Waheeda Rehman, Hema Malini On Padmaavat

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali sees a lot  of  Waheeda Rehman in Deepika  Padukone. And Waheedji just can’t stop raving about Padmaavat. “Mainkya kahoon? I am short of  words. This is a film that will be remembered forever.Every frame is  perfect. Lagta hi nahin ke koi cheez asli nahin hai. The way he lights  every shot….As though he used no artificial light but only the sun, the moon and the torched flames that were  used in those days.”

Waheedaji is specially enamoured of  the songs and dances.  “We’ve  a rich tradition of dancing and singing in our country.We sing and we dance on every occasion.I’ve done some appreciated dancing myself in films like Guide . In the West people in  love head straight  for the bed. In our cinema songs are a means  to show love and romance. Sadly we  don’t have  that much singing and dancing  in  our movies any more.All the  music is put in the background.It’s  very reassuring to see the semi-classical heritage revived in Sanjay Bhansali’s film. Far from causing hurt or insult to any community,Padmaavat makes us proud as Indians.We should be showering  flowers on  Mr Bhansali, not pelting him and his film with stones.”

Hema Malini who is  a member of the ruling government exercises all her selfcontrol from speaking out .But she can’t help saying, “What is happening with Bhansaliji is not right at all.But I can’t say too much. Or it will become  a headline. But I’d like to say that all those who are stopping us Indians from watching this beautiful Indian  film should be taken to task.”

The Dream  Girl calls Padmaavat a dream come  true. “Every frame is a  work of art, every scene  a labour of love, every performance so pitch-perfect.Bhansaliji has paid such  attention to details…The way Ranveer Singh’s eyes are  lit to convey evil….The peace and silence in Deepika’s eyes.She is so beautiful and regal.I’ve played Rajput  princesses  in Vijay Anand’s Rajput and Gulzar’s Meera. But Deepika  is a class apart. I fell in  love with the film.I hope and pray every Indian gets to see this masterpiece.”