Sanjay Dutt is a lovely person: Chitrangada

Chitrangada Singh, is one virtuoso actress, who has been able to etch her name in the minds of the audience through her outstanding performances in films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003). Her debut film garnered her much admiration from critics and audiences alike. She took a break from acting and returned to the big screen in 2008 with Sorry Bhai, and went on to enjoy commercial success later in movies like Desi Boys (2011), Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011) and Inkaar (2013). After a hiatus, she is now back with Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3, starring alongside Sanjay Dutt, Mahi Gill and Jimmy Sheirgill.
A pure character
Chitranganda's character in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3, Suhani, seems similar to the complex character she played in Hazaaron Khawaishein Aisi, judging by the trailer of the film. However, the actress begs to differ. "Hazaaron Khawaishein Aisi is not something I went looking for, it really did come my way. I suppose it sort of sets a trend when you pick up roles and films like that. You get similar characters again and again, and I enjoy them also honestly.  And I don't quite agree that my character is grey in this film (Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster), where I play Suhani. She is probably the purest character in the whole setup.
"Every other character is complex and has all kinds of shades, they enjoy all kinds of sins. Suhani's character is probably the only one (that) is innocent and pure. Even Tigmanshu said the same thing when he was casting me. He said, 'You have to look the purest and the most innocent in the whole film and that's the most important thing Suhani has to do'.
"She is also in love with the gangster played by Dutt. It's the unconditional love for a man who she probably can never have..."
Working with Sanjay Dutt
Since Dutt and Chitrangada are the new entrants to the Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster franchise and are paired opposite each other, there is a lot of interest in the duo. "It was amazing working with Sanjay sir," Chitrangada tells us.
"Everyone was slightly nervous cause he has been through so much when he was coming into the film. Everybody wanted to give him that space. But he was more than warm. He would sit and talk with us on sets. If he has got some special khaana (food) made by somebody, some meat curry, he would make sure that it is sent to my hotel room. He is a lovely and childlike person. Instead of being scared, I think this gangster is going to be the most lovable gangster."
Debut as producer
Chitrangada recently made her debut as a producer with Soorma, a film, based on the life of hockey player Sandeep Singh, that has been winning plaudits. "What made me choose this field (production) was the story. I was in the writer's mode when I met Sandeep.When I heard his story, I was completely blown over. The first reaction was honestly, 'how could we possibly not know this story?'I felt guilty and felt that we needed to tell people about him. His story should mean more to the country, there is barely any money involved here unlike the crickters who are monetarily in a far better position. But this man literally had to sell off his house to pay his hospital bills. Working as a producer was very taxing. It took me around two to three years to put up a project like Soorma. It is very satisfying at the end when I get such great responses from people I don't even know. There is this IPS officer from Haryana who took around 150 kids from economically backward families to see the film for the first time. They were trying to encourage the kids to take up sports. When I get such responses, it feels everything was worth it." 
Back from a sabbatical
Taking a break from leading roles on the big screen (she was last seen in a cameo in Munna Michael in 2017), Saheb... marks the actress's return to movies in a big way. So was it a conscious decision to stay away all this while? "It wasn't a conscious break," Chitrangada explains. "But it was due to a couple of reasons; one, of course, I wasn't getting the kind of parts that I was looking to play. I decided not to just do parts because I want to remain visible. When work has to come it will, also I wasn't in that phase where I wanted to go out. Personally also I think my life was a little upside-down at that point. I was trying to settle myself mentally and emotionally as well."
Considering Netflix?
So if the big screen wasn't offering her the kind of roles she enjoys doing, would she consider streaming services like Netflix? "Yes, why not, after all it's such a big platform, it has a reach in so many countries. And I think Sacred Games is made so well and when the content is good and it is done so well, when you got the right kind of production, definitely I will be looking forward for such projects."
As to whether fans can expect to see more of her after Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3, the actress says. "There is this film set to release in one or two months called Baazar along with Saif Ali Khan. Production wise we are looking at a love story, hopefully that works out by the end of the year." citytimes@khaleejtimes.com
Arathi Jain is an intern at Khaleej Times