At a time when it finally seems possible for commercial cinema and art films to find a middle ground, actor Anjali Patil is thriving. For someone who does not hail from a traditional ‘filmy’ background, the Newton actor has made her mark in regional cinema across the country. “I can pick up languages very fast,” says the The National School of Drama (NSD) graduate — who is in Eros Now’s recently-released first original feature film,Meri Nimmo, and will soon be seen in actor Rajinikanth’s next Tamil film,Kaala.
Produced by Eros Now for the web, Meri Nimmo has her playing a young woman who is the object of an eight-year-old’s affections. “It is a sweet, innocent story of a boy who thinks of this girl as more than just a didi . Set in Jabalpur, the film has a distinctive flavour of a small town set-up,” says Patil, adding, “Even villages in Bollywood films are so polished, but this has a more realistic setting.”
In Kaala , Patil plays the role of Puyal Charumathi Gaekwad, a character born and brought up in Dharavi, Mumbai, where the film is set. “Puyal is happy and charming, but she’s also a very strong character,” Patil confides, going on to add, “Rajini sir is like a mine of diamonds. It’s a treat to see him being so natural and simple — and these are underrated words especially because he is famous — but he made me hopeful that I am on the right path and that I don’t have to change.”
Multiple languages
Her first film, Prashant Nair’s Delhi In A Day, came to her while she was still studying to be a film director at NSD, back in 2011. The film did a sound round on the international film festival circuit, as did her next film — the Sinhalese Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka (With You Without You). Her next film, Naa Bangaaru Talli (My Darling Daughter) in Telugu, fetched her a Special Mention at the 61st National Awards and the Nandi Award for Best Actress from Andhra Pradesh. The more recent Newton, went on to become India’s pick for the 90th Academy Awards. Patil has also acted in several Hindi films, a Kannada film that is still in production, Marathi films and a Malayalam film.
Despite the accolades, her first instinct has been to stay away from the spotlight. “In a very short span of time I got to work with really great directors, internationally and nationally. I didn’t really plan and went with my gut feeling,” saya Patil who has a strong disenchantment with the great, big, Bollywood machine. She admits that one of her biggest breaks, Prakash Jha’s 2012 Chakravyuh , made her want to pack her bags and run. “I had to dress up in a certain way and put on make-up. I was like, ‘okay, this is really not what I want’. I just wanted to relax. I didn’t want to be seen. Being a star was not on my bucket list,” says Patil.
Bending the rules
The 30-year-old’s outspokenness and her refusal to play by the rules puts her among a very small group of young actors like Radhika Apte, Swara Bhaskar and Richa Chadda, who speak their minds. And like them, Patil has no qualms losing out on roles because of her perceived attitude. “I would like to call myself the outsider. As an artist I don’t want to get into the system because once I do that, I would have to play by the rules. I would probably have to attend red carpet events, wear flashy clothes and get into things which I deeply feel are not necessary for me as an artist. They are kind of hindrances,” she says.
Patil’s next project will be a directorial venture for which she is currently writing and researching. “We will start filming in August. It is about real people and their journey [towards] understanding more about love,” she shares.
Watch Meri Nimmo on erosnow.com
