Javed Jaffrey will be seen in a different style in ‘Maya Sabha’: Actor said – I have not read a more powerful script than this in my 40 years of career.
Javed Jaffrey has played all types of characters in his career spanning four decades, but he considers ‘Maya Sabha’ as a special film for him. Had a special conversation with him about this upcoming film… What was it in the script of ‘Maya Sabha’ that immediately connected you with this project? When I read the script, it felt like the most powerful script I have ever read in my nearly 40-year career as an actor. The most important thing was that it is a character-driven script and not just a story-driven film. Here the entire narrative progresses around my character and there are so many emotional and psychological layers in that character that actors rarely get such an opportunity. Honestly, it was a no-brainer. Didn’t even get a chance to think, just had to say yes. Along with this, I also felt a different kind of respect that the director considered me for this role. Usually people associate me with comedy or dance, so I am thankful to them for seeing me as an actor. How do the layers of both the words ‘Maya’ and ‘Sabha’ in the title connect with your character? ‘Maya Sabha’ is actually a world of illusion. The cinema hall here and the characters seen are not as they appear at first sight. As the story progresses and layers of characters are revealed, you realize that the reality is completely different from what it seemed. Here there is a place called ‘Sabha’, there are people too, but everything is wrapped in Maya i.e. illusion. Gradually the viewer understands that some other game is going on here. Is ‘Maya Sabha’ one of those films in your career which demands thinking from the audience? Look, there are some films which say come, sit, get entertained, pass the time. But ‘Maya Sabha’ has layers. The film shows the complexity of relationships – the relationship between a father and son, the distance between them, the burden, the pain. What effect the two characters coming from outside have on their lives, all this is revealed very slowly. It is not necessary that you need to think very deeply, but the style of the film is such that things are revealed slowly. This film becomes more enjoyable on second viewing. According to me, this is a very beautiful and different world, which has been created through this story. Does your character go through any mental dilemma in this film? This character is carrying many types of burdens within himself. All that has happened in his life – his wife leaving him, his complicated relationship with his son, ups and downs in his career, failures regarding money and films – all this slowly comes to light. The audience also remains confused as to what this person is – negative, positive, mad, conscious, or manipulating someone? As the story progresses, you understand where the character is going and what his mental state is. Do you think such films are being made less in the mainstream today? Today the meaning of mainstream has changed. People call it mainstream which earns more money but it is not necessary that it is the real measure of cinema. There is no traditional formula in ‘Maya Sabha’ – neither hero-villain, nor song-dance. It is a psychological thriller, a night story, four characters and a theatre. Despite this you do not get bored even for a second. Its biggest strength is its writing. This is the real hero of this film. Did this role take you out of your comfort zone as an actor? No see, if an actor always works in his comfort zone, how will he become better? Unless there is a challenge, performance cannot progress. If I keep doing what I’ve been doing for years, what’s new in it? As an actor, it is important that you choose roles that challenge you, where you think about how do I play this character, how do I craft it and involve myself completely in it. When the audience says, “We have never seen Javed Jaffrey do this before,” that is the biggest achievement for me. I am thankful to God that I got opportunities to play different types of characters. This character of Maya Sabha was of the same kind, which took me out of my comfort zone. Be it the film Salaam Namaste, ‘Dhamaal’ series, ‘Oh Darling! This is India!’ Like a movie or ‘Boogie Woogie’ dance show. Or connecting with people just through voice in ‘Takeshi Castle’, all these experiences gave me the opportunity to constantly do something new as an artist. For me, it is more about showcasing my art than ‘leaving a mark’, how as an actor I can present a character from my perspective. The director and writer have their own ideas, but what I can add to the character as an actor is most important for me. If I have got the opportunity to do so much in the last 40 years, I am truly thankful to God for it. What creative discussions took place with director Rahi Anil Barve on the sets? It was a very intense shoot of about 22 days. Worked for 18-19 hours, even 22 hours at times. Smoke, dust, kerosene inside the cinema hall – the conditions were difficult, allergies also occurred, but the satisfaction that one gets in the end makes one forget everything. The audience doesn’t care how many takes you did or what the budget was. They only see the end result and if the result is good, then that is the biggest happiness as an artist.
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