Deepa Mehta’s unforgettable Water went through multiple mutations before reaching its destination. Kareena Kapoor was Deepa’s first choice for the Varanasi widow’s part. But she chickened out arguing that, “Shabanaji would chew her up.
” The next choice was Tabu. When Deepa Mehta approached her for the part, Tabu loved it. She only had reservations about shaving her head.
Deepa made it clear that whoever played the incandescent Kalyani would have to shave her head and not wear a nude wig. ALSO READ: Tabu Stuns In Custom-Made Black Gown For Dune: Prophecy Red Carpet Premiere In NYC. Watch After much deliberation, Tabu agreed.
She intended to quietly shave her head for the role and publicly pass it off as a wig. But then the information about her intention came out in an interview that Tabu did. Fundamentalists were after her head.
Tabu decided to withdraw from the project. Ultimately the role went to Lisa Ray (of all people) and no she didn’t shave her head, just pretended she had. Looking back at the casting of Kalyani in Water, Deepa had said, “The casting underwent so much uncertainty.
At one point we were supposed to do it with Shabana and Nandita Das. Finally, it was Seema Biswas and Lisa Ray. Looking at how beautifully Lisa brought my Kalyani to life, I can’t imagine anyone else in the part, can you?” ALSO READ: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu Drop Special Posts As Andhadhun Clocks 6 Years, Fans Ask 'Can We Get Part 2?' Water, a story of the widows in Varanasi,.
