The seasoned actor salutes the spirt of the lady who left no stone unturned in trying to fulfil every desire of her dying son.
By Mayur Lookhar
Having limited her appearances in order to focus on motherhood, seasoned actor Kajol has done couple of films in the last few years. She will soon be seen in actor-director Revathy’s Salaam Venky [2022].
Based on a true story, Kajol plays the role of Sujata who lost her son Venkatesh to muscular dystrophy. He lived for 25 years. 17 years after the tragedy, Revathy gets to tell the inspiring story of the mother and son in her feature film.
We spoke to Kajol recently during a group conversation. During the trailer launch on 14 November, Kajol had disclosed how she was uncomfortable doing a role where she would have to grieve over losing a child. An earlier article revealed how Kajol eventually gave her nod.
We asked the actor on the kind of conversation she had with the real Sujata. Was that difficult?
More than difficult it was an intimidating conversation. When you see her as a person, there is this simplicity about her. Whatever she is capable of, she will do it. Will that succeed or not? She didn’t think about it,” said Kajol.
Despite knowing about the fatal disease, Sujata mustered all the courage to cheer up son for whatever time he was going to live.
Saluting Sujata’s spirit, Kajol said, “She had to be brave because she wanted Venky to be brave. She couldn’t break down becaus, he would break down, and vice versa. They had this amazing symbiotic relationship between them.”
Sujata longed to fulfill her son’s every desire. “She would figure out a way to give it to him. He loved watching movies. He loved playing chess. He had dreamt of playing with Viswanathan Anand. His idol was Arnold Schwarzenegger,” quipped Kajol.
The Salaam Venky [2022] actor informed us how Venky suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy which tends to be fatal in most cases. Often such patients only live up to 14-15 years. Kajol was stunned to know how this single parent took her son on a wheelchair to theatre every week.
Talking about it, she says, “Sujata used to take him for a film every week. There wasn’t much wheel chair access in theatres then. She would still put him on a wheelchair and take him. He used to ask her why he is the only person on a wheelchair? He wondered why people on wheelchair don’t come to theatres. She didn’t know how to answer that but she would be there and carry him every time. She made sure that he enjoyed his life.”
Such human-interest stories are meant to be told on the big screen. Hindi cinema often prides itself on escapism. If not insensitive, but has this escapism swayed us away from watching human interest stories?
“I think it is society as a whole. The industry will only give you a reflection of the society. We will give you what want you want to see. If you don’t want to see, then we can’t help you with that,”said the actress.
Earlier in the day, Kajol’s co-star and reel son Vishal Jethwa had stated that his life is shorter than Kajol’s career.
Kajol was amused by Jethwa’s comment. However, she gave a firm reminder on how she is still relatively young in the industry.
Says Kajol, “My mother started working when she was 6-7 years old. She will be 79 this year. So, she has worked for 73 years. If you compare with that, then I’m really a child in the field. Yes, my career maybe a little old than Vishal’s but I have a long way to go. Revathy ma’am has been working for 40 years. Together we have worked for 70 years.”
Salaam Venky [2022] is set to be released in theatres on 9 December.
