What Rule Did Kiran Rao Break for Ravi Kishan in ‘Laapataa Ladies’?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kiran Rao directed 'Laapataa Ladies' to great success with 13 Filmfare Awards.
- Ravi Kishan is known for his spontaneous acting style.
- Preparation was key for a pivotal scene in the film.
- The collaboration resulted in a powerful performance.
- The importance of memorizing lines for believable acting.
Mumbai, Oct 20 (NationPress) Filmmaker Kiran Rao is ecstatic about her directorial venture ‘Laapataa Ladies’ clinching 13 Filmfare Awards. She recently shared a captivating story about Ravi Kishan, a superstar in Bhojpuri cinema and a sitting Member of Lok Sabha.
During an interview with IANS, Kiran discussed a pivotal scene from her film where the husband of Pratibha Ranta's character attempts to bring her back. This scene also showcases the significant transformation of Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar, portrayed by Ravi Kishan, who steps in to protect Pratibha from harassment.
Kiran explained that this specific scene required Ravi Kishan, known for his improvisational skills and tendency to remember only the essence of his dialogues, to be very well-prepared with his lines.
Reflecting on her anxiety, Kiran stated, “I felt quite apprehensive because Ravi ji usually embraces spontaneity and often skips memorizing lines. He immerses himself in his character and relies on cues during filming. However, we had a lot of ground to cover that day. I was particularly concerned about the nuances of his character's transformation, which needed to be genuinely believable as he made the right choice.”
She continued, “To ensure he could fully embrace this transformation, I needed him to be familiar with his lines. The day before the climax, I approached him and said, ‘Sir, you absolutely must know all your lines tomorrow to portray the character convincingly.’”
“And he did just that. He replied, ‘I went home, studied the lines all night, and when I arrived on set, I was able to focus entirely on the performance,’” she added.