She reminded me, a little sadly, of my mother. Nafisa Ali Sodhi, in last Friday’s ‘Max Min & Meowzaki’, is no longer the Miss India and national swimming champion who made a memorable screen debut in ‘Junoon’ in 1979. She was just 22 then, tall and athletic, with expressive eyes, a radiant smile, dark wavy hair tumbling to her shoulders, and that rare ability to project innocence and understated sensuality at the same time.
Today, at 69, battling Stage IV peritoneal and ovarian cancer, Nafisa delivers one of the gentlest performances of her career. She plays an elderly Anglo-Indian woman in an old-age home by the sea, living with advanced Alzheimer’s disease and a memory that slips away a little more each day. She reminded me, in so many ways, of my mother.
Critics have described Nafisa as bringing whimsical warmth and quiet tenderness to the film, often providing its lightest and most humane moments. ‘MM&M’ explores mental health, heartbreak and the emotional burdens of youth, even as Nafisa’s character confronts the inevitable realities of ageing.
She has made only 14 films in 46 years, choosing quality over quantity. She has never chased stardom, preferring instead to leave behind performances marked by grace, intelligence and authenticity. Watching her in ‘MM&M’, I felt she wasn’t acting at all. Being of Anglo-Indian and Bengali heritage, she slipped effortlessly into the character. There is a certain elegance and imperiousness that many Anglo-Indian women possess. My mother had it too, even at 92, despite Dementia.
The last time I met Nafisa was in 2000. I had been commissioned by an international food and wine magazine to profile her as one of Delhi’s most celebrated hostesses. Wife of an Army officer and polo champion, she was known for her sophisticated soirées, leisurely Sunday brunches and a style of entertaining that reflected her wonderfully multicultural heritage.
She invited me home for lunch. When I reached her elegant garden apartment in Greater Kailash-I, Nafisa wasn’t there. She had completely forgotten I was coming. What she had remembered to leave behind, however, were six fiercely loyal dogs — two Labradors, a Bulldog, two Pekingese and a Dachshund. They regarded my arrival as an invasion and enthusiastically chased me around the garden before escorting me over the gate and back onto the street.
The interview happened another day. When I recounted my earlier ordeal, Nafisa dissolved into laughter. Life, though, would test her far more severely. Following her cancer diagnosis in 2018, she made Goa her home, drawn by the healing rhythm of the sea. Her life there is refreshingly uncomplicated. Friends gather for long, unhurried meals where the catch of the day and coconut-based curries replace elaborate fine dining. Sophistication has given way to simplicity, without sacrificing warmth or generosity.
Throughout her journey, Nafisa has spoken openly about cancer, the “toxic” effects of chemotherapy, losing her hair, remission, recurrence, and beginning again. There has never been self-pity. Only remarkable candour, resilience and an unmistakable zest for life. She walks on Goa’s beaches after chemotherapy. On Wednesday, she had the tenth session. This isn’t a still from ‘MM&M’. It is something far more powerful. The subdued monsoon sky, the silver hair lifted gently by the sea breeze, the soft smile and the distant gaze. It is a portrait of courage.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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