Saurabh Shukla Reflects on Collaborating with 'Bandit Queen' Director Shekhar Kapur

In a recent interview, acclaimed actor and screenwriter Saurabh Shukla reflected on his early collaboration with director Shekhar Kapur on the 1994 biographical action-adventure film 'Bandit Queen'. Shukla, known for his versatile performances and impactful writing, described the experience as a profound learning opportunity that taught him the importance of discovering humor even in the darkest stories.

The film, based on the life of Phoolan Devi as detailed in the book "India's Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi" by Mala Sen, starred Seema Biswas in the titular role. Shukla, who was an avid fan of Kapur's previous works like 'Mr India' and 'Masoom', recalled that despite the film's grim and intense subject matter, the director always looked for moments of levity.

Shukla shared an example of a scene that did not make the final cut, where a villager calmly asked the dacoits to spare him a bottle during a robbery sequence. "Even in that darkness, Shekhar found a funny, human moment," Shukla said, adding that this perspective left a lasting impression on his creative instincts.

The actor further praised Kapur and fellow director Ram Gopal Varma for their ability to authentically capture local dialects and emotions, even when they are not from those regions. "Shekhar ko language nahi aati thi..haan, Hindi aati hai unhe.. his Hindi was that of South Delhi, but he understood rhythm," Shukla noted.

'Bandit Queen' went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, along with the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film and Best Direction that year.