I made the best of the opportunities I got
Patralekha doesn’t regret any career decision she’s taken so far, and is eager to learn new things;
By : Lipika Varma
Update: 2025-04-11 16:40 GMT
Patralekha, who made her film debut with City Lights opposite Rajkummar Rao, to critical and audience acclaim, has had few films to show since then, but she has no regrets on her career trajectory thus far. Today, even as she plays Savitribai Phule in the biopic Phule, and is working on Suryasth, she has turned producer with Toaster, starring her husband, Rajkummar.
Excerpts from a telephonic conversation:
Q : On Phule being a ‘different’ kind of film.
Savitribai and her husband Jyotiba Phule took up the mission of bringing about social reform, particularly in relation to women and girl children. They tried to uplift the backward classes and improve the lives of widows. They were fearless people who didn’t think about themselves but worked relentlessly for the betterment of the society at large.
Savitribai was very young when she married Jyotiba. There was a huge age-gap between them. But Jyotiba taught her all he knew, and the two of them worked together on so many things issues.
Q: Do you speak Marathi?
I speak a little Marathi which I picked up on the set.
Q: On the limited size of her filmography despite her initial reception in Bollywood.
I got my first film, City Lights, on a platter, and I am very grateful. I wasn’t choosy, there was a time when I would shamelessly call directors and ask to be auditioned. I think it’s our job to reach out and let them know, ‘Hey, I am here.’ It’s their decision to take me or not. Koshish toh karni chahiye [We need to try at least]. I wasn’t offered films left, right and centre, but I chose the best of what I was offered.
Q : Would you have done anything differently, on hindsight?
When I look back, I don’t regret any of the decisions I took. It’s been low key, but I guess that’s how it was meant to be. I am really proud of whatever I have achieved. I was a teenage girl from Shillong. I had no friends here, leave alone relatives. I have made a life and a career for myself. I feel I made the best of the opportunities bestowed upon me.
I thank my parents for their support. There were days when I felt that things wouldn’t work out and I was tempted to figure something else out. But they kept pushing me, telling me to give 100 percent to what I was doing, keep working at it. Their support really inspired me and they played a very important part in taking my career ahead.
Q: On convincing husband Rajkummar Rao to be part of Toaster.
We were developing something for a long time but har cheez ki journey shuru mein thoda time toh lagta hai. [Every journey takes time]. You can’t convince an actor beyond a point to take a role. It’s up to them, whether they like the role or not. Raj is very clear about the things that he doesn’t want to do. Toaster happened because he liked the content and asked me to get the writer and we started developing it.
Q: Is it difficult for a creative person to turn producer?
I don’t see why creative people cannot be good producers. When you are creating something, you should know how much is going into the production and how much you will be getting out of it. Production occupies a lot of time. It’s not all about money but how your entire team is working alongside you, as it’s about team work. As an actor, you just enter the set as a character. You have only a specific sphere to handle; but as a producer there is a lot more. It’s very difficult. Everything is new to me and I am here to learn.
Q: On the type of producer she is.
I am not lavish; this story doesn’t need us to spend unnecessarily. Any story with great content and intent works. We are producers who care more about intent and content.
Q: What is Suryasth is about?
It’s a new take on women and on their relationship.
Quote:
“I felt that things wouldn’t work out; I was tempted to figure something else out. But my parents kept pushing me, telling me to give 100 percent to what I was doing, and keep working on it.”
There was a time when I would shamelessly call directors and ask to be auditioned. I think it’s our job to reach out and let them know, ‘Hey, I am here.’ It’s their decision to take me or not. Koshish toh karni chahiye [We need to try at least]. I wasn’t offered films left, right and centre, but I chose the best of what I was offered.”