She’s celebrated as Bua No. 1, her chirpy persona lighting up the screen. The flirty Kammo Bua (aunt) in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). Dr. Razia Chachi serenaded by her poet husband in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Matriarch Kulwanti Bua in Pardes. Affectionate hostel warden Rifat Bi in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Sweet neighbourhood aunt in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… And more recently as the quick-witted mother-in-law Katto Amma in the show Happu Ki Ultan Paltan… Himani Shivpuri’s ‘family’ for her fans. “I was offered many bua roles after DDLJ. I used to get upset. But I tried not getting typecast. I played various characters – serious, comic, negative… The bua in Pardes is different from the mom in Biwi No. 1 who’s different from the grand-dame of Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon,” she elaborates.
An actor from the National School of Drama (NSD), she played the iconic Desdemona in the stage adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello among other notable plays in the early ’80s. Parallel cinema was a natural transition for the actor with heft. Arundhati Roy’s National Award-winning television film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, Shyam Benegal’s Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda, Mammo and the series Yatra further endorsed her erudite credentials. “I was earning my living doing something I love,” she says with humility.
The turning point was doing commercial cinema, which made her share the frame with superstars. However, she remained unfazed by glamour. “Acting is my profession. But as a person I remain down-to-earth. I even buy my own vegetables,” she smiles.
This very smile, which has now become her signature feature, helped her tide several troughs including losing her actor husband the late Gyan Shivpuri in 1995. A single mother, she brought up son Katyayan, who’s now a recognised writer/director. Read her story in Himani Shivpuri’s own words:
“MY RELATIVES VIEWED ACTING AS ‘BHAANDGIRI”
My father Haridutt Bhatt Shailesh ran away from his remote village in Uttarakhand to build a life for himself. A poet/writer he became a Hindi teacher at The Doon School in Dehradun. Being his daughter, I could also attend the all-boys boarding school. Early in life, it helped me find my way in a man’s world. Dad encouraged me to participate in drama, debates and practise Bharatnatyam. He’d say ‘my daughter is equal to my son (Himanshu Bhatt)’ and should have an ‘all-round development’. My mother (Shail Bhatt) however wanted me to learn domestic skills.
While studying for my postgraduate degree in Organic Chemistry from DAV College Dehradun I also did amateur theatre. I received a scholarship to further my studies in the US. I’d also applied for admission in the National School Of Drama (NSD) for which I got selected.
I decided to go to the NSD, leaving my relatives stunned. They viewed acting as ‘bhaandgiri’ (clowning). But I told my father ‘Baba, I don’t want to regret letting go of this dream.’ Later, I joined the NSD Repertory Company established by theatre doyen Ebrahim Alkazi saab as an apprentice. I was paid Rs 600 per month, which gave me a sense of independence.
“PLAYING DEVAKI BHOJAI BROUGHT ME INTO PEOPLE’S HOMES”
I did theatre for about seven or eight years. My plays including Hamida Bai ki Kothi, Othello, Mitro Marjani, Aazar Ka Khwaab, Tughlaq, Draupadi… did well. Then I was offered the role of Chutki in India’s first television soap opera Hum Log (1984) written by Manohar Shyam Joshi. But I refused it fearing I wouldn’t get time for theatre. Manoharji was also writing Hamrahi (1993-1995), a show on women empowerment. He suggested my name to the makers saying, “She’s talented but crazy. She refused Hum Log!” I was offered the role of Devaki Bhojai, a conniving sister-in-law. The negative role won me popularity as DD brought me into people’s homes. It was a turning point in my life.
Between 1993-2000, my other TV shows include Dekh Bhai Dekh ,Tu Tu Main Main and Hasratein. The latter tackled complex marital themes. I play Sulakshana married to a much-older music teacher (Yashwant Rao). Sulakshana has an affair with a tabla player (Bobby Khanna). It included an intimate scene considered bold for those times.
I was also part of satellite shows including Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Astitva…Ek Prem Kahani, Dollar Bahu, Sasural Simar Ka… More recently, Happu Ki Ultan Paltan has me play the comedic Katori ‘Katto’ Amma.
“SHYAM BABU WAS MY IDOL”
Being from theatre, art cinema interested me. I worked with Shyam Benegalji in Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (1993) and Mammo (1994), the television series Yatra (a 1986 travel-based anthology) and Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution (2014). Shyam Babu was my idol. He was simple and caring. I was a newcomer. But he was equally concerned about me and whether I’d had breakfast or not. As a director he was gentle in the way he explained a scene unlike some directors who like to intellectualise. He never made you feel you were in the presence of a genius.
“SALMAN IS A BADMASH”
My late husband/actor Gyan Shivpuri (late Om Shivpuri’s cousin), who’d featured in Rajshri’s Babul (1986), was keen that I explore films in Mumbai. After seeing my play Aazar Ka Khwaab (Urdu adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion), Sooraj Barjatya offered me Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (HAHK 1994). In fact, he added the character of Doctor Razia after seeing my performance.
The late Satish Shahji played my husband in the film. He’s fond of shayari. In one scene, Salman tells him, “Ghazal (referring to me) aapke saath rehti hain aur aap shayari sunaate hain?” I hit him playfully when Salman spontaneously lifted me in his arms. Soorajji liked Salman’s impromptu act and retained it. Truly, Salman’s a kid at heart.
In Bandhan (1998) I play his mother while Anjan Srivastav, who plays Salman’s father dies. We were shooting the funeral scene in which Salman had to hold me close while I wept. Director K. Murli Manohar Rao kept saying, “Tears, tears…!” even as Salman whispered in my ears, “Arrey yaar, mar gaya buddha jaane de…” I was trying to emote and he was making me laugh! He’s badmash and full of pranks.
“MADHURI DIXIT HAS A MIDDLE-CLASS VIBE”
I’m fortunate to have worked with co-stars who were supportive and respectful. For instance Madhuri Dixit is so down-to-earth, a Marathi mulgi with a middle-class vibe. She’d get poha for all of us on the set of HAHK.
We were some four-five female shooting the song Dikhtana Dikhtana in Ooty. Between Madhuri, Binduji, Renuka Shahane, the late Reema Lagooji… and I we had just one room to get ready. Madhuri never created a fuss though she was the No. 1 heroine that time. She has no false airs. She has both inner and outer beauty. She’s extremely talented and hence not insecure.
“SRK ENJOYS HIS STARDOM”
When I met SRK for the first time, he remarked with characteristic humour, “Ma’am, jis film mein aap heroine thi, uss mein main crowd mein tha!” I recollected that when I was in the NSD repertory, SRK was also doing theatre. We were both part of a film called Where Annie Gives It To Those Ones (1989) written by Arundhati Roy. I’d played a supporting character. Among other films, I also did Subhash Ghai’s Pardes (1997) with SRK. Subhashji would call everyone at 7 am and jokingly say, “Jo nahi aata hai uska role main kaat deta hoon!
SRK enjoys his stardom. He’s earned everything because he’s so hard-working. Yet he’s so gracious. Few Indian men get up when they see a lady. He’s a gentleman. He opens the car door for you. Some stars are rude to their fans. It does get annoying when you’re in a different mood and they want a picture. Fans believe ki unka haq hai hum pe. Shah Rukh understands this well. He’s ever gracious towards his fans.
I have fond memories of working with Sanjay Dutt as well while filming Vaastav: The Reality, Khoobsurat, Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin… (between 1999-2002). Those days I used to eat paan. He’d say I reminded him of his mother, the late Nargisji who also enjoyed having it. My staff would make paan for Sanjay as well.
“I’VE WITNESSED MANY ROMANCES ON THE SET”
I did many films with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan including Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, Kuch Naa Kaho and Umrao Jaan (1999-2006). Many a time we shared a vanity van while shooting abroad. She’s unassuming.
Have I come across real-life love stories on the set? Yes, I have witnessed many romances though I don’t want to talk about it. When artistes are constantly working and travelling together it’s natural to develop feelings for each other. Familiarity breeds romance. Similarly, familiarity also breeds contempt.
Regarding rivalry, yes showbiz is competitive. Even if my roles were cut or taken away, I don’t want to talk about it. Jo ho gaya so ho gaya. I don’t hold anything against anyone. Of course, one feels sad when less is seen of what you actually did. But that’s part of the game. Maybe, they’re in a position to do that.
“I’VE BEEN THROUGH MANY LOWS”
I believe in keeping a positive attitude. But I’ve been through many lows. I lost my husband Gyan Shivpuriji during the making of DDLJ. I’m the only actor missing from the cast during the climax scene. Three days before the final shoot my husband, who was in his 40s, passed away. He suffered a heart attack. He was in his 40s. I got a call from Yashji (Chopra), who was so gracious and kind. He said, ‘We’re sorry for the tragedy but we cannot change the schedule date.’ My son Katyayan (Shivpuri), who was around nine, was studying in Dehradun. Om Shiv Puriji’s son, Vineet Shiv Puri, lit the pyre.
From then on it’s only been about work for me. I found solace in it. But as you grow older you do miss a companion. At this stage, it’s companionship you need. My son, now in his 30s, has directed short films. The Comedian (2023) streamed as the opening film for the JioCinema Film Festival. His film Hunger (2023) screened at the NYC Independent Film Festival.
My school teacher had once said, ‘We must make it a point to give back to society.’ I’ve adopted my father’s ancestral village Bhatwari. Life’s harsh in the remote place. Youngsters don’t find employment so they come down to the plains. The village is full of old women and men. I hope the village can have a sustainable existence.”
Also Read: Himani Shivpuri Recalls Salman Khan’s Heated Rant About Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
