Reminiscing the pleasant and comfortable experience during shooting in earlier days in the film industry when Shubha Khote was a child, she comes out strongly about comedy in todays’ films which actually appears to be deliberately imposed in the story of a film.
“Today’s comedy does not connect with the story, and is just thrown in for the sake of comedy,” said veteran actress Shubha Khote in a conversation with journalists at the 23rd Pune International Film Festival. The renowned actress opined that earlier, comedy was as important as the hero and the heroine, but now the pieces are just stitched together.
Khote, a quick-witted comic actress, was honoured with the “PIFF Distinguished Award” for her contribution to Indian cinema. When asked about her on-point comic timing and sense of humour, the actress gave an important lesson to the new generation, “I avoid unhappiness and negativity,” she said simply.
In a fun-filled and engaging chat with PIFF Festival Director Dr. Jabbar Patel and Samar Nakhate, a member of PIFF’s film selection committee, the 87-year-old veteran actress reminisced about her days in the film industry when she was a child. She also spoke about her journey from being a national level cycling champion to an actress. Khote highlighted the working style of the film industry during the 50s and the 60s, which was a “pleasant and comfortable experience”.
Khote began her acting career with the film Seema in 1955, directed by Amiya Chakraborty, whom she credited for a lot of her learnings. When asked about her experience with her contemporary actor Nutan, Khote gladly called Nutan her “friend, philosopher and guide”. Being a veteran, Khote has worked with many greats of the Indian Cinema such as Dilip Kumar, Shami Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, and Nupur to name a few. Along with the awardee, PIFF director Jabbar Patel too shared his insights about the film industry.
In closing, Shubha Khote expressed her gratitude and shared how this honour by PIFF is important to her, even terming this award as her biggest award. The event concluded with Jabbar Patel and Samar Nakhate felicitating Shubha Khote.
– JYOTHI VENKATESH
