A golden father-daughter bond

Film-maker Mehul Kumar and Jahan Bloch share a unique father-daughter bond. Mehul, who has just directed Jahan in his forthcoming film Krantiveer – The Revolution, is a doting and pampering father to Jahan when he is not directing her in front of the camera.

However, when the lights are on and the echo of ‘action’ rings on the sets, he is as professional as any film-maker would be to his lead star. But that’s what makes it a delightful relationship, something that we savoured on the sets of the movie that originally wasn’t even supposed to have Jahan in the lead. On Father’s Day, we spoke to them to bare their heart about each other.

“I was looking for a male star originally for Krantiveer — The Revolution. The main lead was supposed to be the son of Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia. However, Jahan, who has always been interested in acting, came up to me and asked me to try her out. I was little apprehensive as she had to play the role of Roshni, a fiery investigative journalist as effectively as Nana and Dimple. She told me that I could audition her. And what I saw of her, I was really impressed,” he tells DNA.

“I have cast Jahan as a child artiste in films like Paap Ki Andhi, Kohram and Aansoo Bane Angare. Later she also assisted me on projects. It was my way of teaching her acting but she has absorbed so much by herself. She has done justice to the role in every way possible. She has received no special privileges because she was my daughter,” Mehul adds.

Jahan was also told to watch the original Krantiveer to observe mannerisms of Nana. The major link that Mehul maintained in the sequel is actor Farida Jalal who had played Nana’s mother and here she is the grandmother of Jahan. Jahan saw the film eight to nine times.

“She is just like Nana in the movie. It’s amazing how she has grasped the role,” says Mehul. In real life too, Jahan is an idealistic girl who stands up for her rights. Many times her sister has to drag her out of shopping malls and other places when she gets into arguments over over-pricing or expiry goods. Jahan was floored by her father when many technicians who were in the previous Krantiveer, came to him to take them in the sequel. They did not haggle for money, their main issue was to work with her father.

Jahan says, “My father is my mentor. He pampers me but when he directs me, he makes sure I deliver the best. There is no shortcuts for me in his diary. He has taught me never to lose hope and be a good person. He has told me not to harm anyone and has made sure I remain rooted to the ground and be serious about work,” Jahan says.