Kalki Koechlin has shared how stressful it was for her while working on Dev D (2009), directed by Anurag Kashyap. The film, a modern adaptation of the classic Bengali novel Devdas, eventually became a cult hit. At the time, Kalki, who played the role of Chanda (Leni), was still learning Hindi and struggled with the language. In a recent interview, she recalled how she was stressed about her lines and had to hire a tutor to help her learn them. “I didn’t understand some of the dialogues, but I could repeat them easily. It felt like preparing for a big exam,” she explained.
The film, which turned 15 years old on February 6, was Anurag Kashyap’s first major success. The performances by the cast, including Abhay Deol and Mahie Gill, received critical praise. The soundtrack of Dev D, especially the song Emosanal Attyachaar, is still remembered as one of Amit Trivedi’s best works. Kalki herself loves the song and says she still listens to it from time to time. She remembers how Emosanal Attyachaar was playing when she auditioned for the role, and she knew right away she wanted to be part of the film.
Kalki also recalls meeting Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the first time while filming the Emosanal Attyachaar music video. She described him as a quiet, shy guy who was practicing his lines alone before going on set. But once he performed in an Elvis-inspired costume, his charisma lit up the room, and everyone knew he was going to be a star.
Looking back, Kalki says filming Dev D was a fun experience. She talks about the camaraderie among the crew, with everyone hanging out together after shooting. She also praised Anurag for creating a community-like atmosphere on set, where there was no hierarchy, and everyone felt equal.
Kalki’s career has slowed down after becoming a mother to her daughter Sappho, but she’s not planning to end it. She shared a story about a fan who asked why she wasn’t working anymore, to which she explained that while her pace is slower, she is still active. She pointed out that Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was re-released, her Tamil film Nesippaya is still showing, and Goldfish just came out on Amazon Prime.
As for her past co-stars, Kalki keeps in touch with a few of them. She and Hrithik Roshan have a tradition of wishing each other on their birthdays in January, and she often meets Abhay Deol in Goa. She’s also in contact with filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, with whom she has worked multiple times.
