Celina Jaitly is preparing to return to the big screen in a full-fledged role after 15 years. The actor will headline an upcoming biopic on Sister Nivedita, directed by Ram Kamal Mukherjee.
The film will feature Celina as Sister Nivedita, the Irish-born disciple of Swami Vivekananda who later made India her home and devoted her life to education, women’s empowerment and social service. The makers have not yet announced the release date of the film.
Celina calls the role a personal journey
Celina has described the project as a deeply meaningful experience. Speaking about working with Ram Kamal Mukherjee, she said that the process has been different from her earlier acting assignments.
"Working with a visionary filmmaker like Ram is unlike any other acting experience for me. With directors of his calibre, you don’t merely perform a character, you surrender yourself to becoming the soul of that era," she said.
For Celina, the part is tied to something more personal than a screen comeback. She said, "Portraying Sister Nivedita feels less like a role and more like answering a calling."
Who was Sister Nivedita?
Sister Nivedita was born Margaret Noble in Ireland in 1867. She met Swami Vivekananda in London in 1895 and later travelled to India. In 1898, she was initiated as his disciple and received the name Nivedita.
Her life in India was closely linked with education, social work and public service. Celina said she is moved by the fact that Sister Nivedita was not born in India but chose the country with complete commitment.
"What moves me most about Sister Nivedita is that she was not born in India, yet she chose India in every fiber of her being. She dedicated herself completely to a civilisation, its people, its spiritual philosophy, and above all, its mission. She merely didn’t admire India, she lived for India," Celina said.
A childhood connection with Roy Villa
Celina also spoke about an old connection with Sister Nivedita’s story. She recalled that her father was posted in Binaguri in West Bengal, and her family would travel to Darjeeling with military convoys. During those journeys, they often stopped at Roy Villa, the place where Sister Nivedita spent her final days.
"My father was posted in Binaguri in West Bengal. My parents and I would often travel to Darjeeling with military convoys, and one of the places where we often stopped was Roy Villa, where Sister Nivedita spent her last days," she recalled.
She said her parents would walk around the grounds, and even the convoys would pause there because of the view and the atmosphere of the place. Looking back, Celina said she now feels that the place had always affected her in some way.
The actor credited her mother with first introducing her to Sister Nivedita’s life. She said she could not have known as a child that she would one day be chosen to portray the same historical figure on screen.
Returning to India and reconnecting with roots
Celina, who spent many years in Europe, also linked the film to her own personal phase of returning to India and reconnecting with her roots. She spoke about rediscovering herself as an actor and as a person, and referred to her connection with Sanatan Dharma.
She said, "Life has a remarkable way of connecting dots which only make sense later. After spending 15 years in Europe, coming to India, back to my roots, Sanatan Dharma, rediscovering myself not just as an actor but also as a human being… there is a beautiful saying that resonates deeply with me: Maa Kali doesn’t break you to punish you, she breaks you so she can make you whole again."
Celina also highlighted Sister Nivedita’s work for women’s education and her involvement in public causes. She said Sister Nivedita’s courage is inspiring to her, especially during the personal difficulties she has been navigating recently.
"She championed women’s education, worked tirelessly during epidemics, championed scientific thought, and believed empowering women was essential to building a powerful nation," Celina said.
Further details about the film, including its release schedule, are awaited from the makers.
Source: Bollywood Hungama.