Two years ago, when Pernia Qureshi was performing Kuchipudi at the much talked about Jahan-e-Khusrau festival, she caught the attention of Muzaffar Ali, who hosts the Sufi music festival. After the event concluded, Ali broke the news that he was looking for a female lead for his new film and that she fits the bill.
Pernia was ecstatic and gave her nod to the project, which entailed her to play Noor, a courtesan. It was a challenge as playing a nautch girl would mean comparison with the legendary Rekha – who gave one of her best performances in Umrao Jaan – would be inevitable. “ Umrao Jaan was an iconic film and any comparison with Rekha ji would be my fortune. I am open to any constructive criticism.”
To prepare for the role, Pernia had to work under the watchful eye of dance guru Kumudini Lakhia, who worked with Rekha in Umrao Jaan. “I have been a dancer since the age of four. I have been practising Kuchipudi for so many years that people associate me with this form of dance. But here, I was required to learn Kathak. Therefore, I got to work with Kumudiniji and Birju Maharaj for this film,” says Pernia.
On similarities with Noor, the actor says the on-screen character is a modern-thinking girl and she too is a liberal, who studied at Woodstock in Mussoorie. “Like me, Noor also comes from a loving environment. My parents are extremely supportive of my decisions, including this one. Noor is patriotic; so am I,” says Pernia, whose father is an Indian and mother a Pakistani. Pernia considers herself lucky to have got a co-actor like Imraan Abbas Naqvi, of Creature3D fame. “We hit it off immediately on our first meeting. Whenever I needed help, he came to my rescue. He is such a talented actor, yet so friendly and patient. Like him, we have had association with Pakistani artists like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in Bollywood. And such cross exchange of artistes of the two countries help in enriching a film. Both nations share the same language, culture and civilisation. And films only bring the two countries together.”
