By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Sep 25 (IANS): Actress Geetanjali Thapa, who plays the protagonist in "Liar's Dice", still can't believe that the film has been chosen as India's official Oscar entry for the best foreign language film category.
“We've been with the film for some time now. It has just been released in Thiruvananthapuram and received very well everywhere that it has gone so far. In fact, it goes to the San Sebastian Festival later this month. So the film's journey and our journey with it began a long time ago,” said Geetanjali.
Now that "Liar's Dice" is India's official entry to the Oscars, Geetanjali is over the moon.
“Of course, it will add value to the film. Many more people would be interested in watching it. It's a small film with a very big heart. I firmly believe it's the heart and emotions that make a film.”
Earlier, Geetanjali won the National Award for best actress for her performance in "Liar's Dice".
Although she is from the North East, she has never faced any kind of discrimination.
“One hears about these biases. But being in Mumbai and the entertainment industry I have never felt discriminated against. The city was very welcoming. Over here you get work solely on merit. It doesn't matter which part of the country one is from. I've done a Hindi film 'ID', which was produced in Kerala. I've done the films that I wanted to and the ones that I didn't do , I wasn't meant to,” she said.
Geetanjali's next release is the international project Danis Tanovic's "Tigers" in which she is paired with Emraan Hashmi.
She's all praise for the film and her co-star.
“ 'Tigers' was a very different experience for Emraan Hashmi. And let me tell you, he has done very well in the film. It is an immensely relevant subject about the contaminated baby milk formula that probably affects any number of tender infants' lives.
"Emraan, director Danis Tanovic and I went for the film's premiere to the Toronto film festival. It was a very rewarding experience,” Geetanjali said.
The space occupied by films like "Liar's Dice" and "Tigers" is where Geetanjali would feel most comfortable. But she doesn't mind doing an out-and-out masala film.
“All masala films are not trash. I want to be part of good cinema, no matter what the language and flavour,” said Geetanjali confidently.