Chaplin's daughter fascinated by Bollywood

Her eyes light up with the same impish glow like that of her legendary father. Her hesitant gait almost instantly reveals her genes.

For Geraldine Chaplin, the 58-year-old daughter of the world's greatest comedian Charlie Chaplin, her father continues to be her link to international fame and goodwill and the person whom she still is in awe of.

"My father's films have transcended cultures and the time barrier. He is one filmmaker whose work continues to be timeless classics that have always been upheld with great respect and dignity in any corner of the world," says the Swiss actress.

Geraldine was in Mumbai to hand over a prize to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on behalf of the Swiss government at the Filmfare Awards function held on February 21. "My father worked hard at being funny," she says. "His fame was the result of tremendous hard work. I had never seen him taking things easy. I had always seen him toiling hard. He had the uncanny ability to perceive humour in things that most people would normally fail to do.

"In fact, even when my friends came to my place, he would observe them continuously and pick up things that would help enhance his portrayal of a character," she adds.

Recounting her experience of being one of the eight children of Chaplin, she claims, "He was a wonderful father. He was a strict disciplinarian and would always ensure that we studied. 'Education is the best defence in life' was his constant refrain."

When pointed out that he had never gone to school himself, Chaplin would quickly retort, 'I am different,' Geraldine recalls.

"I must agree that he was the most unique individual I have come across. He was one of the finest actors the world has seen. Very few have come close to matching his standard," she adds.

"My most memorable moments were when we went out for dinner together. He would order his favourite fish, hold it up in front of his nose. He would then cry out, 'Emma dear, what a surprise to meet you here.' He would then kiss his fish and gulp it down," she laughs.

"He would order wine and exclaim that it smelt lovely. He would then hold his glass aloft, repeat his exclamation and, after a gulp, spit out the drink hysterically and then exclaim, 'That was wonderful'," she says, enacting the scene.

Geraldine appeared perturbed when she recounted the moments when her father was ordered to leave the United States for his political beliefs. "But I am proud to state that my father never gave up his beliefs. They accused him of all things, but he stood his ground," she states. "My parents never discussed his being thrown out of the US. I learnt about it from friends in school. We continued to think we had come to Switzerland for a holiday."

After a long pause, she adds, "I am glad we shifted from the US to a more civilised society like Switzerland. I still consider US politics to be horrendous and abominable. If my father were alive now, he would have made a film on [US President George W] Bush just like the one he did in the days when he made The Dictator. But my father received a tumultuous welcome when he visited the US later. They presented him an Oscar."

To a query whether the world's best known comedian also joked at home, she says, "Yes, he played practical jokes, but those were only when we were all well-behaved. Most of the time he was very serious. Our family was not exactly one rolling in laughter and loud jokes but yes, we had our hilarious moments."

She was dismayed to hear that Chaplin's films were not very easily accessible in India. She explains, "The films are currently in the possession of a French company, which is trying to get them screened at most theatres."

About Indian films, she says, "[They] are like dreams, full of music, drama and beautiful endings. I would like to be part of it. I have known [filmmaker] Ismail Merchant and have communicated a desire to act in Bollywood."

"I recently saw [Rajat Mukherjee's] Road and thought it was fantastic. I have not been able to see many Hindi films since they are not regularly released in Switzerland. I feel quite sad that I missed seeing Devdas at the Cannes Film Festival since I was entrusted some work during the festival," she adds.

On her presenting an award to Shah Rukh Khan at the Filmfare function, she says, "I have seen Shah Rukh Khan before. I was at the hotel when we saw a young handsome man walking in. There was a slight hush and I was informed that he was a great Indian film star. I wondered whether I should go up to him. Would he recognise me if I said I were Chaplin's daughter?" she asks, amusedly.

Geraldine made a debut in the Charlie Chaplin film Limelight (1952) as a street child and also acted in his last film Countess from Hong Kong. Her first major break was Dr Zhivago (1965), where she played Omar Sharif's wife.

Her most memorable experience was playing the part of her own grandmother in Richard Attenborough's biographical film on her father. "I had never seen my grandmother but only heard of her through my father. She had strange life and appeared schizophrenic," Geraldine says.