On Manisha Koirala’s birthday, Filmfare’s Editor-in-Chief Jitesh Pillaai looks back at the actor’s remarkable journey and his many years of knowing her, from unforgettable moments with Filmfare to witnessing some of her finest performances in Bombay, Khamoshi, 1942: A Love Story, Yug Purush and more.
In his words:
I think journalism was fun in the 90s because stars like her made it so much fun for us newbies. I first met her on the sets of a film called Milan. She looked bored and uninterested. But she came into the room, and we started chatting away like two schoolgirls. Something about Manisha Koirala made me want to go back again and again.
Watching Manisha Koirala play the tortured daughter on the sets of SNDT College, lip-syncing to Bahon Ke Darmiyaan for Khamoshi, choosing an outfit for her to wear for Yug Purush or Agni Sakshi, or just watching The Last Temptation of Christ with her on a balmy afternoon at her house, all of it added to our insights as reporters. Her vulnerability on screen and off it, her warm performances in Khamoshi (1996), Bombay, 1942: A Love Story (1994) and Yug Purush (1998) made me warm up to her.
Those days there were no filters, no silly managers and PRs to dictate the extent of our associations. When Manisha spoke, she spoke from the gut.
She was raw, uncensored and really warm. She had an open vibe, and despite her controversial opinions on a lot of things, she just endeared herself to us. She was always open and forthright about her life. When she gave you access to it, there were no filters.
Also, as a newbie reporter, it takes you time to process the confidence an actor reposes in you. I think I responded with equal maturity. Her ability to get into wrong relationships has made me give her many lectures and she would good-naturedly ruffle my hair after every dressing down.
We had more ups than downs. I look back at her with a lot of fondness and affection. Her commitment to her family is astonishing and reassuring. There are far too many personal moments to recount. But suffice to say her heart rules her mind. And she’s always played by the heart.
Some of the finest performances of her life, be it Bombay, Khamoshi, or Yug Purush, have been when she’s gone through emotionally volatile times personally. Which begs the question again- how many times must an artiste suffer to shine on screen?
Through her many highs and lows, including injured relationships, great friendships and betrayal, one has seen her grow.
She’s stoic and often doesn’t say much. But when the dam bursts, there’s much mayhem. Over the last decade or so, I’ve seen a gradual mellowing of the once fierce tigress. Call it maturity and a gradual acceptance and tehraav. Manisha Koirala is one of the most beautiful women I’ve met in my life, with a kind and compassionate heart.
As a reporter, she was one of the most important milestones in my life. She showed me kindness and compassion when she could have dismissed me as just another face among the swarm of journos. She didn’t. I will always remember that you were nice to me when it wasn’t important to be nice.
Thank you for being you, Manisha. Wishing you health, abundance, joy and happiness forever. Because as the RD Burman song goes…Pyar hua chupke se…
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