‘Gulmohar’ Star Manoj Bajpayee & Director Rahul Chittella Celebrate Triple Win

Even with a stellar career and numerous accolades, Manoj Bajpayee was elated after receiving a Special Mention at India’s 70th National Film Awards for his performance in the family drama *Gulmohar*. The film also secured awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi and Best Screenplay (Dialogues).

Released on Disney+ Hotstar last year, *Gulmohar* centers on the multi-generational Batra family, who are preparing to move out of their 34-year-old family home named Gulmohar. This significant change leads to the rediscovery of relationships and familial bonds while personal secrets and insecurities come to light.

Sharmila Tagore portrayed the family matriarch, Kusum, while Bajpayee played her son.

Bajpayee praised the “collaborative atmosphere” on the set of *Gulmohar* created by director Rahul Chittella.

“On set, we don’t believe in hierarchy, so we used to all eat and go out for dinners together,” Bajpayee shared. “Some of my former colleagues who visited us were surprised that we had dinner together after a film shoot. To me, this is a form of preparation. We unwind together because we have to eat, so we might as well do it together.”

The *Gulmohar* cast also included Amol Palekar, Simran, Suraj Sharma, Kaveri Seth, and Utsavi Jha.

The screenplay for *Gulmohar* was completed mid-2019, with Tagore and Bajpayee confirming their roles by the end of that year. After presenting the project to Bikram Duggal, Vice President and Head of Studios at Disney Star, in 2021, the film was greenlit. However, due to the pandemic, production didn’t start until March 2022 and it was finally released on Disney+ Hotstar in March last year.

The film is produced by Star Studios in collaboration with Chalkboard Entertainment and Autonomous Works.

“The idea for the film came from exploring the meaning of family and home,” Chittella said. “I was at a point in my life where my wife was pregnant, and we wanted to buy our own house. My parents were also getting older, and this inspired me to create a story that could explore the essence of family and home. When you look back, those are the only things that truly matter.”

Chittella explained that he loves writing ensemble pieces as they allow the exploration of intergenerational relationships. “I could examine three generations of characters and the meaning of family and home from the perspectives of three different generations,” he added.

Chittella co-wrote the film with Arpita Mukherjee. “Although Arpita and I are co-writers, we have our own process. She primarily writes and thinks in English, while I write in Hindi,” Chittella shared. “I’m also very fond of writing dialogues. I love creating dialogues for actors, especially brilliant ones because I know they’ll take those lines, create magic, and turn them into something beautiful.”

Reflecting on his working relationship with Chittella, Bajpayee noted, “With Rahul, there was an easy chemistry because we’ve known each other for a long time.”

Bajpayee also shared details about his pre-shoot routine, which involves waking up early to do yoga and practice meditation before revisiting the day’s shooting script.

Chittella prefers to be one of the first people on the set, along with his director-of-photography. “I like being there when no one is around or when the space is being set up. It helps me to read the sights and scenes,” Chittella said. “Even though everything changes once the actors arrive and the lights come on, it helps me prepare.”

Source: Deadline