Filmmakers R Balki and Gauri Shinde thrive as a couple because of their individuality, not despite it
Gauri Shinde and R Balki are two of the most interesting directors in Bollywood today. They are also probably the busiest, which might explain why it took us a whole year to get them together for an interview. But Gauri reveals the real reason behind the delays: “I am not fond of ‘couple interviews’. I don’t want to be bracketed as his wife. We are two very different individuals and I prefer to be treated as that.” Adds Balki, breaking into laughter: “In fact, you can call us the ‘Accidental Couple’. See, I even gave you a headline there!”
We have actually spent a decade as a married couple and never felt the need to ‘unmarry’ -Gauri
Initially, I would do all things a married woman is supposed to. Then I realised my ‘me’ was getting lost in becoming an ‘us’! – Gauri
Balki on Gauri’s favoutires
Her favourite colour: White or light blue (Correct)
She loves to eat: Fish (Correct)
Her favourite song: It changes every week. If I like what she likes, she changes her like! (Correct)
Her favourite movie: The Hours, closely followed by Blue Valentine. (Correct)
The word she uses most often: Stupid, for others. She has a much stronger word for me! (Wrong! Gauri’s answer: ‘So dumb’ and ‘Fantastic’!)
Her favourite place to hang out in Mumbai: Olive Bar & Kitchen. (Correct)
She loves to wear: Anything loose and airy. (Correct)
The dish you cook that’s her favourite: She likes the pasta I make. (Correct)
Gauri on Balki’s favourites
His favourite colour: Black (Correct)
And his favourite food: Pongal and most spicy vegetarian food. (Wrong! Balki’s answer: Andhra food)
Name his favourite movie: English Vinglish (Correct)
His most used word: Superb! (Wrong! According to Balki, it is: Rubbish)
In Mumbai, he loves to hang out here: His office room. (Correct)
His favourite clothing: Black T-shirt and a pair of jeans. (Correct)
The dish you cook that is his favourite: Sabudana khichri. (Wrong! Balki says: Anything she cooks, when that day comes, I will love!)
I might travel the world on my own, but he is the person I always come back to... he is home! -Gauri
I have no clue how we are surviving as a married couple; we are raising two cats together, and that’s all we have in common! – Balki
Gauri’s Storyline
Gauri Shinde moved to Mumbai from Pune after working with director Siddharth Kak, and made over 100 ad films. Her short film, Oh Man! (2001), was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival. Gauri’s first feature film was English Vinglish (2012). It garnered many ‘best directorial debut’ awards that year. In 2016, Gauri released the self-assured Dear Zindagi, which dealt with the issue of mental health.
Balki before Bollywood
R Balki was at the top of the advertising industry before he quit (in 2016) to focus on filmmaking. He made his directorial debut in Bollywood with an unconventional love story: Cheeni Kum (2007). This was followed by the nuanced film Paa (2009). While his next two films, Shamitabh (2015) and Ki & Ka (2016) didn’t do very well, this year, his social drama, Padman, has put him back on top.
I don’t understand why we need to have a child. Why are we hell-bent of seeing a smaller version of ourselves? - Balki
Ananya Ghosh is an assistant editor with Hindustan Times Brunch. She has 10 years of experience as a journalist having worked as a copy editor/feature writer in various publications....view detail