J S Cheema and Baldev Gill: âœSmita Got Under The Very Skin of The Character Paro Brilliantlyâ

Let us begin by mentioning that Smita Patil didn’t take any fees for Waaris. We were a young team of three which had previously produced the cult classic National Award-winning Punjabi superhit Chann Pardesee. Waaris was originally planned as a Punjabi film called Muklaawa, but when Smita came on board she suggested that we make this powerful script in Hindi to reach a wider audience. Smita was so excited when our director Ravinder Peepat gave her a narration that she went out of her way to put remuneration aside and give priority to her dates even though she was very busy doing double shifts at that point of time.

 

When we shot in Haryana, Smita wanted to get the authentic body language and learn the exact way that the village women cut the fodder in the fields and lift a heavy bundle on their heads. In the film she matched every move with the village women. Smita got under the very skin of the character Paro brilliantly written by Baldev Gill but there were times when she refused to go ahead if she felt she was not doing justice. There is a scene in which she tells her father-in-law that “ye vidhwa toh usee din suhagan banégi jab aap ka beta usey lene aayega”. Smita took a day off and thought about the scene. Next day she gave a perfect shot. What a brilliant and dedicated actor.

 

In between the shots if she had time to spare, she would be seen reading a book or happily chatting with the local women. We were shooting in Rajpipla, Gujarat and Smita not only went into the minutest details of her own costumes and make-up but also of the other

characters in the scene. She asked questions and until she was satisfied, she would not move on.

 

With just a song and some minor patchwork remaining and Smita being pregnant she insisted on finishing her work before her delivery was due. She shot the song Aare munjhe, taare munjhe and finished her entire work. It was her immense dedication and love for her

work that made it possible for us to complete the film. Alas, she did not live to dub her own voice.

 

It was out of love and respect for her that Rekha and Shaban Azmi offered to dub for her. When Rekha began to dub, she listened to Smita’s original track and got into each and every nuance and tone. When Rekha began dubbing, she spoke the lines and asked if it was

okay. Baldev argued that the lines have been dubbed but the thought behind is missing. Baldev Gill even walked out but Rekha called him back and asked him to tell her what was missing. Once Rekha got the feel and the spirit of the character she completed the dubbing

without a flaw.

 

Smita and Amrish Puri’s characters ran parallel to each other. It was a powerful face off but she held her own even when Amrish Puri had to push her and slap her in a scene her eyes blazing fire in that scene. In the Samadhi scene where Paro (Smita’s character) speaks to her husband. Smita was not happy with the scene. She said rewrite the scene like you first wrote it in Punjabi. It’s not as effective as in Hindi. I rewrote that scene and translated the Punjabi lines word for word in Hindi. She was happy and she gave a perfect shot.

 

40 years later when we look back and think of that wonderful self-respecting woman called Smita Patil we are still in awe of her larger-than-life character in Waaris. We miss all those associated with Warris, especially director Ravindra Peepat, our late partner Yog Raj Sedha, and of course the magical Smita Patil. Waaris wouldn’t have been half the film it was without her support and cooperation. Smita Patil was the soul and spirit of Waaris. Whence comes such another?






Also Read: “Both Smita and I Were Expecting Our Sons at The Same Time" - Rati Agnihotri Recalls

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