Zindaginama, a series bravely unpacks the complex world of mental health through a six-episode anthology, with each filmmaker tackling a distinct condition. It takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, entwined with societal stigmas and medical realities, fostering empathy and understanding. By delving into the minds of characters grappling with these issues, the series encourages conversations around often-ignored topics.
Zindaginama stars Shreyas Talpade, Anjali Patil, Shruti Seth, Sumeet Vyas, Shweta Basu Prasad, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Prajakta Koli, Priya Bapat among others.
In an exclusive interview with Zoom, Anjali Patil talked about playing a schizophrenic man's beleaguered wife in Zindaginama.
What prompted you to be part of this series?
I think the fact that it is about mental health. If we talk about my segment in the anthology Bad Swagatham, the predicament of the care giver, we see the patients, and the patient's story, but what is the caregiver’s story. That side is very interesting to me, when you see the story from that perspective too, it is a very interesting thing, for me, I think that was one of the most interesting aspects for Swagatham.
What about the lack of focus on mental health in our country?
India is such a big country, but still, we have many aspects of mental health uncovered, it is not just depression or anxiety, there are many small spaces when it comes to mental health, about which people do not know, people are still unaware, so this whole project and all the stories, was a matter of great hope for me, when these stories of different mental health, small things, which are perhaps not very popular in the mainstream, taking all those stories, all those problems…a project was designed for this.
To you, what do the stories of the anthology mean?
it was about Victory. I try to practice a lot in my life, whatever it is, kindness, compassion, and tenderness because I feel that as we grow up or move around in big cities, all these positive qualities get lost somewhere. People become depressed. We live in a very fast-paced life, so normally I don't live in big cities. I normally live in such places where this inner tenderness of the mind, this tenderness, of this sensitivity, gets retained, remains intact, and gets nurtured. So perhaps the discipline of my life is the same in this character.
Were you affected by your character?
I was affected by it, the fact that to understand that you love this person so much, or to see him suffering, and to know the reason, you know, but he doesn't know the reason, but you know why he is suffering, but you can't even help him, you can't, you can just be there to soothe the trauma, that helplessness for me, or the tiredness of being a caregiver, that was very important for me, perhaps I understood that thing for the first time.
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Caregivers are the unsung heroes?
Yes, they are like unsung heroes, you know, there is sympathy for the one who is traveling, there is empathy, but who is also in it with him, somehow, because they are mentally stable and they are okay, they, they do not seem to be deserving of kindness or empathy. So maybe I understood that aspect of this project.
Are you vocal about mental issues?
I have been very vocal about mental health overall, as an artist, as a human being, so it's something that I feel as an artist, is my responsibility to, educate people, elevate them, and not just entertain, but heal them as well.
You are a good actor, but yet to find your groove?
Yes, I think next year it will be fifteen years since I started acting, and yes, it feels like a very long journey, and I do feel, yes, there is still a lot to do. But recently, and there has always been this love-hate relationship, you know, like acting always left me somehow half fulfilled, because performance is one aspect of it. Still, the feedback of it, the love that we receive from the audience, is also an equal and important part of it. By love, I'm not talking about fame and money. Still, just the sheer appreciation, and that appreciation leads to more opportunities, so I do feel that area has been somehow unfulfilled, but it's just been fifteen years, you know, it's not a long journey.
What are your aspirations as an actor after fifteen years?
I wish to work with brilliant directors, with the people that I always, you know, respected and dreamed of working with, who affected me as a child, who have absolutely new worldviews. I will be acting for a very long time, that is something that is an inner promise that I have settled in me, so yeah, I'm not really anxious about when and how I will find it, if I keep working, if I stay honest with my living, with my craft, I think good parts will find me, and that's how you become better, you know, with your work.
Does the dearth of recognition bother you?
It does bother me, the lack of opportunities and appreciation, it used to, very much, it used to bother me, but it was in 2015-16, just after, right after National Award, Chakravyuh became like something very promising, this girl, the National Award happened, so just after that, it used to bother, but I did work a lot in the last ten years, in terms of philosophies, in terms of taking a break from the industry for good 2-3 years, and just working on myself, on my mind, so it doesn't really bother now, it has made who I am right no.
How do I deal with actors less talented than you marching ahead?
I think I have been able to extract Anjali to a very different dimension, in a way where none of these factors really affect, in a way, in terms of where I am, who is going ahead, who are my contemporaries. There is a lot of reverence, and there is a lot of gratitude for the things that I have, done, or was able to do, gratitude and reverence for the people who are able to do immense stuff, and who are very talented, so this emotion is somehow, is not there anymore, it's also, I think, the inner expansion, I could say, as an artist, which, because when, when some other actors, I find, getting them their due, getting them the roles they deserve, and getting the appreciation, there is a part of me, which gets fulfilled as well. I don't know if I'm making sense, but that's what has happened, and it's a beautiful feeling, and it was amazing. About not finding my groove, or not finding the appreciation in acting, I think all of that has been a blessing, in a way, because it, has kind of pushed me, pushed me to expand myself into something else, which is writing and direction, and producing films.
What was it like working with Sameer Nair and Applause Entertainment?
It takes a lot of courage to do something like this, and I feel like Applause Entertainment has been producing really good content, supporting really good directors, and bringing out great stories, that's, that's incredible, you I know, amazing.
What are your upcoming projects?
In the last three years, it's been three years since I started my company called Anahat Films, and I started writing, and producing, and directing, and so far, I directed a documentary called Neither a Girl Nor a Woman, which is on Apple TV I just finished the development work of a series, in writers, with four writers, who work with the company, and I finished, I finished two scripts last year, out of which I will be directing one next year, and there is Tamil film in the company, which is in development, there is Marathi film, Tamil film is on women prison. It was forced expansion, and it's beautiful, if I would have been, you know, applauded, and would have been busy with all the acting, and everything that comes with acting, I don't think I would have ever gotten into production and, and direction, which, which I feel is the next, next chapter for me as an artist, I also realized that, we, as society, as humans, we have a tendency to put our talent and capabilities in, in some, some roles. , you know, we limit them to some roles, and I always felt very claustrophobic by it, you know, I am talented in acting, that doesn't mean that I should just be an actor, because the way I see the world, the way I write, nobody else can do that, nobody else can see it, so, yeah, my NSD direction training is finally coming back, and it's the upcoming projects. Acting-wise, three films are coming this year, end of this year, two films next year, there is an international film, which will open in festivals next year onwards, there is another series with YRF, which will come next year, so acting-wise, yes, there is a lot, but much more interesting stuff is happening with Anahat Films.