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Manisha Koirala - a name that echoes grace and charm on 90s Bollywood screens who charmed us with films like Bombay, Khamoshi: The Musical, and Dil Se. But before all the fame, she made her debut with Saudagar (1991) alongside legends Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar. And this rare throwback takes you back to her earliest days, just before her first film released. In this candid interview, a young 20-year-old Manisha opens up about her childhood dreams, her decision to act, her lifestyle, favourite food and much more. There’s an innocence and honesty in her words that you cannot afford to miss… Catch this most unfiltered conversation only on Lehren.

#manishakoirala #saudagar #dilipkumar #raajkumar #bombay #dilse #debutfilm #interview #throwbackinterview #lehren #lehrenpodcast #lehrenretro

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Transcript
00:00But you have to work hard because everybody's working hard in this industry, not only the actor or actresses or
00:05the producer or the director.
00:06From light man to any technician is working very hard and you have to realise the value of, you know,
00:11work.
00:12Number one is the director. You have to have a good director to make you perform good.
00:17Stars sell. I mean, the producer, if the producer sign a star, they get to sell the film at a
00:23higher price.
00:24Whereas he takes a newcomer, it's a big risk whether the newcomer can act or not, whether the film will
00:29be sold or not.
00:37First of all, your film is a Hindi film.
00:39Yes.
00:40How about this?
00:41How about this? I mean, I was brought up in Banaras. I was throughout in India.
00:46So I got into Indian films. See, I was in Banaras, then I was in Delhi, then I'm in Bambi
00:52now.
00:52You make it sound so easy that you got into Indian films. Did you just walk into Bombay and say,
00:57films, here I am?
00:59Not exactly. See, I was screen tested. My photographs were seen by Subhashri.
01:04When he saw them, he liked it and, well, I was in it.
01:08What was your ambition in the childhood?
01:12I was thinking that I might just become a doctor. I wanted to become a doctor.
01:18Why did you change your mind?
01:20Well, it was just a moment. I just wanted to do something else. That's it.
01:27Did you encounter any resistance?
01:33No. I mean, they were all very encouraging.
01:38They didn't really, you know, like mind me joining films.
01:42We understand that you have just finished high school.
01:46Yeah, my 12th standard.
01:48Does your entry into films mean an interruption in your education?
01:53See, for a timing, yes, because I'm very busy right now.
01:56But I'm hopefully planning to continue my studies.
02:00If it's possible, I don't know. Let's see what happens.
02:04This is your first film and it's been shooting for a long time for a long time.
02:08Yeah, yeah.
02:08What's your impressions in the film industry?
02:12Now, be honest with us.
02:13No, it is a very pleasant place to be in.
02:17Really.
02:18But you have to work hard.
02:20I mean, because everybody is working hard in this industry.
02:22Not only the actor or actresses or the producer or the director.
02:26From light man to any technician is working very hard.
02:29And you have to realize the value of, you know, work.
02:34It's a very pleasant place to be in.
02:36That's what I've got to say.
02:37As a student, Manisha, you had a particular lifestyle.
02:41Aapke kitabain, libraries, aapke classroom and so on.
02:45Filmon me jaake ek tousra vata waran hai.
02:48Ab aapki zindagi ka ek sadharan din.
02:51An ordinary, average day in the life of Manisha Koirala, the film star.
02:55What is this day like?
02:56How does it begin?
02:57How does it continue?
02:58How does it end?
02:59See, in school also, we used to get up early in the morning and go to the school, you know,
03:02when I was studying in school.
03:05So now also what happens is I get up.
03:08The first thing that is, oh shit, I have to go for shooting.
03:11It's early in the morning.
03:11Then I have to go get to rest, do my exercises.
03:14Then go for my shootings.
03:15And, you know, like by the time I come back, I'm just too tired to think or to do anything
03:20else.
03:20It's just work.
03:23There's a lot of difference in studies, I mean in school and this, because there's bound to be.
03:30But it's like that only.
03:34As a film actress, is there anything that you have to take particular care of?
03:43See, I don't know.
03:44In what context?
03:46In terms of your appearance or diet, your regular exercise.
03:50Of course, you have to.
03:52You have to take care of your diet.
03:54You have to do your exercises to look fresh or whatever.
03:58And these things are very basic things, which everybody should do.
04:03And they are doing it.
04:04I think everybody is doing it.
04:06What kind of food do you like to eat?
04:09What kind of food?
04:10Well, a very simple food I prefer.
04:14Very simple, like dal, chawal and sabshin is the basic thing which I eat.
04:18If it's as simple as that, you're welcome to join us for dinner anytime.
04:21All right.
04:22I would like.
04:25Manisha, when you were offered this role,
04:28when you were offered this role in Sadaagat Film,
04:29when you were offered this role in Sadaagat Film,
04:31share with us your feelings, your reaction, your response.
04:37See, first of all, I was very thrilled.
04:39It was really, I mean, out of imagination.
04:41I had, you know, I just said, okay, look, let's go ahead.
04:45I had no hope that I'll get the role.
04:47But, well, after his screen tester, he said,
04:49you are good and you are in the film.
04:52And, you know, like, I just didn't know what to feel.
04:55You know, because it was very strange for me.
04:57I mean, later on, then you gradually grow and, you know, like,
05:01very thrilled.
05:02We are doing this a few hours before the world premiere of your first film.
05:08All right.
05:09How do you feel now?
05:10See, it's the same thing.
05:12What I felt before, I mean, after getting chosen for the film,
05:15I'm feeling the same thing now because now the public is going to see me
05:18and I don't know how they're going to react to it.
05:22And I'm excited.
05:23I'm a bit nervous.
05:24And, well, I don't know what to feel.
05:27From tomorrow morning, you will be recognized on the streets.
05:30Will that make any difference to your lifestyle?
05:33See, I can't say about tomorrow.
05:36You live for today?
05:37Yes.
05:39Your role in Sadhagar, I'm going to tell you about that.
05:44Well, in Sadhagar, the character I'm playing is, she belongs,
05:48she's a granddaughter of Rajkumar.
05:50She belongs to a very conservative,
05:52she's brought up in a very conservative atmosphere.
05:55And, but she loves to go out, you know, like she loves to dance and sing,
05:59which she's not allowed to do it.
06:02Well, she finds time, she goes out and she, you know, like dances and sneaks around.
06:08And she falls in love with a guy and it's pretty difficult.
06:11Now you see the photo.
06:13For that, tell you, I can tell you.
06:15Beyond that, we should see the film.
06:17Yes.
06:17Well, how's that for selling the film to us?
06:20Did you have any say in modifying or interpreting your role?
06:26I was very new.
06:27How can I say?
06:29Even if I wanted to, I couldn't, because I know I was not experienced for all this.
06:34You have to have experience.
06:35You have to have knowledge for all this.
06:36I had no knowledge.
06:37I don't know whether I should ask you this question, but maybe I should.
06:40All right.
06:41Our film industry has a star system.
06:44Yes.
06:44Which, you know, you know what I'm referring to.
06:47No.
06:48Where the star system in that the big stars are paid a lot of money
06:51and newcomers tend not to be paid what would be considered an appropriate amount.
06:56Okay, yeah.
06:57Do you agree with this criticism?
06:59Of course.
07:00Stars sell.
07:01I mean, the producer, if the producer sign a star, they get the money.
07:05They get to sell the money and they get to sell the film at a higher price.
07:11Whereas he takes a newcomer, it's a big risk whether the newcomer can act or not,
07:16whether the film will be sold or not.
07:19See, a star has a proof of his previous listing.
07:30Yeah.
07:32So, if you have to go out of this area, if you have to go out, what kind of situation
07:35do you
07:35go out?
07:38depends you know like I don't know what I'll do I really don't know what I'll do because
07:42right now I'm really concentrating on work and I can't see anything beyond that
07:48are there any Indian film actors and actresses you particularly admire see I used to admire
07:55olden time heroine you know like Madhubalas Meena Kumari Nargis frankly I mean they were
08:03really really good nowadays also very good actresses are there I'm not saying they are bad
08:08but I like them you know like Meena Kumari they had something really extraordinarily very good
08:15about themselves and that is something which I like finally Manisha share with us a professional
08:21secret you can share it with me because I can never be a film actress in order to be a
08:28good
08:28film actress what are the three most important requirements see basically I don't know much
08:36because I'm yet new to comment but number one is the director you have to have a good director to
08:45make you perform good number two is the role you have to have a good role to perform number three
08:52well number three I don't know because these two are very important
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