Meezaan Jafri or as he calls himself, Meezaan – a man with balance, is all set for his big Bollywood debut with Bhansali Productions’ Malaal. Belonging to an influential Bollywood family, Jaaved Jaaferi’s son, Meezaan is quite confident about his upcoming film with childhood sweetheart Sharmin Segal -Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s niece. He recently sat down for a chat with PeepingMoon.com and spoke his heart out about his debut Malaal, link up rumours with Navya Nanda and working with “One Man Army – SLB”.
Excerpts from the interview with the Malaal star:
Coming from an influential Bollywood family, was it always on your chart to become an actor?
I never thought that I will become an actor or ever wanted to become an actor. I was always more into sports and music. I was always into my extracurricular activities in school. I did plays, I did theatre, I had a lot of fun. Honestly, I had no aim. I did not know where I was headed; my family didn’t know where I was headed. And then you now I met Sanjay Sir (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) and that opportunity just showed itself. And from that point onwards, yes, I took that golden opportunity.
Who was the first one to know that you wanted to become an actor?
My parents. I met Sanjay Sir and he asked me that ‘Meezan, do you want to become an actor?’ He asked me that actually and I said, ‘Sir, I don’t know right now, I am studying filmmaking’. So, he asked me ‘Do you want to become an actor or a director?’ So, I told him that ‘Sir, my dad told me that you cannot learn acting and I am doing direction and editing because I can use it as a craft to fall back upon’. Then Sanjay Sir told me to take my time and get back when I have decided.
And was this before Padmaavat?
Yes, way before Padmaavat. This was when I was just getting started with Bajirao. So, then I decided that yes, I want to be an actor and then I told my parents.
When did you come to know that your school friend, Sharmin, will be your co-star?
Much later and we were already close friends, we were classmates and I met Sanjay Sir through her because she was working on Bajirao Mastani. She actually found out before me and she told me that we are going to be working together and I was like WHAT? And I was like ‘Dude, that’s amazing’. Because what better than your close friend to be there to support you in your first film.
Any tips you received from your father or your grandfather - a legendary actor?
My father and I actually never spoke about acting. Either we spoke about dance or films. My father actually could not give much time to us while we were growing. With my grandfather, it was a friendly relationship and I used to always talk to him about films and acting. He used to share stories about actors and directors from his era who are legends. So, those stories actually helped me learn a lot of things.
You have assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali in two films?
I was at Bajirao Mastani for just one day but Padmaavat was proper assisting.
Were you intimidated by him?
When I was on the sets of Bajirao Mastani, first of all when you walk into that set, you forget everything because you think where the hell am I? It is amazing and beautiful. I saw him work with so many people – Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor. I feel he is a one man army. He does everything. I am so glad he does not do acting else there would be no job left for me. He is just amazing. The most prestigious thing for me is to be sitting in an SLB music seating. I promise you, I would leave the most fun party in the world to be sitting at an SLB music seating. And the great thing about him is that he listens to us whereas he does not need to. But to answer your question, the first time I went to meet him I was so scared. You know I thought ‘kuch hone wala hai’ (something is going to happen). Because I had heard stories of people getting hit and chairs flying. But all that was shattered once I met him. He is such a soft-hearted person. He is so funny and polite. He is a lot of fun and he is a genius. It was a dream come true to work with him.
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Any particular training you underwent for Malaal?
Absolutely, because this movie is so different from conventional films and the characters are so different, not only from the films but also from what we are in real life. If you told a boy from the chaul to play Shiva Morey, then we would have easily done it but for me to play that, it was a task. The fact that I, Meezaan, Javed Jaffrey’s son, had to play a lower-middle-class Marathi boy from a chaul and that is where it became challenging and fun na. It’s where my credibility as an actor comes up. And that’s where the people and audience realize that I have done something for the film. Mangesh Sir (director) and my aim was for my character to be accepted by the Marathi people because if they didn’t accept Shiva then there was no point. I had to do my own homework also as to how Shiva will walk, how Shiva will talk, how Shiva will dance. I have learned so much actually that I can use it for my second and third film as well.
Did you know Marathi before Malaal?
Not at all. Like I was born and brought up in Mumbai and of course, I had heard it but for this film, I had to get into the detail of it.
Aaile Re created a lot of buzz and since your father, Javed Jaaferi’s is a phenomenal dancer himself, did he help you out with your first song?
He did not get a chance to help me out directly. In fact, he saw the song only once it was released. But in his career, he guided so many people, in Boogie Woogie also. So, I learned from there.
When you are doing an SLB film, you are constantly being compared to A-listers, sometimes even trolled. Does that bother you?
No, honestly it does not. Because I am very confident about the work I have done for the film and when people watch Malaal, they will see my hard work. Then they will know that ‘okay, he has his own identity’.
Also, why was your surname dropped from the credits?
Oh, because you know my grandfather never kept his surname. He actually kept a film name. My father is the only one who actually kept his surname and I am following my grandfather. And there are so many people who don’t have surnames – Jeetendra, Dharmendra or in Hollywood – Beyonce, Zayn etc. So, I just feel Meezaan is such a unique name by itself – it means balance. So, to keep the balance in Meezaan, I did not keep the surname.
Was it challenging to portray a romantic relationship with childhood friend Sharmin?
It was challenging, Sanjay Sir always felt that to show the chemistry on screen would be difficult because were such good friends. But it also helped because we are friends. Like I was able to romance Sharmin so comfortably because she was my friend. There were no barriers, no awkwardness. Moreover, I never saw Sharmin as Sharmin, I saw her as Aastha.
What about the link up rumours with Navya Nanda?
A lot of people have asked me this as we were actually leaving a movie theatre and we were with friends actually. And everyone started linking us up and saying we were together and things just blew up. Then we were snapped together again at a dinner and there were two more people also but I don’t know why they ended up linking the two of us. We are actually really good friends and I know her through my sister. They are studying together in New York.
With so many debutantes, do you feel it is difficult to make your own mark?
No, not at all. I feel everyone has their own identity and personality and you know, mostly debutantes are all my friends. I know them and I would be really happy for my friends to do well and vice versa. They have been messaging me and complimenting for my trailer and songs.
So close to the release of the film, scared?
Nervous and excited. I just want everyone to watch Malaal. I want to watch the movie, I haven’t seen it yet. I want my family to watch it. And people are always going to say a lot of films but I just want everyone to watch the film.
Next projects?
I don’t know yet but I am sure once people watch Malaal, I will be getting my 2nd, 3rd, 4th projects.
Directed by Mangesh Hadawale, Malaal release on July 5.
(Source: PeepingMoon)
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