Manisha Koirala recalled how people advised her to turn down Mani Ratnam’s Bombay as they felt that she might stop getting female lead roles after playing a mother on screen.
Manisha Koirala‘s impeccable performance as Shaila Banu in Mani Ratnam’s Bombay still makes our hearts flutter. Co-starring Arvind Swamy, the romantic drama, over the years, has achieved a cult status for the lead pair’s engaging performances, AR Rahman’s evergreen music and Mani Ratnam’s stellar direction.
In a recent interaction with ANI, Manisha admitted that she was initially hesitant to take up Bombay as people warned her against playing a mother on screen as they feared that she might be typecast, and stop getting heroine roles.
However, a conversation with late cinematographer Ashok Mehta and a meeting with Mani Ratnam changed her mind, and the actress ended up signing the film.
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The ‘Heeramandi’ actor shared, “When Bombay came to me, I was a bit naive, and I was surrounded by people cautioning me not to take the role, as I would be portraying the mother of two. They said that once I play a mother, I’d be stuck with that image and wouldn’t get heroine roles. Cinematographer Ashok Mehta then told me to educate myself on Mani Ratnam’s work and to seize the opportunity of working with him.”
Further, speaking about how meeting the acclaimed filmmaker solidified her decision to sign the film, she continued, “When I met Mani sir, I was captivated by his intellect, humility, and creative hunger. I was also drawn to the film’s message about unity and coming together as one family. During my look test, I realized he was creating something different.”
Bombay which released in 1995 revolves an interfaith couple who find themselves in the midst of communal riots in Bombay.
