SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 (PAGE 4) BOLLYWOOD-BUZZ PERSONALITY “Organic chemistry between me ‘Current times are not favourable and Sushant a pleasant surprise” for resolution of K issue’ Suman K Sharma self with the Supreme Being and realizing one's highest poten- Dinesh met Sushant, he was doing Byomkesh (Byomkesh Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon tial. While the two ways (technology and religion/spirituali- Bakshi, Hindi film). Then he was in a serious zone and qui- I claim no more than a nodding acquaintance ty) may seem disparate, they need not necessarily have a frac- who is promoting her film et because of the shooting of Byomkesh.. Later during the tured existence. The two can be used in tandem to realize the workshop, I found out that he talks a lot, though he feels he with Dr Chander Mauli Raina, an acclaimed Raabta in different cities best of both worlds and lead a more fulfilling and meaningful doesn't (smiles). But thankfully he does talk a lot. Somehow astrologer and scholar of Jammu. And yet life. speaks to Souvik Ghosh we had the organic chemistry which had a very pleasant sur- I have a sound reason to acknowledge him What in your view is the significance of the ancient prise because Raabta is a kind of film that it is all about. How much could you relate to the character of Indian culture and traditions in the turbulent times Which scenes from the film are your favourites? and others of his calling.Some thirty years Saira, you played in the film? of today? Oh! This is so tough question for me. There are so many Not too much. Saira is much different from me. In fact ago, his younger brother, Pandit Shiv Ancient Indian culture is a fountainhead of knowledge and actually. I like one when the two characters first met and when I read the script, I felt that she was actually a quiet bliss. It is a reservoir of wealth, open to one and all. In the tur- had a walk. We were conversing along with the walk. The Raina, predicted that on a certain character. She was someone who doesn't have parents since bulent times of today, it is even more relevant. If used in a walking scene was originally meant to be about 30 seconds. date I was going to meet with a the age of two and was bit quirky. Initially when I was sup- positive way, the wisdom of the ancients can lead us to become But, both of us (Kriti and Sushant) continued to talk to each posed to be introvert and quiet during shooting, Dino near fatal accident. more open, receptive to a contrary viewpoint and empathetic other where he said something to Call it a coincidence or whatever you will, on that very date tothe fellow human beings. I give you an illustration. We have which I replied or the other way round. a fire broke out in my kitchen. All alone, I had a hard time an old saying among us, "Brahmsatyamjagatmithya," that is, In this way the scene went on for about putting it out. The burn marks on my hands continue to there is only one absolute Truth, God; not the world. Charvak, 1-1.5 minutes and Dino (director remind me of the junior Raina's prediction. My an ancient philosopher, contradicted it thus:" Brah- Dinesh Vijan) kept the full scene in the acquaintance with Dr Raina is not that old. We mmithya, jagatsatyam"- the world is the truth film because it looked so natural. I met at a social function last year, when he and not God. His argument was that no one liked this scene a lot. gifted me a copy of his commentary on has seen God, so how could He be a reali- Deepika Padukone took part the VriddhaVashishtSamhita, a schol- ty? The point I wish to make is that a in the title song of the film. Did arly exposition of Rishi Vashishta's voice of dissent had its space and you get time to interact with her contribution to Indian astrology. acceptance in Hinduism. The ancient in between shooting? How was The eldest of three brothers, Indian knowledge, customs and your experience on the shooting Chander Mauli was born on 20 practises were originally meant to floor? January, 1953, at village Pau- foster acceptance, sharing and Unfortunately, she was in the raKotla, near Shiv Khodi Dham, brotherhood. We need to go back shooting for one to two days. She had Riasi. His father, Pandit and remind ourselves of these basic come to do the cameo in between the Rameshwar Dutt Raina, was a values especially in these volatile schedule of her film xXx (Padukone hereditary astrologer at the Dogra times. was then shooting for the Hollywood court. Heearned a doctorate in You were born in a family of film xXx) and we were really happy Astrology from the Rashtriya San- astrologers. Your father was a because she wanted to be a part of the skrit Sansthan, New Delhi, and has Raj-jyotishi - a court astrologer. Is film. She had a special equation with been teaching for the last thirty-six it the only reason that you chose Dino (Dinesh). She is so hardworking, years, first at the Shri Ranbir Kendriya astrology as a profession? dedicated, easy and chilled-out on the Sankrit Vidyapeeth, Jammu and then at the sets that we had great fun with her and Mostly yes. In addition to my formal educa- Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, KotBhalawal, Jam- tion in Astrology, I was mentored by my grandfather came to the shooting floor before time mu. He has to his credit twenty publications, including Vrid- so all of us had lunch together. But, we and father, who were renowned jyotishis of their times. I had dhaVashisht Samhita(in two parts). Shri Raghavendra Pan- also the good fortune of being guided by some of the best minds didn't get much time to interact with chagam- Jammu's very own astrological almanac - has been her because we had to shoot the whole in the field- Dr.BihariLalVashisht (Jammu), Prof. Ram Chan- coming out regularly under his chief editorship ever since derPandey (BHU), Prof. ShukdevChaturvedi (LBS, Delhi). thing in a limited period of time. 2001. Pandit Chander Mauli's passions are KarmKand - the What is the unique thing about These luminaries had exceptional literary brilliance and acu- study and practice of Hindu rituals, Indian astrology and men in jyotishvidya. Raabta? teaching of Sanskrit. He has mentored more than twenty Generally two people meet, they Both the Bhagvat Puran and the Gita say that a per- pupils in these subjects and while doing so, he took care of son's birth is determined by the last thoughts he or come to know each other, then start their food and shelter as well. Veritably a Brahmin, he heads liking and eventually love happens, she had while dying in the previous birth. There is the Brahmin Sabha of the State. also the belief that karma determines the gamut of followed by certain other things. But in Panditji took some time off his hectic routine for our life. If man cannot alter what fate has ordained, this film, Shiv and Saira (characters a chat. Here are excerpts from the conversation: what is the use of Jyotishvidya? played by Sushant and Kriti) meet for You are a Raina. Generally, Rainas hail from Kash- I concede. In the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says "I nev- the first time as complete strangers, mir. When did your ancestors migrate from the Valley? er interfere in two things of human life- prarabdh(destiny) and who haven't spoken to each other but My elders say that we migrated during the Mughal rule. I bhagya(luck)". So, certainly, one reaps as one sows- that is the feels intense connection and the famil- am the eighth generation of my family living in Jammu and iarity that they do not understand. So we now identify ourselves as Dogras. My ancestors were affil- Karma philosophy. We cannot alter fate but Jyotish is a means it's like two strangers meeting and feel- iated to the King's court as Raj Jyotishi during Dogra regime. to help a person tide through difficult times in life. It offers ing familiar for no reason and they slowly figures it out. clarity, direction and remedies to pass over a difficult stretch (Dinesh Vijan, director) came to me and said that he never You were born in the house of PanditRameshwar What is the special raabta (connection) between of life. wanted the character to be quiet. He said that the character Duttat Shiva Khodi Dham and namedChander Mauli. you and Sushant? Would you say that Astrology is a science? How far should be quirky, endearing, surprising, unpredictable. So 'Rameshwar' and 'Chandramauli' are the names of Like the characters in the film, we didn't know each oth- can its predictions be accurate? we tried to build the character with certain body languages, Lord Shiva and Shivkhodi is His abode. One of your er but without knowing we could communicate well. We I don't see the point of comparing Astrology with Science. mannerisms to make it look different from the ones we have brothers is called 'Shiv'. You must be a family of Shi- really were listening to each other. I think it is rare to react We must keep our minds open to explore the wealth of our seen before. va devotees. without knowing each other so the chemistry seemed to be How was the working experience with Sushant Yes, we are Shiva devotees and also Vaishnavs.