Yin, yang and them

 

 

MORE THAN A MUSE

You started your career at the very young age of 17, leaving school. What prompted you to take that step? At which point did you realise that cinema was your true calling?

I don’t think that cinema is my true calling in life, but as far as my age is concerned, I did it then only because I wasn’t interested in what was being taught and I didn’t agree with it, not that I had found my niche in life or something.

You represent the third generation who took up acting as a profession? How much of your skills were hereditary?

I would hope so…I have to give some credit to my grandma. She is always like, “you have to give me some credit at least”, so I told her I’d say it’s genetic whenever I have to say it (giggles)!

How much did the early criticism deter you from your path? Did self doubt ever creep in?

Never… I had never doubted what I did, for the simple fact that we, my sister and I, have not been raised like that. My mom’s always told us that, ‘take your time and think very hard before you make a decision, but once you’ve made it, then take credit for it and accept the responsibility that goes with it’. So self doubt, not really… not at all!

What would Kajol have been, if not an actor? And what would she be after the glamour years have gone by?

I hope a good person, after the glamour years have gone by, a more complete human being than I am today. I never planned anything. I don’t think you can sit and plan your whole life. Things happen, and you should try and take full advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. I don’t think about ‘what-ifs’ and ‘what-could-be’, I really don’t!

You come from a family of women who were bold enough to go beyond the contemporary. How much did that affect your mental make up?

I think it’s brought me up to be the person I am today; it’s brought me up to make the decisions that I have to make, and I think it’s basic part of my nature. When you live with this credo, it shapes you and gives you a very solid base to work from. Did you find it very difficult to be your own self in an industry where apparently ‘image is everything’?

In fact I found it ridiculously easy. For the simple fact that I really believe that in whichever area you are in, if you are comfortable with the person that you are, everyone around you would be more comfortable with you. But if you are uncomfortable with yourself and feel ‘I shouldn’t wear short skirts’ or are not comfortable with your body or any aspect of your personality, people around you will notice it and try to take advantage of it.

You and Ajay seem perfect together. How do you guys maintain that?

To maintain a relationship, a daily effort goes into it. You can’t wake up one day and feel I should do something towards my relationship; it’s an everyday thing. You compromise a little and ask for a little bit and I feel that’s the whole point of being in a relationship.

Ajay and you share great compatibility professionally too, but how difficult was Ajay, the director, to work with?

He wasn’t difficult at all. He was such an easygoing director and at the same time, a taskmaster. Because he has seen me at work as well as on screen, he knows what I am capable of. That gives him a little bit of an edge as a first time director. He really went for what he believed in and I have to say that he was superb!

Tell us about some crazy times on the sets of U, Me and Hum? What are your expectations from the film?

It was really crazy… the whole movie (shoot) went by so quickly that before we knew it, we were in post production. We shot the entire movie in 81 days without compromising anywhere. And it’s not that we were working like crazy or something, Ajay was always conscious of the time. He always looked forward to going back to his baby (Nysa) who was waiting for him.

If you were to change anything about Ajay, what would it be?

I can crib about a lot of things but I won’t change anything. Ask any couple, and if they really love each other, they would agree with me.

As an independent 21st century woman, what’s your message for ‘man’ kind?

My message for mankind is: Do not underestimate a woman. And for womankind, my advice is: There are two halves to your souls, the yin and the yang, balance them. I think every 21st century woman is struggling to balance the two. No one can tell you how to do it, but you just have to find a way to do it!

Is Nysa a daddy’s girl or mommy’s girl. Who is she taking after?

She is a mama-papa girl… on a serious note, she is completely a daddy’s girl and he pampers her quite a bit. On the other hand I’m the ‘baby, do this and do that’ kind of a mom. We have fun playing good cop–bad cop! DIRECTOR’S CUT

What were your first memories in Indian cinema?

I’ve always been a part of cinema because of my father. I’ve been going with him to the movie sets since I was seven or eight. I’ve picked up a lot of things from there, as my father was responsible for introducing a lot of new techniques in the country. That’s how I started and got interested in the other side of the camera. I started editing for him, and by the time I was 12-13, I used to make my own video films, in which, apart from acting, I used to do everything else. That’s how Shekhar Kapur saw me and asked me to assist him.

So how did acting happen…

I remember visiting the sets when Amitji and Dharamji were shooting, and what fascinated me was not how they did it but how it was executed and how it all came together on-screen. My father wanted me to become an actor and I didn’t mind giving it a try. It suddenly happened one day that his director friend came up to him and said that, “I want your son for my film”. I was in my teens, enjoying life, assisting, going to college and within 20 days, they pushed me into the project and I was doing Phool aur Kaante. I did it with the intention that ‘I am going to give it my best but if it doesn’t work, I am not going to move around with my folio and ask for work’!

You’ve transitioned from being an action hero to doing serious roles to now doing comedy. How did the need for change come about?

I really didn’t plan it; I take it as it comes. I was lucky enough to get the right kind of scripts with the right kind of directors. Things changed gradually and I consider myself very fortunate that today I have an option to do different kinds of characters and I am not restricted to just one type of genre, and it is this which gives me a lot of satisfaction.

With two National Awards to your name, you are one of the most celebrated actors today. Were they something you aimed for?

The first time I got a National Award, I was somewhere abroad, sleeping, and I got a call from Kajol at two a.m. telling me that I had won a National Award. And I said, “what is that?” Of course I knew what it was but I was taken aback! All I do is just give my best for the character and the credit also goes to the script and the director. One does so many films; some are appreciated, and some are not. But one does put in a lot of effort in all the films. It’s eventually all about how much the director can get out of you. In this line of work, who do you admire the most and what roles would you definitely want to do?

I really don’t know which roles, it depends… but I admire a lot of people, Amitji is one, I’ve worked with him, he is one of the most amazing guys, who has been at the peak of his profession for 33 years. I guess my admiration stems from the fact that’s I’ve seen him so dedicated at this age, also he is such a fantastic actor, so full of zest who still gives his 100%, every time.

U, Me aur Hum is your directorial debut. Are you nervous?

I’m really not… I am so occupied with the post production work that it’s not hit me as yet, maybe when it gets over. I can give an answer to this one on Thursday night and Friday morning (smiles).

Tell us about some crazy times you had on the sets of the movie.

You know, I was so engrossed with the movie that I don’t remember anything. These guys used to have fun though, but come to think of it, I wasn’t even watching them. I was busy doing three things at the same time, producing, directing and acting. It required a lot of my concentration. So for the past one year, I don’t know what’s been happening around me.

Kajol and you seem poles apart, which perhaps explains the chemistry. But what is it that keeps you both in sync with each other?

I think it is the values and the morals we believe in. Maybe the execution is different but as long as the thinking is the same and you believe in the same things, it works!

How does it feel to be a father? How much is Nysa like you?

I think it’s the most amazing feeling that only a father can understand. I spend little time with her, much lesser that Kajol, so when I see her, I pamper her. She is only five but I would want to believe she is more like me.

A part of the industry for almost 17 years, tell us about the most important lessons you have learnt so far?

I’ve just learnt not to take a lot of things seriously; not to look behind and simply go ahead as everyday is a new day, and if you are honest to yourself and your work, things will work for you…