‘I use most cuss words in the film’

Irrfan Khan supports decision to retain the title of Yeh Saali Zindagi despite opposition from the Censor Board, gives out examples from previous and recent films.

Sudhir Mishra’s

HT Image

Yeh Saali Zindagi

is creating quite a buzz with its bold promos. The film’s lead actor, Irrfan Khan, plays a lover pining for intimacy. Khan says, “My character shows his helplessness by using abusive language. In this film, I have used more cuss words than I have in my entire career.”

Khan, however, adds that the abusive lingo is used keeping in mind the real life language of people in that region. “It’s the same way urban people use words like f**k and s**t in their daily interaction. Why should we suddenly become purists when it comes to cinema?”

Upset about reports that the Censor Board wants to change the title of the film because it contains the word

saali

, Khan points out that years ago

Bandit Queen

had so many cuss words and so did the recently released

Ishqiya

and

No One Killed Jessica

. He says, “Censor board standards are redundant. It’s time for us to change and accommodate new-age cinema.

Saali

is a light-hearted, colloquial term and not a cuss word.”

He adds that the word ‘saali’ cannot be seen one dimensionally as it’s used in an affectionate manner in the film. He adds, “It’s high time that we have more classifications like in American and European films. It is not right to compartmentalise films in A or U/A categories that are redundant in today’s changing societal norms and cinema. People in the Censor board should change and keep up with the times.”

Khan says the film is a fast-paced drama with an exciting plot and has been packaged differently than any of Mishra’s earlier films. Khan says, “Sudhir is consciously evolving new grounds to connect with the youth in a different manner. It’s more audience friendly and leaves you on a high note unlike the dark endings in his films.”

Though Khan’s character is longing for closeness with Chitrangada, he confirms there are no physically intimate scenes. He informs that the dialogues and body language show their intense chemistry. “He is so desperate and helplessly drawn to her that he puts his life on stake, ironically to find the guy she loves,” he adds.