Filmmaker Sooni Taraporevala’s Little Zizou turned 17 on March 13. The film was a light-hearted drama starring Jahan Bativala in the titular role along with Boman Irani, Imaad Shah, Shernaz Patel, Kunal Vijaykar among others. On the film’s anniversary, Taraporevala got talking about it in an interview with us.
Little Zizou was that little-big film which is remembered fondly for its fragility and frugality. How do you recall the film?
I recall it with a great deal of affection and fondness. It was my first experience as a director, my 50th birthday present to myself. I was helped on my journey by a wonderful cast and crew, many of whom I continue to be friends with and work with. It was also a very personal film, shot in the same lane where I grew up with many family and friends in the cast. I also recall being in a permanent state of terror about making our days and not going over time.
Were you interested in football before making this film?
Not at all, and I still am not. But I love Zinedine Zidane.
Little Zizou is set in the Parsi community, a world you belong to. Was it difficult to find the right Parsi actors for every character?
Actually no, because I wrote the characters with specific actors in mind. Some were not even actors. While writing the script I met Francorsi at a party who was wearing a huge asho farohar around his neck. Intrigued, I began talking with him and discovered he was half Italian, half Parsi, and that’s how the character of Tito Fellini was born. I always wanted Boman Irani as Boman Pressvala and Sohrab Ardeshir as his enemy Khodaiji, and Shernaz Patel as Khodaiji's chela.
I worked with Kurush Deboo on Such A Long Journey and knew what a dedicated actor he was. Similarly, Mahabanoo Kotwal, who, to me, looked like she had just stepped out of a Fellini film.
The only character who eluded me was Roxanne, Boman’s wife. Just before the shoot began I was told by a friend about her Parsi actress friend who was visiting from NY. Soon as she entered the room my producing partner Dinaz Stafford and I looked at each other - she was the answer to our prayers. It was Zenobia Shroff who went on to act in The Big Sick and the Marvel franchise. Coincidentally, her mother Polly was also in Little Zizou - playing Mrs Fellini who Kurush’s character tries to scare.
So, everyone playing Parsis were actually Parsis?
The only character playing Parsi who was not was Imaad Shah, who was Artaxerxes the graphic novelist, big brother of Zizou. From the time I first wrote the script, I imagined Imaad in the role. (I’ve had a history with him - I was the still photographer on A Perfect Murder in which both his parents acted, and he did too as a 3-month old baby. I have lovely photos of him from the time).
The boy who played the title role was phenomenal. Have you kept in touch with him?
Yes, I have. Jahan Bativala is now a film editor who has just made his first film - a short called Sikka. He’s my son. And Liana who plays his nemesis is my daughter Iyanah Bativala. I wrote the roles for them, using their sibling rivalry as well as many of their lines from real life. Iyanah is also a writer, director - neither of them want to act. I think they had such a ball with the crew that it made them want to make their own films.
Was it easy to get John Abraham to make an appearance?
John was an absolute sweetheart. He agreed over some dhansak from home. Not only was he completely cooperative on set but he also very sweetly attended the event we had at Rippon Club to announce the film.
What are you working on next?
A period film I’ve written that I hope to make soon.
When are you collaborating with Mira Nair next?
Who knows? But life is long and our kitchens are running.
More Pages: Little Zizou Box Office Collection
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