Bollywood films? Check. Theatre tours? Check. Social work? Check. Anti-rape campaign? Check. Kalki Koechlin has done it all. At the press conference of her upcoming theatre tour, Trivial Disasters, Kalki tells Team MissMalini about her yearning for the release of her upcoming films, her ideal director and much more! Check out her interview below!
Here are some of the highlights of her interview:
Team MissMalini (Team MM): Of all the characters you played in Trivial Disasters, which is your favorite?
Kalki Koechlin (KK): The last character I played is this little French boy who is a sales man and sells suicide packages. He’s the most clownish of all the characters I think. He’s almost like a Charlie Chaplin. The French accent I learned from my mom, cause even after 40 years she has such a thick French accent.
Team MM: According to you, what are two main differences between film and theatre?
KK: The first obvious difference is that you’re always in front of a live audience, so you’re always on your toes. Whereas in film you always have that retake; everytime you don’t like something you say ‘cut, let’s start again’. Theatre also requires more dedication and rehearsal because of its format. It needs more precision and physicality and more vocal exercises. So theatre involves a lot of physical training and repetition. Also with theatre it’s more about team work, but with film it’s more about internalizing and working on yourself.
Team MM: Which is your favorite play of all time?
KK: I’ve watched a lot of modern stuff when I was studying theatre in London, but I would say the play that really got me was a play by Robert Lepage, a Canadian playwright, who did this 9 hour piece called La Trilogie de Dragon. It is the most visually stunning play, it’s just beautifully done.
Team MM: If you could play any character from a Bollywood movie which would it be?
KK: I’d probably do a historic character. I like Guru Dutt films so maybe a role from Pyasa or Saab Biwi aur Gulam.
Team MM: Which do you prefer, films or theatre?
KK: I can’t choose between them. Good scripts in Bollywood come few and far between, which is why I do so much theatre. Theatre is more experimental, but it doesn’t mean I don’t love Bollywood. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best directors, my dream director would be Vishal Bhardwaj.
Team MM: How do you juggle between movies, theatre and social work you do?
KK: There’s time really. Movies come and then you have no life for like 3 months, and you have no idea what’s going on in the world. And then suddenly you come out of it, and you have all the time. I can’t sit around, I’m a busy body, so I like doing things.
Team MM: What can we expect from you next?
KK: For now I’m touring with Trivial Disasters after which I’m waiting for my three films to release. First is a girl-bonding film called Jiya Aur Jiya with Richa Chadda. Then I have a spoof of rom-coms called Happy Endings and last is Margarita, With a Straw which is an independent film. They’re three very different films and should be out soon, I hope.
Kalki seems to have a full plate for now, and we wish her the best. Stay tuned for our interviews with Cyrus Sahukar and Richa Chaddha.
We’re looking forward to Trivial Disasters. Aren’t you? Let us know in the comments section below.