'I signed Sahasam only because of director Yeleti'

Taapsee Pannu is making her presence felt as a good actress. Her performance in Gundello Godaari (Maranthen Manninthen in Tamil) was acclaimed. Now, Taapsee is part of an action-adventure film Sahasam helmed by Chandrasekhar Yeleti, who is known for his creative scripts.

In this exclusive chat, Taapsee gives us details about acting in Sahasam, shooting for it in Ladakh, and working with Yeleti.

Did you sign Saahasam because of director Chandrasekhar Yeleti or the script?

I didn’t know about the script when I went to meet him. I signed it only because of him.

I came with the mindset of saying 'yes' no matter what he gave me. I knew it would not be an insignificant role. I heard an overview of the script.

Were you in a mood to indulge in experimentation?

I am always in a mood to experiment. I am game for something different provided it reaches the audience. 

The film is about an ATM guard and a treasure hunt. What does your character have to do in it?

My character is a simple girl – different from what I have done before. The boy and girl don’t fall in love at first sight. They travel together, spend time and then fall in love.

My character is going to be a pivotal part of the film. She’s integral to the film and is part of the journey from beginning to end.

Did you have to prepare for your role?

I had to do some preparation. My character thinks the world is going to end very soon. She is into bhakti and temples. She thinks everything happens because of some super power. Everything is linked to mythology.

So, the Telugu was also different. I had to learn the dialogues to prepare for the scene. The director would shoot the scene in full take. So preparation was required to know who’s saying what, take care of the body language, and know the movement of the characters so that one can react. 

Were you also part of the film’s shoot in Ladakh? Can you recall some interesting incidents?

I was very much a part of the shoot. One could not run or walk fast. One felt dizzy.

The action and chase sequences were shot there. When we shot the buzkashi sequence (the game played on horses, a kind of polo), a horse stepped on my foot. It was painful. The game is played with goat meat and here I was the goat meat. I was pushed and pulled around! Though my foot pained, we shot the whole day! It was an adventure.

Ladakh is the most beautiful place. We shot in August when the weather was perfect. I enjoyed it. The body metabolism is slow, the skin gives up. When we went out of Leh, food was an issue; otherwise, Leh is well equipped as it’s a tourist place. We got to do some sightseeing too and rafting.

What’s your styling in the film?

Since I play a very ordinary girl, I wear simple clothes like jeans-kurta, salwar-kurta.

Are there songs in the film?

There’s one duet which is shot at the Athirapalli Falls in Kerala. The other songs are montages.

What have you imbibed working with Chandrasekhar Yeleti?

You are always a newcomer, and have to start from scratch. I had to unlearn a lot, had to ask Chandrasekhar Yeleti before every shot. I was ready to be a newcomer.

How was it working with Gopichand for the second time?

It was the same. I did not feel the difference.

What’s unusual about Sahasam?

The fact that it is an out-and-out treasure hunt. Once it establishes the background, it’s all about discovering clues, solving them, going through maps. I have not seen something like this. From the age of seven to seventy, people will be intrigued and will love the film.  

Are you disheartened that Shadow tanked at the box office?

Obviously. Besides the hard work and money, we all invested our time. But we can’t keep feeling bad about it. We have to learn from it. Hits and flops are not in our hands. We can never decide the fate of a film. Some things work, some don’t.

How far have the films directed by Vishnuvardhan and Lawrence progressed?

Two small schedules of Vishnu Sir’s film are left. As for Lawrence’s Muni 3, I am halfway through it.