|
So what makes
you a happy person?
I don't know
but journalists like to see unhappy situations in stars'
lives. Sorry, I can't oblige.
Another year
gone by what do you feel about it?
It was an
interesting year. It started with "Naina", which
took a thumping opening. That surprised people. "Naina"
had no star except me. But because of the bomb blasts in
Delhi the same week "Jo Bole So Nihaal" and
"Naina" got affected. People were too shaken up
to come to the theatre. Then I had "Maine Gandhi Ko
Nahin Mara" where I had people from all walks of life
coming forward to praise me. I stuck my neck out to do
this film. As Shabana-ji said, it takes guts to do
something where you're constantly pushing the envelope.
When I read the script I knew it was Anupam's film, not
mine. But I was impressed by the Gandhian theme and its
relevance today. I learnt a lot from Anupam and director
Jahnu Barua.
How does the
coming year look to you?
Equally
fulfilling. There's Harry Baweja-Vikram Bhatt's thriller.
It's been titled "Speed". There's Onirban's
"Bas Ek Pal". I'm with Sanjay Suri, Juhi Chawla
and Rehaan Engineer. I like working with actors I haven't
worked with before. I'll also be doing a film with Ram
Gopal Varma with a new director Taufeeq. All I can tell
you is that it is a very intense subject and I'm
definitely doing it.
It's amazing how you haven't allowed your professional
relationship with Varma to suffer in spite of all the
unsavoury speculation?
I
really think it's really time for all of us to take a
mature view of working relationships in the film industry.
Just because two individuals work closely and well it
doesn't mean their rapport should be subject to constant
scrutiny. Likewise, actors should not allow unsavoury talk
to colour their professionalism. I've said innumerable
times if there's something worth doing together with Varma
I've no problems doing it. We've done some brilliant work
together in the past I've no intentions of lowering the
bars for our collaboration and those who keep harping on
why I'm not working with Varma, let me remind them even
when they were harping on us not working together we did
"Ek Hasina Thi". It got me many best-actress
nominations and did well enough at the box office although
it was a song-less unconventional thriller. I think it's
high time a part of the media stop rushing for news where
there's none. At least a certain breed of makers and
stars, who have a mutual respect and who do productive
work together, should be exempted from gossipy scrutiny. I
don't want to trivialise our collaboration by constantly
defending it. But our next movie will definitely be a step
forward for the two of us. He is a fine filmmaker. It
would be stupid on my part to stop working with him just
because of all the nonsense that's written. I treat all
the idle gossip as a professional hazard.
So what's the most precious gift you've received in life?
The love that
I got from my loved ones is way beyond anything I can
describe. I don't think my life would be worth living
without their love.
What about
the one love that we're all waiting to see in your life?
I am
waiting for it too. That will have to wait for the time
being. Getting married is a little far off right now.
How
about marriages first love later?
For me that seems
a little far-fetched. I never made plans for my career. I
can't make any plans for marriage. When it will happen, it
will happen. I've always lived my life with fierce
honesty. I guess that quality will be seen in my choice
for a soul mate also. Right now I'm comfortable in my
space. I never peer anxiously at what others are doing. I
think that's for losers.
|
