‘With Saif, I was star struck’

Padmapriya Janakiraman is well known for being a superb performer. The Malayali actor who had a brief role in Patel S.I.R. in Telugu is not confined to regional cinema. Her major global release is Chef starring Saif Ali Khan and her next is Cross Road, a Malayalam movie that is a collage of short films.

She does films that appeal to her sensibility and has always added value to whatever role she plays. She knows she is gifted, values her craft and wants to act all her life.

Your role was very brief in ‘Patel S.I.R’

I haven’t done much in Telugu films; I have done many Malayalam films and they went on to be big hits. I sign films that have significance for my characters or are big entertainers. Even if there is nothing much to do but the script is good, I would still like to be in it for its novel quality. Patel S.I.R was a well crafted script, the director had a certain vision and deserved to give it a shot. Honestly compared to typical commercial films, my role is not run of the mill . I don’t think it did it very wellbut I rate it is a good, interesting film. I think it was an earnest attempt and I believe in the director.

Did ‘Chef’ happen to you after you moved to Mumbai?

I was always working in multiple industries, technically my base is in Mumbai and Delhi as that is where my work takes me and my husband works there as well. My parents live in Hyderabad and I visit the city often. Chef happened randomly, before I moved to Mumbai. Anjali Menon (Bangalore Days) told me to speak to director Raja Krishna Menon as he was looking for someone for his film. We met six months later and next thing I was on board. It has been a fantabulous experience to work with him. He brings a very good amount of balance, freshness experience to his work; he is collaborative and open to ideas from his crew. I can only have great things to say about him.

Is this your second Bollywood movie?

I loved working in Striker but I would consider Chef  my first film, it has a substantial role. With only four or five actors, it is a lot more challenging. Language is not a barrier, specially Hindi. It is the only language I read, write and speak in and so it is far easier than South Indian languages. It is made in sync sound and was very challenging.

Were you asked to see Hollywood’s ‘Chef’?

None of us were asked to. I’ve already watched the English film Chef and this is not a remake, it is an adaptation. The trailer shows that it is dramatically different; but they follow the same premisebut they both carry universal emotions of love, family, acknowledging what your passion is.

Are you fond of cooking?

I love food and love cooking. We do have a cook, but my husband and I love cooking, we find it therapeutic. We make sure that we cook one of the meals, and take turns in preparing the menu for the house. I make more Gujarati dishes and he connects with my mom for some dishes, . The culinary experience gives a cultural experience as well. We have enrolled for an online course which discusses chemistry of food.

Did Saif really cook for the screen?

All Saif did was cut garlic and onion, it was a rather smelly food truck. He did act like he whipped up a meal for me in one of the song sequences. Raja wouldn’t spare a shot where he wouldn’t look like a chef. He trained for a month and a half at the Marriott. It was a just four member crew. There were other characters but we were the ones who occupied major space in the truck. It was a very interesting experience; I never thought I would be star struck.

When I started doing films in South..I was pitted against Mohanlal. I appreciated and respected him, but I was not intimidated. But with Saif, I was conscious and nervous, it was interesting to see myself star struck for the first time. I was perfectly fine rehearsing lines with Raja but in front of Saif, I I would feel nervous. He is a very respectful man, his reputation stands true for that. It is a weird space for me but I respect the opportunity Raja gave me to share time with Saif on the sets.