Am I the hero?
I feel flattered when I hear people say I am the hero of the films I work in. But having said that my career has been following a unique course from the start. Today women are more comfortable in their skin; society is less judgmental. You will see more grey shades in films rather than black or white today. I'm here at the right time and making the most of it. Its just that, for the past few films I have been getting strong roles and so people have started saying that when I do a film there is no need of a male counterpart. I suffice as the hero. But I feel that every field requires a natural balance of men and women.
Accepting who you are:
As women we are constantly criticising and judging ourselves in terms of our body, how we dress, what profession we take up, how we fare in that. Indian women are gifted with certain body types and features which is healthy and we should accept that. I have been very fortunate to have played strong women and explored their strengths through my films.
Size zero doesn't matter:
For me there has been no acceptable body type. Look at actors of yesteryears like Mumtaz, Rekhaji... everyone had their individual style. One should celebrate one's own self the way you are. And when you accept yourself, everyone accepts you. And I'm saying this after going through a confused phase in life myself. I know nothing about fashion I went through a period of body image consciousness or adhering to 'a certain style' or fashion. But I am grateful to God that I went through that phase to be what I am today. I'm not fashionable and I know nothing about fashion, but I have my individual style and that style is eternal. |
My inspiration:
I would say Shabana Azmi. I always wanted to do the kind of work Shabanaji did. Jayaji (Bachchan) is another person I'm in awe of. I believe she must have also undergone a lot of pressure to look glam, but she created her own style.
Playing only female leads:
When people ask me why you are only playing strong female-centric characters, I tell them that a woman is innately strong, just that the expressions of that differ with circumstances and background. I am getting the opportunity to explore strength in different women.
Films and BO collections:
The stakes are high on every film now because there's the opening weekend. The first week is extremely crucial, increasingly films are being judged in terms of opening day, opening weekend, then first week. People are going berserk promoting their films. And I've been lucky that I've had different looks in every film, and I carry forward the look. I'm hugely inspired by Aamir Khan, I do follow his style for film promotion.
No nakhras and tantrums:
Ask her if she ever plans to learn the filmi nakhras and tantrums just like all those B'town divas out there, who thrown their weight around, and she replies with a grin: "Arre baba, nakhre ke bina bhi kaam mil raha hai na? Toh kyun seekhna voh sab? Jokes apart, I can never learn filmi nakhras because that is just not me!"
Leave begins!
Now that she is getting rave reviews for her latest release Kahaani and has won the National Award too, how is she going to pamper herself? "Oh, my parents have threatened to lock me up for a month. I want to sleep for hours! Because of promotional tours, I have not slept enough. So, food for body and soul is next on my agenda," says she. |
