Girija Oak Godbole : “Language And Medium Have Never Been A Barrier For Me”

After making a mark in Marathi films and TV soaps, Girija Oak-Godbole who will now be seen in her first short film ‘Quarter’ produced by Namrata Bandiwadekar and directed by Navjyot Bandiwadekar tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that the role drained her after the pack up was announced every day.

Quarter is the first short film in which you have acted. What made you say yes to director Navjyot Bandiwadekar when he approached you with the offer?
I thought it would be very interesting to play a character who is perpetually in a condition where she is not in control of herself. It was like pushing the envelope as an actress. What I liked was the fact that director Navjyot was ready to incorporate the few suggestions that I gave to make the plot more gripping.

What is the USP of the film?
I had always wanted to do a short film with a good subject as it helps to convey the message in the shortest time. ‘Quarter’ helped me find a suitable role, as the role was different and challenging for an actress like me. Navjyot was looking for the right actress and after hearing the script, I immediately agreed to work in the film.

How tough was it for you to play the role?
It was a big challenge to play the role of Ashwini. Since most of us are addicted in our real lives to some kind of vice or the other, everyone’s interpretation of addiction is quite different. While some go into their own shelves, some become lions.

In how many days was the film Quarter shot?
Fortunately for me, the film was shot chronologically in a span of two consecutive nights in a house where the art director had erected the sets, so it was easy to maintain the graph of my character.

How did you pretend to be drunk in the film? Do you drink in real life?
I have consumed alcohol in real life too and hence it was easy for me to induce that kind of state in the film without bothering to actually consume alcohol, though the director cast me only because I can act as an alcoholic and make it seem very real life and convincing to the audiences.

Did the role drain you after you shot for the film?
Yes. The film drained me after the pack up, as it was extremely specific and I had to make sure that I did not look ‘fake’ or for that matter go overboard. It was tiring because I was severely unwell a day before the shoot.

How is Navjyot as a director?
Navjyot who is trained in filmmaking from Los Angeles is technically sound and is very clear about what he wants and how he wants.

You have also acted in South Indian films.
I have acted in the Kannada film ‘Houseful’ with Digu. Medium or the language has never been a barrier or for that matter a deterrent as far as I am concerned.

Name any one play of yours which has been a milestone?
‘Dear Father’ in which I played Paresh Rawal’s daughter-in-law. The play in Gujarati was directed by Paresh Rawal.

Which are your best five films till date?
I have acted only 15 Marathi films till date, besides Taare Zameen Par and Shor in the City in Hindi. My favorite films till date right from the time I had made my debut with Manini are, Maanini, Huppa Huyya, in which I played a rural girl convincingly, Adgula Madgula, Gosht Choti Dongra Evdi and Taare Zameen Par.

Which are the filmmakers who you admire in Marathi films?
I admire filmmakers like Sachin Kundalkar. I want to work with filmmakers like Aditya Sarpotdar, Sameer Vidwans, Kshitij Patwardhan.

How would you describe your actor-dad Dr Girish Oak?
What I admire about my dad is that he is capable of bringing a wide variety of his versatility in every character that he sets out to play, whether it is a film or theatre or for that matter play.

How do you find Marathi Cinema today?
It is good, as well as bad. Good because the number of Marathi films being made every year has increased and also gone up exponentially and also bad because with so many films waiting to be released, Marathi filmmakers have to face stiff competition from not only Bollywood, but also Hollywood. When there are more than 100 Marathi films awaiting release, you automatically cut down on your audiences though the plus point is that Marathi Cinema is content oriented and is now also available in different platforms, besides theatres.

Why are you very choosy when it comes to accepting films?
Frankly speaking, there weren’t any offer for me after Taare Zameen Par and I opted to marry and settle down and then also opt for a sabbatical. The biggest problem is that I can’t act convincingly if I am not convinced enough to play a role, and hence I carefully choose my films.

The new young actress Spruha Joshi is often compared to you. How do you feel?
Spruha and I are good friends. And for your information, Spruha has been acting in Marathi films for quite a long time and is not very young. She is actually of my age and there are times when people mistake me for Spruha.

So what’s on the cards for you?
I am in talks with a couple of filmmakers to be part of a web series in Hindi and Marathi. Good stuff is happening of late on the web with the emergence of Netflix and Balaji ALT. The more the media, means more choices, but then it also takes away the mystery of an artiste, as you know how and when they sneeze, thanks to social media. If one can easily peep into an actor’s privacy, why should he or she bother to go to a theatre to watch a film?