I had never done a song like Beedi with so many people around me. When I first heard it, I didn't understand anything. But I really liked the rhythm and wanted to see if I could pull it off. Ganesh Acharaya choreographed the song. I have worked with him a lot, so I was comfortable.
Vishal didn't want choreographed movement though; he wanted realistic moves. Before shooting, he played the song and asked every character to dance. I still can't get over those steps. Then, he asked Ganesh to step in and told him we wanted something very real -- a catchy step that was very raw.
At first, I was scared of all the men around me, but Saif and Vivek were very kind and sweet. They told me everyone present was an actor, so I began interacting with them. It's a song with great energy.
Rocky and I worked on Billo's look. She is a village girl but influenced by Hindi films, so she is a bit stylish. She speaks a little English and wears flashy jeans. She is a loud woman. She performs in front of 200 men, so she needs to be a strong character. Nobody can mess with her.
It was a difficult character to play, but Vishal made everything very clear. When he first came to me, he said he had written the character with me in mind. I travel with a Billo Chaman Bahar's Orchestra, like they do in small towns. I have one person with a tabla, another with a harmonium. There are no huge settings. I have never met a character like Billo.
Also Read: The Making Of Omkara
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