Actress Dia Mirza is playing the crucial and important role of Maanayata Dutt, Sanjay Dutt's wife in the actor's biopic Sanju. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor playing the role of Sanjay. Dia was introduced in a poster by the director on Twitter with the captions, “And here comes Dia Mirza as Maanayata, someone who stood by #Sanju through thick and thin.” In a tête-à-tête, Dia talks about how she approached playing the most important person in Sanjay’s life - his wife 'Maanayata', in the biopic.
Dia was asked about how difficult was it playing Maanayata onscreen and whether she had a sketch note given to her since Sanjay Dutt's wife was already a known figure in the press, even before the two tied the knot in 2008. “There are preconceived notions about everyone in the public domain but unless you get to know the person, you don’t know what they go through. Even in the public sphere, there has been an unquestionable reality that she (Maanayata) is a strong woman who stood by Sanjay at a tumultuous time. She raised their children alone through infancy, alone," asserted the actress. Dia further added that she has immense respect for Maanayata for going through the worst in her life, yet fulfilling her responsibility with grace and strength when Sanjay was in the prison.
Talking about director Rajkumar Hirani’s research on Maanayata Dutt and how many times she met her in person, Dia revealed, “Raju Sir and Abhijat Joshi’s (writer) research was too strong. They gave me all the answers that I required and I did a little bit of homework as I watched Maanayata’s interviews and public interactions. I have known her socially and right from that difficult phase till now, I have seen her go through this phase from outside but the insight was provided by Raju sir.”
Talking about how difficult the role was to portray, Dia revealed, “As an actor, the only thing you hope to achieve is the ability to find the honest emotion within the narrative. What would a woman, a wife, a mother will experience in these difficult moments, and if you find that answer then you will be able to deliver! Every time I asked those questions as Maanayata, I become so overwhelmed, I do not know how she had the fortitude to do it.”
Sanju releases on June 29, 2018.
DESK: VANDANA SRIVASTAWA
