Chitrangada Singh loves fights in relationships. “I think they are the best part. I feel love happens but the interesting bit is how we fight. How we disagree and then solve issues make or mar a relationship,” she says, and adds, “In Inkaar , you will find that once the power play between the male and female protagonists kicks in, the intensity begins.”
Chitrangada is back with her mentor Sudhir Mishra in a film that seeks to redefine urban modern relationships in the work environment. “I have to admit it’s my favourite Sudhir Mishra film,” says the model-turned-actress, who made her debut in Mishra’s Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi and has also worked with him in Yeh Saali Zindagi .
Inkaar is a story about sexual relationships in an office environment. Arjun Rampal plays Rahul Verma, CEO of a high-profile advertising agency. He is also the mentor of Maya Luthra (Chitrangada), who has grown from an intern to being the national creative head of the agency. They start dating and share a wonderful relationship till the day Maya accuses Rahul of sexual harassment.
For Chitrangada, it was Maya and the way the script played itself out that became the compelling factors to agree to Inkaar . “I always look at my part and the script, but the way Sudhir had visualised the whole film made me want to play Maya. In fact, I love Arjun’s part too. The film is not preachy as one would expect a film on this subject to be. It is a strong modern love story. It has two characters and it speaks two languages — it is difficult to tell which side is telling the truth.”
“I don’t play the victim. Maya stands up for what she wants. It’s interesting to see this fight of equals, of two highly powerful and highly opinionated individuals. Men are getting used to the idea of women sharing workspace with them and if it is at the same level or higher, it can get disturbing in more ways than one,” she says.
The actress says that her co-star was very professional. “Arjun is friendly off-sets and on-sets alike. We used to have many readings where we would get totally involved with our characters. In fact, I remember when we were shooting the face-offs between Maya and Rahul, Arjun became rather cold towards me on sets but would speak normally when we weren’t working. After a few days, I ventured forth and asked him if all was well and he said that it was just to maintain the emotional graph of the film. That was a challenge — being in sync with the extreme emotions,” she says.
After Inkaar , Chitrangada will be seen in I Me Aur Main, opposite John Abraham. It is a romantic film that’s being directed by first-time director Kapil Sharma.
