Mita Vashisht On Being Called 'New Smita Patil': I'm Smita Without The S | EXCLUSIVE

Mita Vashisht remembers late actress Smita Patil in a heartwarming manner. Patil, who would've turned 69 on October 17, left a remarkable body of work even in her limited stint in films.In an exclusive chat with Zoom, Mita looks back at how many drew similarities between the two by branding her the "new Smita Patil".ALSO READ: Smita Patil and you were part of the same New Wave at the same time?With Smita Patil, my name and hers have been sort of intricately linked as almost being seminal. In the sense, Mita is a part of Smita. And at one point I had to say in an interview, I'm Smita minus the S.Why was that?Because everybody was comparing me to her. And she had passed away just six months before I was to graduate from National School of Drama. And strangely, a lot of the roles that were to go to her came to me. So, including the film, I think Kumar Shani's Kasba, he actually had her initially in mind.It's interesting that there has been a connection in many ways, her being absent made me present. So, it's a strange connection, yes. And I did grow up watching her films as a teenager. But I never thought that one day I would be called, you know, the minute I enter the film industry or the television industry, it's the new Smita Patil, the new wave.But were you okay with being branded the new Smita Patil? Not the new Smita Patil, but so much so that here comes someone who can fill the void left by her, that sort of thing. So, initially it was flattering, but it was also threatening to my individuality as an actress. So, I would try and stay away from it, as much as possible, that no, no, no, I am me and she is her. But finally, once I got tired, I said it one day, I said, yes, yes, okay, I am Smita without the S. Yes, I'm Smita minus the S. So, that became a headline at one point in time.But many have found more of Shabana Azmi in you, especially the voice?Yes, that's true, Subhashji. Once, Shabanaji and I were in a drawing room in Paris. I think it was Indian ambassador's house. There was a party. And we were both talking. Someone said, if I close my ears, I will feel that Shabana is asking a question to herself and she is answering it herself. So, there was a lot of similarity, yes, in the voice. In fact, at one point of time, she wanted me and her to work together in a film.Then she thought, this is the right opportunity, Sai Paranjpai's film Saaz. In which, finally, Aruna Irani and she had played the roles of Lataji and Ashaji. But she wanted me to play the role of elder sister because younger sister's role is more sympathetic, right? Asha Bhosle's role.Sai Paranjpye must have been nonplussed? So, Sai plucked her hair, she said, no, I know Shabana wants to work with you. But, first of all, you are 10-15 years younger than her. On top of that, she wants you to play the role of her elder sister. I will lose my mind because how can I show you the elder one on screen? So, either tell her to let you play the role of younger sister and she should play the role of elder sister. Which was Lataji's role. Otherwise, forget it.So you opted out? I was also not convinced about Shabanaji's logic of me playing her older sister. That is Lata Mangeshkar and she playing Asha Bhosle. So, finally, obviously, I told Sai, , you know, I can't say no to Shabanaji. What do I do? So, she said, no problem, I will tell her. But I will tell her clearly, either you play the role of elder sister or let her play the role of younger sister. Otherwise, forget it. Otherwise, if you want to play the role of younger sister only, of Asha Bhosle, then let us find another actress.So are you more Shabana Azmi than Smita Patil?I think Shabanaji and my voice had a similarity, but it was not beyond that, because her roles and my roles, I think our performance attitude is completely different. I feel, in her early roles, I mean in all her young-age roles, she used to play characters who could draw the sympathy of the audience, you know, she is always the one whom the audience will want to sympathize with and go with at the end of the film. Whereas, I think when they said Smita and Meeta, they were looking at someone who was willing to kind of step out of the secure zone perhaps.