Once in a while I get to interview film stars, directors or talent as it is called. And it is great fun because both the craft of cinema and the world it creates fascinate me. At a Confederation of Indian Industry do, late last year after I had anchored a discussion on Indian cinema with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Anupam Kher, the offline chat was illuminating. The phenomenally talented Siddiqui who was somewhat tongue-tied on stage said later that he was petrified of being asked a “bhaari bharkam intellectual sawaal.” He admitted that the only time he was completely at ease was when the camera was on!

Tanu Weds Manu Returns, a big hit running in theatres currently, has Kangana Ranaut playing Tanu with gusto. But it is her athletic double, the Haryanvi Kusum that sparkles. She is unrecognisable as she plays the short, toothy, spunky character. How on earth did she prepare for it? File pic