Bhavana gets candid about relationships

The

Kannada

remake of the Tamil hit 96, 99 is a film that’s packed with emotions. It is about a love story that begins in school and shows the couple reuniting years later. Bhavana, who stars alongside Ganesh in the film, agreed to do a remake for only the second time in her career because of the divine and pure relationship that 99 shows, and for the team, which also comprises director Preetham Gubbi and producer Ramu. So, we spoke to Bhavana to find out what her take on relationships are, if it is possible to be friends with a former lover and the role age plays in evolving
relationships.

The film is about a love story that begins in school. Did you have any such experience?
I studied in a girls-only convent, with strict teachers, so I didn’t have the opportunity to find love in school. I started acting when I was 15 years old and didn’t have a college life either, where I could have possibly fallen in love.

Do you think that it is possible to remain friends with a former lover?
Yes, why not? When love is pure and unconditional, it is possible. I have had my share of relationships, and have experienced love and failure. And these are all good memories that I cherish. Exes can be friends. We are all practical people who know that what’s happened, is done. When you bump into your ex, it doesn’t have to be awkward, because there is still a camaraderie between people. I treat it as a beautiful

memory

or an episode in life. Yes, you may feel a tinge of sweet pain when you meet the person, but there doesn’t have to be anything negative. For me, love is precious. I believe that if you love a person, then that love will be there. That’s why it is called unconditional.

Have you personally had an experience of bumping into an ex?
There was no bumping into each other, but after many years apart, we did talk it out. That part of love was really beautiful, because it was purely platonic. There was no finger pointing, and we spoke as regular human beings. I have been lucky, because I have never had a bitter experience of love.

Does age have anything to do with this?
Yes, I think so. The way I looked at love in my 20s is different than in 30s. Not only love, but the whole perspective of life and relationship changes as you age. We all face issues in our relationships, and when they come to an end, we have to accept it and move on. Then, you meet some other person, get married, perhaps, and build a life with them. Even failed relationships are beautiful experiences. What’s the point of going through life without having had such experiences?

Was there a sense of nostalgia while shooting for the film?
Like I said, I never had any romantic school or college relationships, so, I felt no nostalgia as such. But there is a scene in the film in which there are old school uniforms and books. At that moment, I thought about how finding my old books, hairband or uniform will bring back a flood of memories. I remember finding an autograph book from Class 10 a long time ago. I started laughing after reading that. I am still in touch with some friends from school, so I took a
picture of the book and sent it to them.

So, are you big on school reunions?
There haven’t been any reunions, but I do remember going back to my school 5-6 years after I passed out, as a chief guest. That was an amazing experience — going back to school and addressing the pupils and teachers there as a former student. I am in touch with a few friends from school, many of who live abroad. So, we don’t have a reunion, but I do meet them individually. I know them since Class 6, so whenever we get together, we are all the same girls that we were back in school.