Of Sen and her sensibilities

 

 

This beauty queen’s a real trooper! Sushmita Sen was in the hospital when TSI caught up with her for a previously scheduled interview. And true to her word, between drips and doctors, she took out time for Neha Sarin’s questions...

What would Sushmita Sen have been if not a beauty queen or actor? And what after the glamour years are past?

Well, I’m not very good with hypothetical questions… everything in my life is driven by the power of thought, and it has a lot to do with destiny taking me from one step to the next. For some it’s an obvious move but for me it’s a beautiful destined action. If I was not a beauty queen or an actor, I could have been a zillion other things but happy doing whatever I was doing because that’s essentially who I am. Sushmita Sen would always be Sushmita Sen. The only thing that I am sure of is that after the glamour years have gone by, those years would also be as fulfilling as these have been.

At the Miss India pageant in ’94, Aishwarya Rai was expected to win hands down but you walked out with the sashay and the crown. Even today she is apparently more successful commercially, while your fans are rooting for you to repeat the pip-her-to-the-post act. Your comments...

My fans who love me need to understand this about me, that even though on the face of it, it’s a competition but ultimately, you win or lose to yourself. You are either your best or you are not. I’m very happy for Aishwarya. She deserved to get all that she has in her life and much more. Who she is and what she wants from her life is very different from who I am and what I want from mine. Commercial success has a different definition for many but for me success has got to do with doing my best in life, not running after the results. My life is successful because I’ve lived it on my terms and I’ve lived it with complete conviction and most of the times I’ve lived it without fear, which is hard in itself.

You’ve reportedly been through a few tumultuous relationships. Are the heartbreaks for real?

Who doesn’t go through them? But, no relationship follows a certain graph. If that was the case then we wouldn’t ever grow… I look at them as enlightening not tumultuous. God bless all the people in it! Things haven’t gone the way you would have wanted them to, but in the long run, you would be able to say, ‘they happened for the best’. So at that point in time, the heartbreak was for real, definitely! There’s a heart and a silent breaking procedure, you get over it and fall in love again... Turmoil or not, they’re real for sure. You have a very beautiful daughter. Does a woman necessarily have to become a mother to feel complete?

Oh, I have a very beautiful child and she is my heartbeat; I live for her. But the answer to the question is ‘No’! Why just a mother, you don’t have to have anything in your life to feel complete. The whole experience of life is to discover yourself. You are born complete and being a mother just enhances that. A decade ago, I had confessed to being in love with so and so and that he completes me etc; it sounds poetic but the truth is that when we are halves, we attract halves into our lives, but when we realise we are complete, we attract completeness…

How much of an influence have parents been on Sushmita, the performer and Sushmita, the person? Is that rock on your finger proof of your bonding with them?

I’m extremely close to my parents. There is this beautiful unspoken understanding between us. The rock on my finger has nothing to do with that; I wear it on my wedding finger to say, ‘I don’t need a man for that.’ (smiles) Sushmita the performer was a natural progression, I learnt as I went along. God – He’s has been a great teacher... My family had nothing to do with cinema, so they find this whole process of evolution as an actor very fascinating. With Sushmita the person, they had everything to do. You’re exactly what your childhood made you out to be, abandoning some beliefs acquiring new ones. What stays with you is your grounding, your home. By God’s grace I have the finest two to call my own, so yes my parents have had a tremendous influence on the person that I’m.

Ashley Judd loves you. Are you somebody’s ‘fan’ too?

Ashley Judd is an incredible woman. I highly recommend everyone meets her. Very grounded, very real, has great taste, she loves me (laughs)… Yes, I’m a fan to lots of people from different walks of life, from a paanwala to my daughter’s teacher to a performing artist to a writer. I’m someone who needs to be constantly inspired to be creative. So, at different stages, I have been a fan to lots of people. If I must name someone, it’ll be Madonna. I love her spunk and realness. Even if you don’t love the woman, you can’t ignore her. I quite love the woman. You seem to be a first choice of sorts for woman-oriented roles (Samay, Filhaal, Paisa Vasool, Zindaggi Rocks, Chingaari and now Jhansi ki Rani) but do you think the Hindi film industry allows for enough of those?

Well, interestingly, I just think it’s got to do with me looking for characters which have conflicts. None of these have worked commercially, but on a personal level, I felt very satisfied as a performer. In the Hindi film industry, they don’t like taking risks because of the kind of money involved. And the fans go to watch good cinema, whether it be big or small budget, woman-oriented or otherwise. But in all fairness, the fans don’t get to know what kind of cinema it is because of the marketing involved. I think they are ready for good cinema. I don’t think they break it down to a ‘chick flick’ or woman oriented cinema.

Critics say that there is a lot of Sushmita in the characters you portray and less of the character itself. Would you agree or disagree?

See, I think the part where Sushmita comes in to play is bound to happen and which is why predominately certain actors are cast, otherwise everyone will be Aishwarya or Kajol. It’s a part of ourselves that we bring in to every character we portray and the star system in Indian film industry actually works such that people come to see you, they don’t always come to see the character. Yes, there is no denying that there is a lot of Sushmita in the characters I play. I try very hard as you can see in Chingari and Zindaggi Rocks – two very different roles. Besides, whatever my director okays, I’m cool with that.

Would you call yourself God’s favourite child? Does that make the turmoil tougher or the hardships any harder?

I have a very high self esteem to start with; obviously I’m not trying to be modest. I am God’s favourite child. My journey from where I started to where I am to where I’ll go is a miracle in itself and miracles are born out of love and who greater to be loved by than God Himself. I often tease my family and friends who visit the temple, do pujas and all I do is ask and I receive! I believe everyone should call themselves God’s favourite children. There are moments, some good, some not so good; there is no turmoil and no question of it getting tougher. No matter what the situation, whether good, bad or ugly, it is happening for the best and God wouldn’t wish anything but the best for His favourite child. There is no question of me trading this title for anything else, ever. It’s not just a title, it’s my faith, and how can you trade your faith for anything else; everything else would fall short. You are called ‘the thinking man’s fantasy’. Your reaction...

Oooooh… will that suffice (grins)?! I like being called that. If I can tickle that brain of yours in any way, the impact and the effect will transcend everything else that’s skin deep.

When popular actors turn to painting (for a cause), do you think the painting commands a price for what it is or because of the hand that painted it? Art is an expression that expresses freedom. It’s a beautiful way of liberating yourself, the very fact that anyone would transcend the fear of ‘I’m not a painter, don’t know how to do this’ to ‘why not, I can try’ and create something is fantastic. And who knows what’s great? If it evokes a feeling, which anything done with sincerity does, then that’s art. Be it famous actors or people doing it for a good cause, the very fact that they are transcending that fear of the unknown and going for it, whether it goes for the name or the work itself at a very high price and the money goes to a good cause, is beautiful! I think everyone should paint, and join this dance of freedom. Instead of speeches, people are actually creating wonderful answers to problems, and if that is what they call art, there is no better definition… What are your plans for going international and then eventually settling down if any?

Going international and all... it’s a little difficult for me to answer because the world is global today. You make a film here, you are still international, you make it there it’s still the same, reaching out to millions and billions of people constantly… just like the butterfly effect. So I’m not going anywhere and I’m enjoying it very very much. Plans for settling down would be as and when it happens. I’m not good at planning. Very early on in life, I learnt that planning only delays the process. Just be busy living life – the rest will all take care of itself.

What would your ideal man be like?

It’s a tough concept for as you change, the traits of the man change, even as your thoughts, dreams and your aspirations change and evolve. I can only speak as on today. I guess it would be an well-rounded persona, someone who just makes you feel good; he would have to be someone who is very connected with his universe, who has a great loving heart and is extremely giving. With such qualities, a man would be very content with a lot and yet striving hard for the rest. It’s a difficult thing to describe, for just like love, everyone has a different interpretation. Also, it would be nice if he is good with children as I am foremost a mother. Money is not a concern at all as I’ve got plenty (giggles)! A good sense of humour, a man of faith… I guess sums it up!

Some say you’re the near perfect prototype of an independent 21st century woman. What’s your message for ‘man’ kind?

Near perfect is good, because who wants perfection? It’s boring. And independence is something you can’t find on the outside, it’s a state inside you, born out of freedom. My message is that men are beautiful and near perfect too, though we are called the better halves... Man or woman, I’m in love with humankind. So my message is just be beautiful, bring about passion, compassion, madness, love, fragility... all of it together.

A very very long life later, what would Sushmita Sen’s epitaph read?

Oh you guys are goooood with questions… Beautiful! I guess my epitaph message will change in the years to come, but presently – ‘She lived and she lives on…’ Ahh nice!

You guys are soooo wonderful and every time I do an interview with you guys, I feel you bring out something which is so different from the boring repetitive questions I answer all the time. So thank you for this interview… God bless you and The Sunday Indian!