"Rohit Rajpal" |"Laila Khan", daughter of actor Feroz Khan | pictures
‘I’m constantly struggling with conflicts within’
Laila Khan Rajpal, wife of Rohit Rajpal, speaks to Shalini Singh
| ROHIT RAJPAL, DIRECTOR, EXOTIQUE EXPORTS BUSINESS: GARMENT MANUFACTURING, SUPPLY&RETAIL CROSS-STITCH: INVESTING RS 21 CRORE TO LAUNCH INDIA’S FIRST GLOBAL PRET BRAND BY YEAR-END AIM: RS 125 CRORE TURNOVER, 120 SALE-POINTS IN 5 YEARS |
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‘I went to temples with Mom and read the Quran with my grandmother’ |
Very secular ones. None of my parents are overtly religious, but both are secular. My mother converted to Islam when she married my father, but continued to worship Hindu gods. My father finished reading the Quran at the age of nine, though he’s not religious now. They always taught us to respect all religions. We took the best of both. I went to temples with my mother and studied Arabic and read the Quran with my grandmother. We had a maulvi who came home to teach us.
A little about your background…
I grew up in Bombay, did my schooling there and went to university at Sophia College, where I studied English Literature. Later I went to London to the Slade School of Fine Arts; it was a six-month course. It was a renowned school, full of international students.
Always wanted to be an artist?
I loved painting at a very early age, since school. My mother saw that in me, she knew I was going to be an artist. Before I could even think about it, she knew it! What started as a hobby, a passion, became a profession. I think I’m very lucky to have that. A lot of people make a lot of money but don’t enjoy what they do.
How is a painter different from an artist? What would you call yourself?
You have to be artistic to be a painter. An artist is someone who’s very creative. You can’t have one without the other. Artist is more the ideal that one is aspiring to be – I hope to be one someday! I think I’m very artistic, I don’t just paint, I love interiors, building homes. Even a musician would be an artist.
What was the first lesson a professor ever taught you about art?
How to draw straight lines without a ruler! (Laughs) I went through pages and pages doing that – you have to free your hand, so to speak. It teaches you to not use a ruler, have more control, and not just straight lines. He told me to constantly draw – that freed me. I didn’t want to go to five-year art school. It meant taking away. I had the sense of what I didn’t want to do since very early. I don’t think art school can teach you emotion, how to have an eye. You either have that eye or you don’t. If I had gone to art school it might have ended up taking away rather than giving me something. There are no rules in my book. I didn’t want to follow any regimented styles.
Studying art in London, were you exposed to the British underground music or any other music for that matter? Did music influence your art in any way? What about influences of other art forms?
Music is a big presence in my life. I paint to music, love all kinds. I mostly cannot work without it. I wasn’t listening to much music in London. I love the piano, it could be just the way a note is played that can be inspiring – it can also be deafening --music fills me up.
You greatly admire Anjolie Ela Menon. How would you interpret her on canvas?
Anjolie is a spirited woman. I would paint her as a very passionate person, and would use very strong colours for her.
Your husband having been a national level tennis player, do you both ever play a game?
We used to once in a while, not anymore. He still gets a game in sometimes. I don’t play at all anymore.
How did you both meet and what struck you about him when you first got to know him?
We met through our mothers, who are good friends, and our families knew each other. I liked his single-mindedness. Rohit’s a very focussed person and very disciplined. I liked that about him.
He being a Punjabi, did your wedding follow both sets of rites?
We had a civil marriage.
Joint family versus nuclear?
Nuclear.
How would you interpret your favourite space on canvas?
That’s a good question! I love painting in my studio, I love waking up in the morning on my balcony, and paint overlooking the lawn. I don’t think I can limit it to anything. Probably the part where you can see the lawns and nature. For me every part has a different charm. The time when I’m alone here late at night, around 12:30-1 -- it’s still and quiet and I feel this is my space and no one can come here!
Do you and your husband ever discuss work? Do you ever advise/assist him?
Yes we do. We discuss work a lot. He comes to me for advice, but sometimes takes it sometimes and sometimes doesn’t – he’s got his own mind. But he asks me nonetheless. He looks at what I do, makes it to all my shows but is always invariably late. (Laughs) Rohit likes art, he used to sketch earlier.
If he were a colour, which one would he be?
Blue.
What were your thoughts before the guests arrived at your first solo exhibition in 2001 at the India Habitat Centre?
I was painting before my first solo exhibition for eight years. I only had the solo after eight years of painting. So in that sense, I felt I was ready to show my work and was ready to make a public statement about it. Whether it brought criticism or fame, I was ready to share my work with the world. I felt ready since I had prepared myself for it.
And the first reaction was…
A lot of people had seen my work before, they’d come for the previews and stuff. I think people reacted to the work – some favourably, some not -- because it was strong work. I was trying to say a lot, but simply. I didn’t use too much colour, just used reds, ambers.
What have been your dominant themes?
I’m painting a lot of women, a lot of female form. My work is now concentrating a lot on female portraits, on large canvasses. I’m delving into the psychological struggles people go through in life and hope to touch upon that with my work. We all go through internal struggles of self-doubt, personalities, between an artist and a woman -- I’m constantly struggling with that for myself -- conflicts within, all of which I’m bringing out in my work now.
An actor whose movie you never miss?
Aamir Khan.
What’s it like managing work, home and family?
My work takes a lot of my time. It’s nice to have all these aspects in your life, but one has to manage it well. I give my work a lot more time. I enjoy looking after my home -- I’m also a home-person.
So, what keeps things working?
One has to do one’s best. Intention should be there, that’s what keeps it going.
What colour denims does your husband look best in?
I like him in light blue.
If you had to colour your hair and the only colours available were purple and lime green…
I’d choose purple!
Favourite Feroz Khan Film?
Dharmatma.
Family picture: black and white or colour?
I love black and white.
Your own profile: left or right?
(Laughs) Haven’t given it a thought really. Mmm… left I guess!
Favourite cocktail snack?
Mini vegetarian samosas.
Morning person or night?
Night.
Glossy lipstick or matte?
Glossy.
Fashionable art or arty fashion?
Arty fashion.
Who would you like as the chief guest on your 50th solo exhibition?
The President of India.
A foreign fashion label that you swear by?
Cavalli.
Favourite brush to paint with?
The number 12 flat sabre.
An icon, living or non-living you’d like to paint nude?
Amrita Sher-gill.
You’ve had three influences --Muslim, Sindhi and Punjabi. Favourite cuisine?
Muslim.
Your take on the Pakistani girl who participated in the bikini contest recently? Do you think Pakistan is modern or conservative?
I haven’t heard about this, but I do feel Pakistan is fairly conservative though they might have a modern outlook.
How much did your first painting sell for?
8000 rupees, and it was a fairly large painting. For me it was a huge amount!
Other artists you admire?
Picasso, MF Hussain, Egon Schiele... I could go on and on!
Coming from an artistic background, cinema and art, did you ever fear becoming a business wife?
Rohit has always been sensitive to the arts and has always encouraged me, but when I married him he was more of a tennis player. I would say a bit of both – being opposites and similar in some ways brought us together – wouldn’t get into it more, it’s quite personal! (Laughs)
You mentioned your husband used to sketch; did he ever sketch you?
No. He mostly admired what I painted. (Smiles)
What the best thing you would shop for with Suzanne?
Make-up. We both love make-up.
Does Fardeen ever take career advice from you?
He does and I always give my honest opinion.
If there were a conflict between work and family, your priority would be…
Family.
What can your family be seen doing at 8.45am and 7.45pm on a given day?
8.45am: sleeping, we are not morning people! 7.45pm: I’m mostly painting at that time.
What’s the most romantic way in which you and Rohit celebrated your wedding anniversary?
Umm…too personal! (Laughs)
What’s more fun and why – film parties, art parties or business parties?
For me, art dos are the most interesting because I get to meet like-minded people who match wavelengths and that’s always enjoyable.
When you were young, were you proud or embarrassed about your dad being in films?
Always always proud. (Smiles)
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