would like to be a global artiste and have a career like Meryl Streep’s.”

“I want to have a career like Meryl Streep’s, I think she’s a phenomenal actress and she’s a phenomenal example of an actress who has just been rising and shining. I want to map my career out like hers… doing meaningful roles, impactful roles, powerful roles and growing as an artiste and working with directors who will enhance my craft and help me grow further. 

“Adding on to this, I want to say that I would like to be a global artiste because today, the world has opened up and has become one village now. Yes, I would love to work globally. I never planned much in my life, I just kept on working sincerely at my craft and every aspect of my life. I never expected such huge love pouring in through ‘Heeramandi’ for me at the age of 53. Honestly, it’s the most welcome surprise of my life till date. It is all thanks to Sanjay who has given me this kind of a platform to show my craft. I want to grow as an artiste, I want to grow as a human being, I want to contribute more in society, in the world, I want to live happily, joyfully.”