Imtiaz AliIts ‘Mey Vapas Aunga’ feature Sanjay Suri Jasmer, as the father Bedang Rainaits character. Although the role is small, it carries a lot of weight in a story that revolves around displacement, love and loss. The film is set during Partition and captures the pain of longing for a home that can never be regained. For Suri, the story feels very close to her own life. He lost his father during the Kashmir militancy in 1990 and had the heartbreaking experience of leaving home, which connected him deeply to the film’s themes of grief, loss and identity. The actor recently opened up about how the film reminded him of his own past.
Why did Sanjay Suri say yes to ‘Maya Vaapas Aunga’?
In an interview with Variety India, when Sanjay was asked if it was the Imtiaz factor or the theme of the film that made him say yes to the role, he said, “It was a combination of both. It always starts with the story. If you look at my filmography, there are many first-rate directors whose work no one knew about. This story touched me deeply and it touched me deeply. Which is more about empathy than judging Imtiaz Ali, both personally and publicly. By interacting with his character When I Want to Meet Imtiaz, you feel secure as an actor who can be present on screen. I would have loved to explore Jesmar with him.”
Sanjay Suri in a scene from ‘Maya Vaapas Aunga’ that resonated with him personally
When asked if any particular scene in the film brought back personal memories or evoked emotions, Suri didn’t limit it to just one moment. He said, “Honestly, it’s not about a scene or specifically just my scene… The railway station one (which shows him returning to the station at a certain time every day, expecting his family to arrive), whether it’s waiting for the family or trying to get back, I usually connect with such stories on a human level. Yes, there were moments in the film that resonated very deeply with me on a personal level. The themes of displacement, loss and the search for home are not abstract concepts for me. They are part of the living history of my family, of which I was a 19-year-old.”
How important is the role of storytelling in addressing themes such as loss and identity?
He further added, “Division, the Kabali raid in Baramulla (Kashmir) and then 1990…experiences and stories of uncertainty and suddenly one’s world changes. My father was killed at home in Kashmir in 1990 and not only the loss of a loved one, but also the loss of home is a scene of pain and agony. Home, being cut off from one’s roots, or grieving for generations.” Going, it was impossible for me to approach it purely as an actor, those emotions are already somewhere in me and I go through the emotions because they are linked to my personal memories and family history.“
About ‘May Vapas Aunga’
‘Maya Vapas Aunga’ is directed by Imtiaz Ali and features Diljit Dosanjh, Nasiruddin ShahSharvari and Bedang Raina in lead roles.
