Look who's stalking!

Om Namo Namah! If you thought this chant was a meditative invoking of spirituality, well think again because the people who are reciting it are probably ardent followers of Narendra Modi, popularly nicknamed ‘NaMo’. I kid you not, these days of dynamic demonitisation, if not anything else have taught me this. Well, apart from the fact that I now know what it means to be poor and live day to day, counting my 100 rupee notes. So like every other poor or middle-class citizen, I have been relegated to standing in a serpentine queque at my local bank branch, in the hope of withdrawing some handy cash to see me through the month. Of course, my efforts and patience have been rewarded after missing meals, fighting and arguing with strangers I wouldn’t rub shoulders with otherwise, tucking my kid in to professional day care services to make up for my absence, walking miles to save on petty cash, standing for hours in a line that refuses to move and being often turned down as soon as my number came due to exhausted coffers of the bank for the day. I can only feel the distress that senior citizens, pregnant women and employed citizens of this country must be going through. And going by the number of sudden deaths and suicides that have been the unimaginably and extremely tragic consequence of the current malady, I seem to have got off easy. If you are not practically part of the hullabaloo at this juncture, I am sure witnessing the anguish, the dilemma and the misery is distressing enough, even if you aren’t at the receiving end of it.

It’s been well over a month since NaMo’s glorious initiative to nip corruption in the bud and everyday, news trickles in about illegitimate cash, gold and bank transactions that are being nabbed thanks to the move. Modi’s supporters are busy campaigning the virtues of this action and are sparing no words of praise hailing his decision. Will it be able to eliminate the atrocities inflicted on commoners thanks to the greed of a few, we will have to wait to see but as far as the process of implementation goes, it’s a sorry state of affairs no doubt. Our beloved PM meanwhile doesn’t believe in standing at the sidelines and watching the show. He is the man of the moment and is happily absorbing the attention he receives. This is a hero who hogs the screen, calls the shots and directs the twists and turns of this rivetting plot. This film is his and he is in fact, the film. A complete cinematic script in motion, the climax of which is yet to come.

Even before our PM was bequeathed the challenging role he now essays with pride and fervour, he has been proactive in being seen and heard, often using the latest tools of technology to amplify his presence. So whether it is his larger-than-life laser projection to an attentive audience in a village during his electoral rounds to his very own Twitter account, the PM believes in being there, doing that. He was quick to launch his own radio show to ensure traditional media is not neglected and had the quick wit to devise a user-friendly app that digitally surveys people’s response to the demonitisation drive. So far so good. His public addresses broadcast across Doordarshan have been sparse and significant but his speeches have been profound, hard-hitting and making all the right noises. PM Modi knows when he speaks to the nation, he must talk the language of the youth and hence makes sure he gives out terse but catchy messages that are easy to embed in to the collective conscious. Swacch Bharat, Make in India are words synonymous with any nation’s progress and are hardly innovative or path-breaking concepts but he has personified these slogans to make them gather steam thanks to the unanimous acceptance of the aam junta towards these ideas. By using the right way to communicate at the right time, Modiji knows how to turn a seemingly obvious solution in to a strategic and cohesive act that will instantly win popular appeal.

While the country rues the downside of demonitisation, be sure that this is a man on a mission and is empowered to turn the tide in his favour. What after all, can might not achieve when driven successfully by an able mind? So while our beloved PM of humble origins is no aristocrat, you need to still be wary of him because he is one indomitable and indefatigable technocrat. I am worried he will track my net movements next, assess my likes, choices, bank balance and personal traits through my shopping patterns, online transactions and general netsurfing and then unleash another bang boom policy or declaration which will of course be touted as beneficial to the larger populace. This is NaMo we are talking about. Whether you voted in his favour or not, he is here to stay and he can easily give Bigg Boss a complex. For this man seems to like to catch us where we least expect him to, surreptitiously but with a passion that is rarely encountered. As a result, he may not win your complete trust, but he is in for the long haul and will not rest until you are on his side, even if a tad uneasily. No wonder, he is managing to turn detractors into devotees with his sheer omnipresence and the zealous goal of administering his stoic reasoning and resolute opinion-making.

A daunting counterpart, controversial US President elect Donald Trump actually can take a page out of Modi’s book when it comes to first, keeping his audience enraptured and then make the most of it with his imposing and irrefutable stance. His critics may be skeptical when it comes to adjudjing the latter as an astute leader, but NaMo sure seems on the right foot to convince us he is. As for the demonitisation drive that has swept the nation, the examination is over, and India is eagerly awaiting the results. No matter what they are, this is not the last ball NaMo hits out of the field.

I hope not. In lieu of four years passing after the terrible December 16 rape incident in Delhi and considering no progress has been made to abolish this abominable crime from the country, our PM would do well to turn his attention to formulating a stringent measure against those who violate a woman’s right to exist. How about using the brilliant means of technological innovation to empower women citizens to alert cops when feeling endangered? We could call it the NaMo Say No to Rape one touch app or device? Our PM loves to play saviour and unfortunately, there are enough women in distress in his beloved motherland who need saving so time for some more well-meaning action, right?

The Pihu Diary: Conversation Bloopers for a Recently Turned Mom

So you have a kid now and you are wondering about the last time you had a decent meal, looked in the mirror properly and had a full night’s sleep. Actually, my advice is even if you do manage to glance at a mirror, pat yourself on the back for the woman who stares back at you. She is a reflection of how well you are doing your new job after all. So I am one of those who is immensely proud of the new responsibilities I have managed to get on top of. At the same time, I am also sufficiently humbled by how little a difference it makes because there is always  so much more to do. A little support along the way goes miles in making every day lighter and generally more manageable. 

What you need at the end of the day, is that word of encouragement, that kind look that says all is right with the world, and the satisfaction of having put in your best effort to bring up your child. On the other hand, what fails me is the indefatigable urge that some people have in killing your joy with the power of their unbridled, unguarded speech that most often, ticks me off my boat. So here’s a random listing of comments that people around you are most likely to make now that you have a kid of your own, who they now have the authority to talk about. In stead of a conversation starter, this usually ends up receiving a stone-cold silence, at least from my end because well, one good thing motherhood teaches you is ‘endurance’. That doesn’t stop me from muttering a few comebacks under my breath, generously spiced up with a few expletives I dare not mention here as the epitome of err...good motherhood!

Your daughter doesn’t look anything like you.

Yeah, sometimes I doubt she is really mine and if they simply, thrust her in to my lap, and declared that I take care of her all my life.

Whoa, you still wearing your maternity gowns?

No idiot, it’s my post-pregnancy weight and I’m wearing plus size clothes to cut the flab and because it’s just easier to be clothed this way!

Are you planning a second kid?

Yeah, because the reason I live is so that you have enough kids of mine to talk about.

You know, my kid is already reciting Shakespeare. Isn’t your child talking yet?

No, she isn’t and when she does, I’m most likely to teach her to tell you to ‘get lost’ in that many words.

Are those dark circles under your eyes or is it smudged kajal from last night’s do?

Err...you will know after I have socked you in the eye. Which one should it be, left or right?

Your kid is old enough, why don’t you go get a job? I mean, who plays stay-at-home mom in this day and age? Go feminism!!

Did it occur to you that I probably am empowered to make the choice and deliberately choose to do so for MY happiness?

Your kid is so young, don’t you think you need to give her more time to grow up before you go out to work again?

Classic guilt-trip scenario. These very people will be asking you the question mentioned above this one in a few months in to your hibernation and just when you start to enjoy it.

You are not a good mommy unless you can bake a good cake...breast feed your child...give her enough protein shakes...get her a smartphone at 10...buy her a limo at 18...send her abroad for higher education...

Yeah, and you are the last word on yardsticks of measurement for a good mother because...Mother Teresa entrusted you with that role?

The Pihu Diary: Lessons of Life

Dear Daughter,

Surprise is when you wafted into my world a good 20 days before time- 

the fragrant scent that would fill it forever.

Amazement is you picking up new words everyday and having conversations with me at the age of 2.

Understanding is knowing you are only two and will ask incessant questions.

Maturity is realising the role cut out for me will entail a lot of sacrifices and compromises but in time, will bear rewards.

Fear is seeing you get hurt in any way.

Patience is playing the adult who will have to watch out for ever baby step you take.

Fortitude is learning that you will test my persistence and will power a lot.

Concern is waking up at 3 am to check if you are breathing easy.

Care is coaxing you to drink up that medicine and using every tactic to get you to do it.

Obstinacy is when you still refuse!

Expectation is waiting for you to become a woman who I can see a part of me in, 

take flight on a journey of your own.

Love is when you pull me close to you and give me the world’s sweetest kiss ever, 

the most priceless acknowledgement of whatever I do for you.

Optimism is hoping our bond strengthens over time, and with every passing day.

Sadness is thinking that you will leave the nest as soon as you are old enough to look away.

Excitement is leading your hand to discover the myriad joys of this world, 

and seeing your eyes shine with glee.

Pride is creating all of you...in flesh and blood,born out of me.

My Name is Kavita and I am not a Feminist!

The voices of dissent have only got louder since the release of films like Pink and Parched. A much-needed dialogue between women and those who love to harbour stereotypical sentiments about them has achieved volume thanks to the growing awareness around gender bias and women emancipation. And yet, even as a woman I feel wary of using the word ‘feminist’ to identify myself or my stand. Recently, rising star Alia Bhatt was randomly derided for washing her hands off this tag so much so that she had to come out with a hurried explanation about how she was a feminist but was not actively supporting any such campaign at the moment. What she had probably meant by her denial of being a feminist is that she did support feminist instances but did not outrightly like to be called one. I know women who although may not accept it aloud, have secretly decided to shed this label altogether, simply because with time, it has unfortunately got associated with constant male-bashing and intolerance for anything that is remotely not in the woman’s favour.

As a teenager, I was often exposed to jokes about how women made bad drivers and how they were so poor when it came to navigating their way around roads.  I took them sportingly having known quite a few bad women drivers myself. Gender stereotypes and certain impressions that stem out of generalising the tendencies of one sex to pull someone’s leg is fine once in a while especially because, a little sense of humour never really harmed anyone. What is more difficult is staying within one’s limits and not crossing the line, where one gets chauvinistic, derogatory and offensive towards the other sex. And I am deliberately not leaning against one gender in favour of another here simply because I don’t believe that just because it is mine, or it is a trending topic, I must take it up. There was something called peer pressure we were known to succumb to in our college days. Now it seems to have translated to feminist pressure.  So if I say something  that may not suit this kind of forced dominion, I will come across as someone who doesn’t care for her fraternity!  

So if I am not a feminist, who am I? I have long tried to uphold the virtues of letting women be. When we ask for freedom against prejudices deep-seated in our cultures, demand equality of pay and wish for the same opportunities that are presented on a platter to men, we aren’t really asking for much. It doesn’t really need much effort to put a woman towards the path to progress. She is not required to be treated any differently from a man to see to it that she prospers and blooms in to a successful, independent individual. All she needs is breathing space and a liberal approach to her upbringing. She is capable of driving her inner light to illuminate her life in the right direction. So like I said, all that is required is to just- let her be!

And yet, we are constantly at a woman’s throat, from the time she is born to the time she lies on her funeral pyre. We must dictate how she must walk, what she must wear, how much she should eat or not (given the numerous fasting and other rituals she has to undergo to redeem herself in God’s eyes), what age she should get married at, who she can hang out with, what time she should come home,whether she should pursue a career or not, how many kids she should mother, what she should further abstain from once a widow and so on. We have reduced her to a mannequin to be ogled at, an idiot with no mind of her own and in worst cases, a slave.  My professor of journalism, P Sainath, scandalised a class full of girls when he once said that in India, the most unfortunate are the poor, followed by women. To our determined, self-respecting and educated selves, this seemed a gross oversight but little did we naive individuals realise, that what he had stated was in fact, the exact truth. Throughout our mass communications course, we were unconsciously being readied to take on a world that will objectify, underestimate, criticise and perhaps even condemn us. We were not only taught to enhance our skills, but go out with the right attitude to battle all kinds of evil. If all this made a feminist out of us, and if we were able to channelise positive energy to make things work for us, well, great.

Having said that, I have seen women take men for granted. I have seen them torture other women employees under their supervision due to feelings of insecurity and envy. I have seen them use their feminity and charm to elicit special favours. I have seen them manipulate their husbands emotionally to get that diamond ring for Diwali. I have seen them stare down at men who will not vacate their seat for them in an overcrowded bus, even if they are occupying the general category seats. I have seen them willingly let themselves be pawed by men in titillating videos and then cry foul over it. And I have seen these very women force their housemaids to work extra hours for meagre wages. As women, we have come a long way already in terms of making a mark in every field today, but this is just the start and we have a lot to achieve before calling it a day.

So let’s not lie back on our laurels just yet. Let’s not wear that ‘feminist’ tag with pride and let our bosoms well.  Let’s not pat ourselves on the back on showing the men the door. Because that is not the point of feminism. Putting men down is not the way to rise up. Making them realise and accept our worth so we can co-inhabit this world and reap its bounty together is what will define our victory. And let’s not undermine the contribution men can make in order to help us get there. If both genders must co-exist, we must do so with mutual consent, love, respect and understanding. So drop any label that makes you a pariah or your cause assume negative connotations. Like my male friend put it, “If I pull out your chair, you think I consider you too weak to do it yourself. If I don’t, I am ungentlemanly and inconsiderate. What am I supposed to do?”

The last thing we need for men to be hit by is a socio-cultural dilemma about how to treat us if we deem ourselves ‘feminists’. If he pulls out your chair, thank him. If he doesn’t, shrug it off and do it yourself because you can. And while we are it, don’t mind if he wishes to pay the cheque and refuses to go dutch. You can always treat him next time!

The Pihu Diary: Word Play!

When people tell you their kids have started talking and this is if you do love kids, I suggest paying them a visit. Why? Because it’s free entertainment! There’s nothing more funny and awe-inspiring than the things kids can say, in any given situation once they have discovered their tongue has other purposes besides just tasting food and licking off the dust from their favourite piece of furniture.  So Pihu has, to everyone’s delight, started talking. And like all things she takes seriously, she has already begun to show a resolute mind to master the art of right speech, constructing full, clear sentences that have no room for stammer, lisp, conjoined or missing syllables or broken vocabulary.  It’s almost like she has decided, that if I have to talk, I might as well get it right from the word go. So now we have all kinds of situations where you can rest assured that Pihu wil have something to add on or express, her word usually becoming the last word in a house full of so-called responsible adults.

Matching pace with her growing strength of speech is her ability to come up with some pretty interesting quips at the opportune moment, that make her constant chatter rather amusing. This is compounded by the fact that she is getting exposed to three different languages as she grows up- Hindi, Bengali and English. It means Pihu is a budding multi-lingual proponent of our national diversity. So what if that means she even combines words of two languages to make a very own imaginative mash up! Studies prove that exposing a child to more languages than one at an early age boosts the development of linguistic proficiency and this is probably why she may just learn these languages faster than most other kids. It doesn’t help that having been a writer for most part of my life, I am continually correcting her grammar and trying to verbally edit her lines when she so much as falters through her attempts at self-expression. Minor OCD, hmm, may be!

One of the earliest people she learnt to identify after birth have been kids younger or older than her. If she looks at any such being, she will immediately exclaim, “Chota Baby”, and point excitedly in his/her direction. So once on this flight to Delhi, on hearing a baby who could barely be a few months younger to her, cry away to glory all through the journey, our wise little counsellor couldn’t help but advise, “Chota baby ro raha hai, usse duddu peela dona.”

Extending on her knack of identifying people, she has still not understood that while there might be one papa, one mummy and a pair of grandparents on both sides, there may be more aunties, uncles, sisters, brothers and the like than she can count on her tiny hands. So  every snow-haired man is ‘Dadaji’, any chubby faced man in specs with a side parting could be a potential ‘Nanaji’ and ahem, quite a few actors she sets her eyes on on TV could be her ‘Papa’. So far Arjun Kapoor (only in 2 States), Ranbir Kapoor and Fawad Khan have laid claim to this title. Uncannily, she hasn’t quite pinpointed more ‘Mummies’ at the same time, which only makes me quite the philandering wife I suppose with an insatiable, salacious taste for our Bollywood stars. Speaking of whom, she is a self-confessed Salman Khan fan and loves most of his songs on TV, calling him ‘Sallu-bhai’ everytime he appears on screen.

She can also react very formidably to situations, admonishing me with a stern ‘Gandi Baat’ when I cajole her to change her clothes or a ‘Bachaoooo’ when I tighten my grip around her in a bear hug.

My Dad couldn’t stop guffawing when he heard her laugh and exclaim, “Mazaa aagaya!” after a particularly energetic, fast-paced jig to her favourite song in the drawing room. And my Mom was rendered speechless when she interrupted her mid-way through a conversation during bed-time with me, reprimanding her saying, “Nani, so jao!”

From the time she gets up to the time she sleeps, one common question that becomes a conversation-starter and reflects her curiosity to learn fast, is “Ye kya hai?” So she already knows to recognise and name her hair oil, baby lotion, baby cream, baby powder, diaper, my cosmetics and hair accessories like comb, deo, facewash, mouthwash etc. as well as differentiate between everyone’s clothes and belongings. This extends to identifying what type of vehicle is plying on the road, Ganpati, a flying aeroplane or bird, lights, colours, toys and so on.

Even my maids aren’t spared her verbal volley. So my cook was taken aback one day when it was Pihu who instructed her about the menu that day, “Chaawal banao, chicken banao, roti banao aur soupy banao.” I swear I hadn’t prompted her or mentioned this to her earlier.

Her longest sentence till date: “Main Mummy saathi pam pam gaadi mein baithke ghumi ghumi jaa rahi hoon shoozy pehenke...shaam ko.” Enough said.

Next challenge: Teaching her Marathi which is her Nanaji’s native language and Punjabi from her Dad’s side. After all, you don’t carry Bong, Maharashtrian and Punju genes together without making the most of it! What say, Pihu, my little dove?! Did I just see her scamper away to hide somewhere. Sheesh! So much for good old enthusiasm.

The (Rising) Legend of Kumud Mishra

In case you are worried there’s going to be a sequel to the recently released The Legend of Michael Mishra starring Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani, no my blog isn’t about that. (Do I hear a collective sigh of relief?) Anyway, today’s post puts under the scanner someone who contributed to the success of films like Rockstar, Filmistan, Badlapur, Airlift, Sultan and Rustom. I’m talking about an actor who has managed to hold his own among the heavily star-led plots of today, to gain a steady spot in many a film as well as win critical acclaim. So say hello to the very ubiquitous character actor Kumud Mishra, who is very well becoming the quintessential supporting cast member in every film of worth these days. A good film is impossible without a cast that manages to convince you of the twists and turns that a story takes you through. What this man is effortlessly able to do is stand out for his performances, each more different than the other. What this essentially does for him is keep him malleable to any form of character- without getting typecast and add to what most actors only aspire to achieve but most often cannot in their lifetime- versatility.

Having your roots in theatre always helps an actor discover aspects and shades to a role he might not have ever dreamt of otherwise. Films are the glamorous outcomes of your creativity. Meanwhile, theatre is what hones its making through learning the grammar of how to assimilate technique and spontaneity to form a novel mix of self-expression. I have met Mr. Mishra much before he hit bull’s eye in Bollywood and remember him as a portly gentleman with a glint in his eye, all excited and a tad impatient to start his workshop with kids during the first edition of the NCPA Summer Fiesta in Mumbai. He was accompanied by another fine actor Gopal Dutt. Little did I know then that this man was going to become such an indelible part of mainstream films that would resound with the impact he left on them, however small or big his role.

So just to start off, Rockstar which propelled Mishra in to the big league of films was a fine example of how he can add an earnest and endearing edge to his characters. In the role as Khatana, a college canteen owner who goes on to offer support as the faithful and well-intentioned agent to an unruly star Ranbir Kapoor, he lends a quiet, all-observing, resilient air to his character throughout the film. You know Ranbir may not achieve redemption in his life but you also know that there is someone who will stand by him, no matter how hard his fall.

In Filmistaan, Mishra dons the forever agitated, fanatic garb of a menacing terrorist pathan, out to kill his Indian hostage at the slightest discrepancy of behaviour. The film for the most part rests on the shoulders of Sharib Hashmi, the kidnapped victim of circumstances, Inaamulhaaq the solicitous caretaker and Mishra who keeps the stoicism of the oppressor intact till the end.

One of my favourite picks among his recent successful outings are however, him as Inspector Govind Mishra in Badlapur. Working on a case without much promise of justice to the wronged, he convincingly magnifies the languorous, ineffectual and ultimately corrupt workings of a decrepit Indian legal system, which has often generated severe criticism, cause for concern, and the need for reform.

The second is his depiction of Joint Secretary Sanjeev Kohli in the Akshay Kumar starrer Airlift, who goes out of his way to play an integral role in the rescue of 1,70,000 Indians in the country’s biggest evacuation operation. We don’t know whether his role has a real counterpart in the incident that unfolded close to three decades ago in Kuwait but his character manages to make you hope that such a man existed, and such men do exist in an otherwise negligent bureaucracy.

Mishra has not stopped to enjoy the laurels of his efforts and has continued to ignite the screen with his passion, albeit in less significant roles in films like Sultan as the hard-to-please wrestling coach Barkat and the incorrigible tabloid editor Erach Billimoria in Rustom.

He is soon to be seen in M.S Dhoni- The Untold Story coaching Sushant Singh Rajput on the cricket field based on Indian captain M S Dhoni’s journey so far. While I hope Mishra continues to get multi-faceted roles which he can bite in to with the same fervour and spark he has shown so far, I am also hoping he can make time to be a part of children’s workshops to hone their artistic skills again!

Imperfect Accent? Yenna Rascala, Mind it!

Critics may have panned it and the producers may have come back with an announcement of raking in INR 100 crore at the box office in the first week but the truth is, Rustom is still a film that has earned mixed reviews from the audience. Among the various factors that have disappointed the public is the claim that the dapper Punjabi Akshay Kumar does not get the Parsi lingo and mannerisms right to the point that he ends up doing a superficial impersonation of Rustom Pavri in this period drama. Whether Akshay has taken this criticism with a pinch of salt we know not, but the argument is that he is hardly the first superstar to be guilty as charged. There are superstars aplenty in tinsel town who may enjoy the clout to pull the audiences to the theatres but have managed to leave a lot of expectations unfulfilled when it comes to pouring themselves in to a certain mould- whether that is catching a whiff of an accent here or mouthing an odd line or two in the regional language of the community they pretend to belong to for their respective roles. 

Think Shahrukh Khan as Devdas playing the quintessential Bengali son of a well-placed zamindar in 20^th century Calcutta. Everytime he uttered a word of Bengali, every Indian who knows a bit of the language cringed. I mean, how much effort does it take to get a few words right when you are basing the character in a certain region? And while you may nod your head in defiance and say how much does that really affect the performance, I have examples to cite that will hold a light to this thought. Remember Leonardo Di Caprio in Blood Diamond and his Rhodesian street-smart, uncouth accent that he got right and stuck to throughout the film? Well, I believe how well you enact a role includes not only your dialogue delivery and emotional range but how you manage to convincingly depict the character in his/her cultural milieu as well. Still not convinced, let these brilliant actors come to your aid.

Mahmood in Padosan: As a Madrasi complete with a pigtail and bhasm on his forehead, in this film Mahmood plays a music teacher Master Pillai who is besotted with his pupil Saira Banu aka Bindu. He sings songs to serenade her, vows to get rid of the pesky neighbour in her saamne waali khidki and can make any one who challenges him to a contest of better vocal talent eat dust. Mahmood who looked like he was born to play this character charmed the audiences as hero Sunil Dutt’s adversary. He won himself more fans than the lead stars of this film by getting nuances of playing a Tamilian Pandit right, down to singing a rendition of his love-lorn condition to prove his superiority against the protagonist in ‘Ek Chatur naar badi hoshiyaar.’ Not to forget, he was in reel and real life, matching notes with the legendary stalwart Kishore Kumar himself!

Naseeruddin Shah in Pestonjee: From sporting a permanent slouch to give emphasis to the underdog character he plays, to blinking his eyes occasionally to convey anxiety and belting out dialogues in an accent that completes his mien as the eponymous character in Pestonjee, Naseer’s acting is a textbook for freshers in how to dissolve yourself in to the character you play.

Paresh Rawal in the Hera Pheri series: From his intonation of ‘Ae Raju’ to ‘Arre Deva re Deva’ to convey exasperation, it looks like Paresh Rawal ate thaleepeeth for dinner everyday to get in to the character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. The films may be 16 and 10 years old respectively, but this is a much-loved weekend watch everytime it comes on television for my entire family.

Quote Unquote: Kutriya saala, dekh ke number dial kar!

Aamir Khan in PK: No matter what film he takes on, this man makes sure he undergoes a complete transformation to essay the character. For Rajkumar Hirani’s film on an alien who comes to earth and unravels the mysteries behind religious beliefs held by human beings, he made sure he got the lilt and flow of the Bhojpuri accent right as well as synced it with his comic timing to perfection.

Quote Unquote: Aise tukur tukur ka dekhat pehchane nahi ka hum ka, hum pk hoon pk.

Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns as Kusum: And just in case this list begins to look too male-centric, here’s another one. She might be sentimental but don’t mistake this petite, pale-skinned girl for a vulnerable girl next door. Kangana as Kusum or Datto in the second installment of this hit franchise managed to lift the film to new heights by her sheer screen presence and electric performance. Playing a Haryanvi athlete who falls for a very much married but confused doctor, she managed to win hearts carrying the film right on her shoulders to the very last scene. What stood out, was her completely different avatar with cropped hair and buck teeth and yes, the perfect hold on the dialect.

Quote Unquote: Mhara naam Kusum Sanghvani, Yo Mhari saheli Pinky, Main Ramjas college Delhi University me padhu su, sports quote te admission leya, National level ki athlete su, jila Jhajjar, aur phone number main daunko naa!

So next time our highly venerated and larger-than-life superstars of Bollywood take on a role with an unfamiliar accent, they know whom to take inspiration from!