While Netflix's Sacred Games, helmed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, has become a talking point, Rajshri Deshpande's topless sex scene in it does come up in that. You cannot refrain being at least a tad surprised in how comfortably Rajshri has done the scene in question. Here are the excerpts from the telephonic chat we've had with Rajshri:
Sacred Games has become a Talking Point.
The freedom to make it has given us immense happiness, you can see it on our faces.
You mean, nobody was holding a gun on your head that yeh mat bolo, woh mat bolo...
Yeah, aur yeh nahin dikha sakte, woh nahin dikha sakte.
Rajshri Deshpande
How did Sacred Games happen to you?
Mukesh Chhabra (Casting Director) called me. Anurag Kashyap (Director) was keen to cast me, he had seen me in Angry Indian Goddesses and Sexy Durga. I was very happy because I wanted to work with him. And, I readily auditioned for the role.
Also, I was very happy that I would get to work with Nawazuddin Siddiqui again. I had done Kick with him, but we had a very small scene. I had also dome Manto and Mc Mafia with him, but then had an ensemble cast around us- though yes, I did have a very intimate scene with him in Mc Mafia.
Were you guys uncomfortable shooting that intimate scene?
Nope. Of course, real sex is not happening. But enough of camera cheating, these are times of real cinema.
In Sacred Games too, we have a lovemaking scene. It was a big thing for me to open up my blouse, but I did it. But little did I know that...
Little did you know what?
That my pictures from that scene will start circulating on WhatsApp. Collages have been made saying: Hot indian Actress With Mangalsutra!
And, the scene has made way to porn sites.
Worse still, I am getting messages saying that I am a porn star.
What do I do but ignore? Some of the comments are terribly cheap.
I believe in Kashyap, he had told me about the scene beforehand and even said that he won't go ahead if I am uncomfortable.
Did you think of not going ahead at any point?
I don't feel shy when it comes to work. Besides, cinema is my passion.
To add, I have done nudity in another film too--- but i can't reveal more about that one now. it was required, just like it was required in Sacred Games.
How do you know for sure that nudity is required in a particular case and not being done for titillation?
Pata chal jaata hai. Titillation is dancing in micro-minis and bras.
My scene in Sacred Games was pure love. My character was opening herself in front of a man for the first time. The hatred in her for him had transformed into just love.
You mean, it was a surrender?
You said it! Yeah, it was a complete surrender. To answer your previous question, an actor needs to study the graph of his character if a lovemaking scene is the flashpoint in his character sketch.
Describe its shoot...
We shot that scene in a very closed set in Mumbai. The DOP was Aseem Bajaj. Anurag was around.
Retakes?
Not a single retake, it was done in one go. We were told, "Move the way you'll want. Saans bhi dhere le li, toh farak nahin padega. Hum sambhal lenge camera mein."
What was Nawaz's reaction to the instructions?
He was a bit cagey but once the cameras rolled we were very comfortable.
You might be trolled soon. You know how it is on social media....
Not again! I have been trolled a lot in the past. During the time of Sexy Durga, I even had death threats. People wrote that they will throw acid on my face. My mom was called names.
Did you tell your parents about the topless lovemaking scene before you shot for it?No, I did not. My parents are old and retired. They live in a small town.
But they will see it on their phones, soon...
I don't think so. My mom can't deal with WhatsApp. My mother and father often talk from the landline. You know what I mean.
Why didn't you tell them?
There are a few things I can't explain them.
Again during the time of Sexy Durga, someone had called my mom and told her that I work in porn films. So, I have had a discussion with them in the past, and they now sort of understand.
But I must say that my mom is a big pillar of strength in my life.
Are you bindaas in real life?
I am quite bold in real life too. I do a lot of crazy stuff and take all my decisions independently.
You are married. What about your husband?
He supports me. He said, 'You are giving your soul, and if that requires you to go even naked- do it if you believe in it, you don't need any permission.
I am in a happy space.