In an interview with Hindustan Times, the actress mentioned, with a hint of humor, that it was a group of unconventional individuals coming together, and jokingly added that they might have considered themself the quirkiest among them.
The actor, now 50 years old, acknowledges the experimental nature of ‘Kaun.’ She reflects on how the film broke away from conventional norms, particularly with its setting in one enclosed space, actors consistently in the same attire, and the use of restricted frames. She highlights how ‘Kaun?’ introduced audiences to a fresh and distinctive style of filmmaking.’Kaun?,’ directed by Ram Gopal Varma and featuring Manoj Bajpayee and Sushant Singh alongside Matondkar, came at a point when she had already gained recognition as the ‘Rangeela girl.’ Matondkar considers it a significant risk for both herself and the filmmaker to cast an actor known for glamour and a set image in such a role.
‘Kaun?’ experienced a mediocre run at the box office, and the actor offered her perspective on the matter. She expressed in interviews that expecting it to match the success of films like ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai‘ or ‘Judaai‘ was unrealistic due to differences in mindset, budget, and intent. Matondkar recalled a producer questioning her decision to take on such a role, highlighting the challenges she faced.
Although she considered ‘Kaun’ a risk at that point in her career, she noted that Manoj Bajpayee and Sushant Singh, being relatively newcomers, didn’t have as much at stake as she did.
Urmila Matondkar wishes fans ‘Happy Diwali’ in advance; netizens react, ‘Isse khubsurat hai kuch duniya main?’
In the movie, Matondkar portrayed a “nameless” woman. Her character’s unexpected transformation towards the end remains one of the most shocking and surprising moments not only in ‘Kaun’ but also among films from the 1990s.
The most challenging aspect for Matondkar was captivating the audience without any dialogue in the prelude before Bajpayee enters the film. She described the task of “creating her character out of vacuum” as “extremely scary and challenging.” Matondkar admitted that she herself had never encountered anything quite like it before.
Matondkar’s portrayal in ‘Kaun’ set a benchmark in the horror-thriller genre, yet she described the experience as a challenging period. She expressed that the production process felt like a “black hole,” with scenes being developed on the spot without a bound script. She shared how the script was crafted on set and witnessed its unfolding as they performed.
Matondkar shared that she contributed significantly to her character, including crafting the backstory and deciding on her onscreen reactions. She mentioned considering the idea of using her eyes rather than the knife before it appeared on screen, which she implemented as a last-minute change. Reflecting on a moment during filming, she recounted how her spot boy dropped everything when the camera rolled, indicating to her that she had performed the scene effectively.
