SHORTS CIRCUIT

Jitesh Pillaai converses with Marathi actor Sai Deodhar, who has made a name for herself on television and is also an accomplished maker of short films

Sai Deodhar’s father Debu Deodhar was a celebrated cinematographer who handled the camera for such acclaimed films as Gharonda (1977), Khatta Meetha (1981), Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen (1990), Prahaar (1991) and many more. Her mother Shrabani Deodhar, is a multiple award-winning filmmaker whose Marathi films Lapandav (1993), Sarkarnama (1998) and Lekaru (2000) have won National and State Awards. She grew up in a culturally rich environment and was launched by her mother as a child artiste in Lapandav. She grew up to be a TV actress and has appeared in popular soaps such as Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Saara Akaash, Ek Ladki Anjaani Si, Kashi – Ab Na Rahe Tera Kagaz Kora and many more. She’s also a director of short films and has directed around 10 shorts so far. She narrates her journey in a free-spirited interview. Excerpts...

What are your earliest Filmfare memories?

My father got a Filmfare trophy for Prahaar. While we were growing up, and actually even today, Filmfare remains the ultimate award for every star or technician. I grew up as an industry child because dad was a cinematographer and my mother is a filmmaker. Filmfare was something that completely awed us and it still does. When we were growing up we would wait and watch the award ceremony late into the night. In those days there was no social media. So that was the only time we could connect with the stars, see how they dressed, how they looked... The whole persona of Filmfare was always larger than life and it still is. If you ask anyone, they'll say it would be wonderful if there had one Filmfare Award at home. So I guess all of us harbour that dream in our hearts about winning a Filmfare because of the perception that winning one means you’ve made it big.