Shabana Azmi Shares How Rajinikanth Cleared Ooty Streets For Film Shoot: ‘We Know Jugad'
While filming City of Joy, Shabana Azmi recalled how Rajinikanth’s quick thinking once cleared the streets of Ooty, allowing an uninterrupted shoot.
![Shabana Azmi reflects on City of Joy and shares how Rajinikanth’s crowd-clearing trick helped during filming in Ooty. Shabana Azmi reflects on City of Joy and shares how Rajinikanth’s crowd-clearing trick helped during filming in Ooty.](https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2021/07/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&width=640&height=360)
During her time working on international productions, Shabana Azmi encountered unique challenges—one of which brought back memories of a shoot with the legendary Rajinikanth in Ooty. Known for his charismatic persona on and off-screen, Rajinikanth once managed to clear the bustling streets of Ooty to allow for uninterrupted shooting, an experience Shabana recently recounted while reflecting on filming City of Joy.
During her interview with Faye D’Souza, Shabana recalled that filming in Kolkata had its own set of challenges, with excited locals crowding around the sets, making it nearly impossible to shoot. The memory of Rajinikanth’s quick-thinking in Ooty came to mind. As crowds gathered there, Rajinikanth addressed them in Tamil, asking politely for space and encouraging the crowd to respect the presence of Mumbai-based actors. Shabana remembered, “He asked them to provide space because he had actors from Mumbai, and it was important to be on the best behavior." Astonishingly, the crowd immediately dispersed, creating enough room for the shoot to continue smoothly.
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Inspired by Rajinikanth’s approach, Shabana and Om Puri attempted something similar in Kolkata, requesting space from the crowd for their international guests, including Hollywood star Patrick Swayze. However, the response was less than ideal. “All of them nodded their heads, and all they did was pull in their stomachs to give the space. That’s all they did. We just had to keep cancelling the shoot," Shabana chuckled, recounting the humorous memory.
Despite the occasional logistical hurdle, City of Joy remains a memorable experience for Shabana. Working alongside Om Puri and Patrick Swayze brought comfort and inspiration. “Patrick was absolutely wonderful, and so was Pauline Collins. The highlight was that Patrick was so taken up by Om Puri, and he had this sort of reverential feeling towards him. In fact, director Roland Joffe had to remind him to not have that expression while acting," she said.
The production taught Shabana many valuable lessons about adapting to circumstances, something Indian filmmakers excel at with their “jugaad" mindset. When the rain machine imported from Los Angeles malfunctioned, for instance, hose pipes were used to create rain. And when location permissions became an issue, a quick conversation with then-Chief Minister Jyoti Basu solved it. “The director was amazed as to why an actor would go out of their way to fix something. We might not be used to perfect planning, but we know jugaad. We are able to bounce back; they can’t," she observed.
Reflecting on the dedication to detail in City of Joy, Shabana shared an insight from her role as Kamla Pal, a slum dweller. Concerned about her character’s English lines, Shabana was advised by director Roland Joffe to view the film’s dialogue as a “translation," prioritizing clarity over complete authenticity. She admired the team’s meticulousness, including using the right foods on camera to reflect Kamla’s lifestyle accurately. “When a make-up artist used an electronic contraption to show the baby kicking inside a pregnant character, I was stunned," she said.
As Shabana marks her 50th year in cinema, she continues to captivate audiences, recently seen in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani and Ghoomer, with Lahore 1947 slated for release in January 2025.
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