In Khoya Khoya Chand, Sonia Jehan is playing an actress from her Grandmother, Noor Jehan's era. Her character is on the lines of Madhubala 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, June 1, 2007 - 05:08 IST
Sonia Jehan.Does that name strike a chord? The ethereal beauty from Pakistan made her debut in Hindi films with Akbar Khan’s Taj Mahal . Post the release of the film, she married an Indian and settled in India. She is now playing an actress from the 1940s on the lines of Madhubala and Nutan in Sudhir Mishra’s Khoya Khoya Chand.
This granddaughter of the legendary singer Noor Jehan speaks exclusively to IndiaFM about life after Taj Mahal, life after marriage, Pakistani film industry, her stint with singing and a lot more.
Your debut film Taj Mahal didn’t do well. Do you think it was a right debut for you?
I think the role that was offered to me was fabulous. I was playing the role of Mumtaz, it was a historical role and I love history. Unfortunately the marketing wasn’t very good but its okay I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
What kind of response did get you after the release of Taj Mahal? Did you get more movie offers?
I got a lot of offers after the film was released. But I live in Delhi and for me to do another project; I wanted it to be a very interesting and different role. The roles that I was being offered were the ones were I was needed to play the European girl. I wanted to do something different.
Why did it take you so long to do your second film? Where have you been all this while?
I have been in Delhi, I am married. I got married while I was shooting for Taj Mahal to someone who I was dating. I have been married for three years. My husband is very encouraging and he actually thinks that I should do more films. But after Taj Mahal which took very long, I just wanted to wait and do something totally different. Taj Mahal was a big budget film, it was a historical film and for a debut it was very taxing in the sense there was a lot of hard work. We were shooting in Jodhpur so I was away for a very long time and I just wanted to comeback, settle properly and set my home and everything in order.
I was getting roles which were interesting but not something that would make me jump out of my seat. So when I got an offer from Sudhir Mishra, as it is I admire his work a lot, I was very keen on playing the role of Ratan Bala.
For a debut, Taj Mahal was very taxing in the sense there was a lot of hard work.
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How did Khoya Khoya Chand happen?
I was approached by the casting director, Shanu. She told me about the script and was honest enough to tell me that it wasn’t a lead role. But I don’t have an issue with lead or supporting roles. For me it has to be something challenging, different from what I have done before, a new character altogether. I was interested so I went to Mumbai. This was the first time that I auditioned for a film after Taj Mahal . Sudhir thought that I was right for the role of Ratan Bala and we started shooting in October.
Ratan Bala is a unique name. Tell us more about her
My name in the film is Ratan Bala. She’s a movie star of 1940s, an established actress who is very well known. She’s a bit of a diva. And it’s the struggle that she goes through to remain in the industry, because in those days after hitting mid 20s you were considered to be old and you would have to settle down, you couldn’t be part of the industry. That’s what the industry was all about.
It’s about how she struggles to remain there, to be famous, to be loved and to be admired. It’s quite an interesting and complex character, because you see her in the beginning as someone who’s a diva who throws tantrums. Then you see a soft side of her of someone who wants to be loved and cared truly. It was quite interesting to play this role.
Do you think there is a real side to her character?
I think that’s something that most actress experience when they are someone famous in the industry to someone who’s not given the same importance as they were at the peak of their career. It’s always something difficult, you age and you have to age gracefully. And that’s the whole challenge to be able to do it gracefully; a lot of people find it difficult to do so. They always want to remain at the top.
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One should age gracefully. A lot of people find it difficult to do so. They always want to remain at the top.
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What interested you to go for this?
Firstly I wanted to work with Sudhir Mishra. Secondly the character was different from the one that I had played. Mumtaz was from the royal family and it was a very historical role. This is also a period film, it’s about the 1950s and it’s about the Bollywood industry but its closer to our time. The main reason was because my grandmother Noor Jehan used to be part of the industry before partition. I have lived with her as a child and I always dreamt that I would be able to be like her. So for me it was exploring what life was for her and how the industry was in those days. That’s what interested me.
Taj Mahal was a historical, and Khoya Khoya also has a period setting. Do you think you were offered this character because of your first film?
No, I don’t think so because I was also offered films based on modern times. I don’t think there’s a stereotype for me but I was really keen on doing this. More so to experience what the industry was all about during the 1940s.
How was it working with Sudhir Mishra?
Brilliant! He spent a lot of time with the actors. He is so enthusiastic and passionate about the script and each and every character. He really explains and takes you through the whole scene. He also lets you try out different things and is very open to discussing scenes and having discussions. That was very nice.
Who are you paired opposite in the film?
The lead is Soha Ali Khan and Shiney Ahuja. It’s the Bollywood industry so everyone is interrelated but it’s a love story between Soha and Shiney and it’s the struggle that I am going through to be recognized in the industry. So I am trying to take Soha’s place. She is playing this young starlet. It’s an insight to what the industry is all about. There’s a movie being shot within the movie, so there are some scenes in black and white. There’s a lot of treatment. It’s very different to what people have seen in Indian cinema.
The film is set in 1940s, is your character based on a real personality?
When I had to do some research on this, I had to see the work of Nargis and Madhubala. Those are the main characters which Sudhir wanted me to look into and study. The characters are inspired by certain actors but they are all fictional. Like my character Ratan Bala is inspired by different actors of that time.
So your character is not based on a real actor of the 1940s?
No I don’t think so. I am just playing a diva of that time so it could be anybody from Madhubala or Nargis, anyone.
What kind of roles would you like to play in future?
I like strong characters, Mumtaz was a strong character, Ratan Bala is a strong character. Ratan Bala is a very job oriented woman. I tend to go for women who have strong personalities. In the future I wouldn’t mind going may be for a horror or an action packed film, just to get a feel of something which I am not.
You are granddaughter of the legendary singer Noor Jehan. Didn’t you ever get attracted towards singing like your grandmother?
I do sing, I sang as a child. I called my grandmother dadu. When I was living with her in Lahore she used to do her riyaz every morning. I used to sit with her and babaji who was our trainer.
So you learnt it professionally?
I studied singing for three years. She (Noorjahan) was very keen that I pursue it because she thought that I was the only person in the family who had her voice. Why didn’t I pursue….I don’t know. I personally feel that when you are a child, you don’t think of your future seriously. You are more carefree, you want to play with your friends and have other interests. Unfortunately I didn’t take it seriously. I wish I had. As a hobby I would still sing but not professionally.
How good a singer are you?
I am not bad but I need a lot of training.
Where did you spend your childhood?
Partly in France, Pakistan and partly in London.
So what attracted you to India?
I never planned to come to India. I was offered Taj Mahal , I came for the audition and I got the role. I stayed back as I was already dating someone in India.
I met my husband in London when I was in college. I keep joking that I have done a peace process between India and Pakistan. He is into finance, a different world altogether. I am the arty person in the family and he is the financial banker type. It is great fun because we travel a lot. He travels for his work and I travel for mine. When we come back, we have a lot to talk about. We learn a lot from each other. There’s no time for boredom.
Actresses hardly talk about their marriage…
I am happily married and I have no issues admitting it. I was told by a lot of people in the industry to not mention about my marriage. I don’t understand why marriage is considered such a taboo in the industry… I don’t see why being married would affect me as an actor. I mean my work is my work and my personal life is my personal life. I prefer not to talk about it in depth, but yes I am married and I do work whenever it comes my way.
What is your last name after marriage?
Narain. I use it in my everyday life. If I am going to buy groceries then I am Sonia Narain. But if I am doing a film then I am Sonia Jehan. I am a normal human being. I go to the dry cleaners, go to the market, I do everything.
That comes from the fact that I was brought up by my grandmother who was a diva. People were in awe of her, and they were so star-struck. But behind closed doors I know what she was all about; she was a very normal person. During summer time we would eat mangoes in the afternoon sitting on the floor.
And when somebody came to meet her she would be putting on make-up because she was a diva, and I would wonder what happened to dadu , where has she gone.
You have done modeling in Pakistan. Why didn’t you try for films there?
I think you might know that the film industry in Pakistan is not at all advanced like in India. If I am here, why would I want to do something which is not as good? The Bollywood industry is great, it’s huge. I can’t see my self living in Lahore being part of that fraternity, being part of Lollywood.
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I can’t see my self living in Lahore being part of Lollywood. The film industry in Pakistan is not at all advanced like in India.
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What is your personal view about Pakistani Film Industry? Can you compare Bollywood with it?
No, you can’t. It’s not at all a good industry. I personally don’t admire their work or their ethics.
Are they unprofessional?
They are very talented people and extremely gifted. There are good singers and directors. In Pakistan there’s no lack of talent but unfortunately I think the industry is not developed. People don’t take theatre and dance very seriously there. There’s never been much enhancement.
Equipment is very old, studios run down. There’s no maintenance. I am very upset because I have a lot of friends who are part of the industry over there, and it’s very frustrating because they are very talented people but it doesn’t show, because of the quality of the film. The camera is bad you don’t feel like watching the film.
Any offers from Pakistan?
A lot of offers, but I live in India and I want to concentrate here whether its films or its textiles, or whatever it may be. My life is here and I am settled here with my family.
So are you happy?
I am always happy. I am happy where I am. I am happy doing one film and if I don’t do any more film I will still be happy that I have had an experience of working in this industry which many people don’t have. I am open to anything as long as it’s creative and it satisfies. Every night I go to sleep with a smile on my face which means I am happy.
Will you work in offbeat cinema?
Offbeat is a very irrelevant term. I can name directors who I would like to work with, Deepa Mehta and Mira Nair. I wanted to work with Sudhir and I am really happy I could. I like directors who give out a message in every film that they make. Artistic element is in my blood. I enjoy that.
Any Hollywood offers?
No..no.
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I don’t have this crave to become famous or rich. I am a simple girl at heart, very gharelu types.
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Any more films you are working on?
I haven’t signed any other film. I am waiting for this one to come out and see the response and check if people appreciate my work. I don’t have this crave to become famous or rich. I am a simple girl at heart, very gharelu types. And unfortunately so, much to my mother’s dismay, who wishes that I were more ambitious since I am in Bombay and would do more films as she thinks that I am very talented. Maybe she is right but I have made a choice in my life.
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