Rasika Dugal excited for debut stint at Cannes

New Delhi May 21 (IANS) Rasika Dugal is excited and hopeful that her maiden experience at the celebrated Cannes Film Festival where a curtain raiser of her film Manto is being hosted will be a special one.

Being directed by Nandita Das Manto -- starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title role -- is a biographical film based on the Urdu writer. Apart from emphasising on Manto and his writings it will also reflect on his personal life in which his wife Safia played a strong role.

Rasika noted for her performance in the film Qissa and TV show P.O.W - Bandi Yuddh Ke plays Safia.

I ve never been to Cannes and this is going to be my first time... Like that hashtag that s going around I am also going to be a Cannes virgin quipped the actress in a conversation with IANS before taking off for Cannes.

She will be in the French Riviera for only about two-and-half days and her schedule is packed from what she tells of it.

We have some interviews organised after I reach there and then we have a Manto night organised by HP Studios one of our film s producers. Then the next day there s a chat with Nandita Nawazuddin and I at the India Pavilion. We would be talking about Manto a bit Nawazuddin is going to read out something Nandita will talk a bit about her journey about the film the script and about the shooting experience so far Rasika said.

And we will be unveiling the first promo which I haven t seen myself yet.

She is not even sure if she s in the promo.

I was wanting to ask her if I am there in it but thought it s a selfish question Rasika said.

Given that the focus of the fashion police sitting back at home is always on who s wearing what is her wardrobe set?

It s always such a task. And especially for someone like me because I never know what s appropriate. It s a constant struggle... I feel this is a department I have no skill in so I have to rely on other people for it. Tisca (Tisca Chopra) is my first stop... I wear whatever she approves she said.

For her Cannes journey Rasika has already taken Tisca s advice. She will be wearing Indian attires because she felt it suits the mood of Manto.

I felt I should remain in the zone of the film. And I have always enjoyed wearing Indian said the actress who is usually seen flaunting an edgy and distinctive look at events.

If she had her way Rasika would give a fashion oriented twist to her look in Manto for the Cannes gala but she didn t want to risk being gimmicky.

Over half of Manto has already been shot and the team is likely to wrap up shooting by mid-June. For now she is hoping that the weather in Cannes will be a pleasant break from the sultry heat in Mumbai.

--IANS
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