Most
telly actors know Sandiip Sikcand as Balaji's creative head
for shows like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, K Street Pali Hill and
Hum Paanch.
But Sikcand is also an actor, who does
theatre as well as television.
He has just shot for a
short film called Sanna, directed by music composer Aadesh
Shrivastava; the film
marks Shrivastava's directorial debut.
Gender bender
In a
daring role, Sikcand will be seen as a eunuch who is part of a
child prostitution racket.
"This is indeed a different
role for me," says Sikcand, who plays the sari-clad eunuch,
Raju. "The film was shot on the streets of Mumbai and I was
hoping I would not bump into any Balaji people!" he laughs.
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Sandiip Sikcand as the eunuch Raju in
Sanna | Sanna is a 10-minute
film about child prostitution, focussing on the nexus between
a brothel owner and a eunuch.
Besides Sikcand, the
film stars Ayesha Kapoor (who was seen in Sanjay Leela
Bhansali's Black as the young Michelle McNally), Seema Biswas,
Pratima
Kazmi and Akhilenda Mishra.
Character
progression
Sikcand was approached for Sanna
by Prachi Thadani, who worked with Shrivastava on the
film.
"Prachi had seen me in my play, Champagne on the
House, in which I played a gay character. She thought I fit
the role of Raju in Sanna. When she approached me, she had
doubts about whether I would do the role. But to her great
surprise, I agreed."
The film portrays the dark
underbelly of Mumbai. "It was quite an experience shooting for
Sanna. It looks at the dark, grim side of life in the city. It
is about something that is real, that happens on the city's
streets, with poor girls as victims. In fact, Aadesh was
inspired to make Sanna after a real incident which moved him,"
says Sikcand. The role of the brothel owner
is played by Biswas.
Fit hai to hit hai!
Sikcand had to contend with sari blouse
fittings, make-up, long hair and eyelashes while shooting for
the film.
"What I have realised after wearing a sari
for this role is how important it is to have a proper fit for
a sari blouse. Most of our serial's actresses always tell
Balaji designer Nim Sood to provide proper fittings for their
blouse. I used to wonder why they fussed about such a small
thing so much — now I know!" he grins.
Sanna has been
on the international film festival circuit and will be seen in
India as well. "It is a film which will
move you," says Sikcand.
[email protected]
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