Azmi goes with her instincts in Rohit Roy’s directorial debut

Shabana Azmi, who always considers herself open to experimentation, has worked with a debutant director again.

Rice Plate, one of the stories in this week’s release, Dus Kahaniyaan is directed by actor-turned-director Rohit Roy.

“I have been working with debutants from Shekhar Kapoor (Masoom) to Manish Acharya (Loins of Punjab). Usually I go by my instincts when approached for a film by a newcomer,” says Azmi.

Ek plate idhar

Producer Sanjay Gupta had initially offered her another project and then came Rice Plate. “When Rohit and Sanjay approached me for Dus Kahaniyaan, there was the novelty of seeing so many stars together.

Thought I have worked in ensemble films before like Honeymoon Tavels Pvt Ltd, but this was distinct.”
In Rice Plate, Azmi plays a Tamilian woman who hates Muslims. “The film is about prejudices. It makes a plea for humanism. It is not easy shooting at public places like CST and Bandra station but Rohit was totally into it.”

Azmi admits that she asked Rohit for a lot of support. “I wanted to get the Tamil accent right and not just say ai ai o. Rohit had to look for a Tamil teacher and for the look, the stylist, Disha Pahadi and I scoured the shops of Matunga for the saris and jewellery,” says Azmi who is also seen as judge on the SaharaOne reality show Jjhoom India.