Busaba. Nikhil Chibbs rocking new Vietnamese and Burmese restaurant. Entering thelarge, rust-coloured iron door, I feel Im in hometown Goa. The atmosphere. Theattitude. The ambience. All thats missing is the beach. Ayesha Dharker, my co-starfor lunch, is a foodie, like me. I wont starve like Ally McBeal, sheinsists. I will lose weight if the role demands it. But otherwise this is me.
Ayeshas back in Mumbai after two years to record the radio version of A SuitableBoy. Shes been on the road for that long. Doing the three things she loves the most.Acting, acting and acting. Shes shot Ismail Merchants Mystic Masseur.Shes performed in The Ramayana at Londons National Theatre. Once a childprodigy, shes now a grown-up star. A French film at nine. An Italian one at 10. Cityof Joy at 13. And The Terrorist at 19. Shes worked with top directors. SantoshSivan. Sai Paranjape. Roland Joffe. Ismail Merchant. And George Lucas. Yes, the Star Warsdude. And shes just come out of a workshop with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Clearly, shethinks the world of Sivan, talks of there being a method to his madness.
And then the veg momos arrive. Conversation packs up for the moment. We eat in noisysilence. Then we study the menu. She chooses the Thai Green Curry with rice; I ask for theRed Curry with chicken and noodles.
She talks of things she refuses to do. I wont run around trees. And Iwont do sex scenes! Cool. Shes delighted at the success of Indiandirectors on the international scene. She loved Mira Nairs A Monsoon Wedding.You know, Rahul, its a joy that such wonderful Indian films are being made. Wenow have an Indian tent at foreign festivals. Its time for dessert.Busabas Chocolate Mousse Cake has a huge reputation. We order one. It is genuinelyto die for.
Right, so we have gorged and gassed for two hours. She asks me when Im going todo a film. She promises to act for me. Seems like good enough motivation.
