Learning to Laugh in the Dark: Saurabh Shukla on ‘Bandit Queen’

Saurabh Shukla, an actor celebrated for his diverse roles, recently reminisced about the formative experience of working with director Shekhar Kapur on the critically acclaimed 1994 film ‘Bandit Queen.’ He revealed that Kapur taught him a fundamental aspect of storytelling: the necessity of incorporating humor, even in the darkest subject matter. The film, an intense portrayal of Phoolan Devi’s life, was rife with grim realities. However, Shukla recalled Kapur’s unique directorial approach, which involved actively seeking out moments of comic relief and human eccentricity. He cited a memorable scene involving a robbery where a villager’s unexpected plea for a drink from the fleeing bandits exemplified Kapur’s knack for finding a darkly funny, human moment amidst the turmoil. This lesson, Shukla emphasized, has been a guiding principle in his career, underscoring the belief that a narrative without humor is incomplete. Shukla also expressed admiration for Kapur’s intuitive understanding of dialogue rhythm, a skill that allowed him to direct scenes authentically and capture the natural cadence of speech.