‘I always want to be central character in my films'
5 Jan 2014 10:14 PM GMT
What is your role in Joe B Carvalho?
I am playing a cop in the film who has been given an assignment to track this international assassin called Carlos. She plays this undercover while portraying different avatars in the film, like sometimes you see her in a cabaret outfit, sometimes decked up as apasara, sometimes donning a bikini. So she gets to wear all sorts of colorful interesting costumes but essentialy she is a cop.
How challenging was it to play the role?
I think you couldn't prepare for this role since it's a comedy and you are making fun of yourself and the situation. I did my job very seriously, as I get to beat up 10 gundas in my introduction scene, which was great fun. It's not some complicated action where I have to do any training but it was more about letting yourself go, have fun, loose your inhibitions and allow yourself to be a little silly on screen and the objective is to make people laugh, that too in a clean and pure way. There is no double meaning, its a family humour flick, personally which I like and enjoy. Plus it helped to break the image people have of me which is demure, intellectual and shy. It was nice to break free from that.
You are from an academically sound background and your mother had reservations about you entering Bollywood. How did you manage?
I was always active in theatre and I enjoyed that. Though I thought the Hindi film industry was not for me because we did not watch a lot of films when we were young. But when I came to Mumbai and started working with Citibank, that's when people offered me a lot of films because of the family I belong to. One role which I accepted was offered to me by Amol Palekar but unfortunately that film did not happen. But by that time I had quit my job, then I was unemployed without any income. Thus I quickly signed another film which was Dil Maange More, which was not a great film but I had fun. It has been 9 years in the industry and I have not looked back since then.
Did you ever think about establishing yourself in Bengali cinema?
Not establishing myself but I would like to be a part of it since they make really good films there. Really good scripts, really good roles for women and aesthetic directors. Like I worked with Rituparno Ghosh in Antarmahal. So, it's important to work with good directors who will teach you about the art of acting. The ones who have taught me acting are Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sudhir Mishra, Kunal Deshmukh. These are the directors I can work with my eyes closed.
Do you feel that Bollywood has treated you differently being Saif's sister and Sharmila Tagore's daughter?
I got a lot of respect which continues till today. Everyone is very nice to me and I haven't experienced any exploitation or casting couch kind of situation. Surely am very well protected because of my family.
How has the journey been all these years in the industry?
It's been great. 2013 has been good to me since I had three releases. Since we all want more so I would not say that am content with the level of success I have achieved. Apart from that, I am very happy in my personal life, with my family, holidays I have had and the amount of money I made. Meera Nair, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Anurag Kashyap, Anurag Basu, Imtiaz Ali and Vikram Aditya Motwani are on my wish list to work.
Which of your contemporaries do you admire?
It's Deepika Padukone, as 2013 just belonged to her and she has owned it in terms of commercial success, performance and consistency. I have a lot of respect for her since I know how much work, time and effort it consumes. Amongst the males, I like Amit Sadh and Ranbir Kapoor.
Does Saif or Kunal interefere in your career decisions?
No. Its not interference but they give advice, which I am very open to taking. But I have always taken my own decisions. There have been instances where Kunal and me have disagreed. But we always give each other space related to our careers. And we support each other throughout.
You have not been a part of any multi-starrer apart from Rang De Basanti. Why?
I am open to doing an ensemble cast film as well. It's just that I enjoy being an integral part of a film. I want to be the central character. I would rather do a smaller film than be a small part of a big film where you end up sitting in your van waiting for your shot.
What's the criteria before signing any film director, banner or the script?
I think you click with all of them because all of them are important. Though director is the most crucial factor because he can work wonders with an average script. But banners can also not be ignored as they help in promoting the film well.
Marriage with Kunal is still waiting on the cards...
We made a big commitment to each other in 2013 as we moved in together, which for me is equivalent to marriage. I feel like we are married. We live together and work on the vows we took for each other. So for me, marriage is irrelevant right now.
How is the bond you share with Kareena Kapoor?
We have become closer since the past year and we are spending more time together. I think she is a wonderful person who has clear priorities in life and manages to look after my bother and her work well. I feel Saif took a right decision in marrying Kareena.
I am playing a cop in the film who has been given an assignment to track this international assassin called Carlos. She plays this undercover while portraying different avatars in the film, like sometimes you see her in a cabaret outfit, sometimes decked up as apasara, sometimes donning a bikini. So she gets to wear all sorts of colorful interesting costumes but essentialy she is a cop.
How challenging was it to play the role?
I think you couldn't prepare for this role since it's a comedy and you are making fun of yourself and the situation. I did my job very seriously, as I get to beat up 10 gundas in my introduction scene, which was great fun. It's not some complicated action where I have to do any training but it was more about letting yourself go, have fun, loose your inhibitions and allow yourself to be a little silly on screen and the objective is to make people laugh, that too in a clean and pure way. There is no double meaning, its a family humour flick, personally which I like and enjoy. Plus it helped to break the image people have of me which is demure, intellectual and shy. It was nice to break free from that.
You are from an academically sound background and your mother had reservations about you entering Bollywood. How did you manage?
I was always active in theatre and I enjoyed that. Though I thought the Hindi film industry was not for me because we did not watch a lot of films when we were young. But when I came to Mumbai and started working with Citibank, that's when people offered me a lot of films because of the family I belong to. One role which I accepted was offered to me by Amol Palekar but unfortunately that film did not happen. But by that time I had quit my job, then I was unemployed without any income. Thus I quickly signed another film which was Dil Maange More, which was not a great film but I had fun. It has been 9 years in the industry and I have not looked back since then.
Did you ever think about establishing yourself in Bengali cinema?
Not establishing myself but I would like to be a part of it since they make really good films there. Really good scripts, really good roles for women and aesthetic directors. Like I worked with Rituparno Ghosh in Antarmahal. So, it's important to work with good directors who will teach you about the art of acting. The ones who have taught me acting are Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sudhir Mishra, Kunal Deshmukh. These are the directors I can work with my eyes closed.
Do you feel that Bollywood has treated you differently being Saif's sister and Sharmila Tagore's daughter?
I got a lot of respect which continues till today. Everyone is very nice to me and I haven't experienced any exploitation or casting couch kind of situation. Surely am very well protected because of my family.
How has the journey been all these years in the industry?
It's been great. 2013 has been good to me since I had three releases. Since we all want more so I would not say that am content with the level of success I have achieved. Apart from that, I am very happy in my personal life, with my family, holidays I have had and the amount of money I made. Meera Nair, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Anurag Kashyap, Anurag Basu, Imtiaz Ali and Vikram Aditya Motwani are on my wish list to work.
Which of your contemporaries do you admire?
It's Deepika Padukone, as 2013 just belonged to her and she has owned it in terms of commercial success, performance and consistency. I have a lot of respect for her since I know how much work, time and effort it consumes. Amongst the males, I like Amit Sadh and Ranbir Kapoor.
Does Saif or Kunal interefere in your career decisions?
No. Its not interference but they give advice, which I am very open to taking. But I have always taken my own decisions. There have been instances where Kunal and me have disagreed. But we always give each other space related to our careers. And we support each other throughout.
You have not been a part of any multi-starrer apart from Rang De Basanti. Why?
I am open to doing an ensemble cast film as well. It's just that I enjoy being an integral part of a film. I want to be the central character. I would rather do a smaller film than be a small part of a big film where you end up sitting in your van waiting for your shot.
What's the criteria before signing any film director, banner or the script?
I think you click with all of them because all of them are important. Though director is the most crucial factor because he can work wonders with an average script. But banners can also not be ignored as they help in promoting the film well.
Marriage with Kunal is still waiting on the cards...
We made a big commitment to each other in 2013 as we moved in together, which for me is equivalent to marriage. I feel like we are married. We live together and work on the vows we took for each other. So for me, marriage is irrelevant right now.
How is the bond you share with Kareena Kapoor?
We have become closer since the past year and we are spending more time together. I think she is a wonderful person who has clear priorities in life and manages to look after my bother and her work well. I feel Saif took a right decision in marrying Kareena.
Next Story
