Bhumi Pednekar talks about her movie choices, life as a star and her love for men

I love men. But I believe in equal rights and opportunities for both the genders.

Bhumi Pednekar personifies the new age heroine. Unconventional. Unapologetic. Unencumbered. An actor, who celebrates the perfection in the imperfections. Right from her debut Dum Laga Ke Haisha, she has dodged the typical and embraced the taboo, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan reaffirming that she was not about chance but choice. No wonder her small- town characters have established a pan- India connect. Last year, her eclectic choices – Sonchiriya, Saand Ki Aankh and Bala garnered rave reviews, while Pati Patni Aur Woh explored her massy mojo. The year 2020 holds a lot more. Alankrita Shrivastava’s Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare, a satire, pairs her with Konkona Sen Sharma. While Akshay Kumar ’s Durgavati, directed by G. Ashok, has her venture into the world of horror. Even her cameos in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and Bhoot: The Haunted Ship promise to be engaging. “My mood for the next decade # HappyGirl…,” wrote Bhumi on Instagram welcoming the life ahead. Prophetic that…

Last year was a bumper one for you…

I’m truly overwhelmed. All my films, Sonchiriya, Saand Ki Aankh, Bala and Pati Patni Aur Woh made an impact and gave me something in return. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t got the chance to sit back and let it all sink in. I thank the audiences for giving me so much love. Finally, I’ve cemented my position. People now have faith in me. With every film, I’ve grown humbler and less selfish. I value what life’s given me.

Hindi cinema is offering great opportunities for female actors. Agree?

Yes of course. I’ve always been part of movies where the female lead contributed substantially to the film. Great content is being written for actors. Cinema is breaking every stereotype. Or else I wouldn’t have been able to come this far. My colleagues Alia Bhatt, Taapsee Pannu… are doing gender empowering films, where women are celebrated. I’m lucky to be around in such times.

How do you reinvent yourself with each character?

I’m a Bombay girl. I’ve had a sheltered upbringing. Playing small- town characters is surely difficult for me. It requires work. I’m proud that I can transform myself into these people. While my characters belong to a certain socio- economic background, they’re all different. Also, I look for characters, not projects. For instance, I played a 70- year- old in Saand Ki Aankh. In Sonchiriya, I played a 28- year- old with a 15- yearold child. I played a dark- complexioned girl in Bala. In Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare, I’m playing a 20- year- old. You see a different shade of me in every film. That’s been a conscious choice. I don’t want to be repetitive. Filmmakers have understood that I don’t mind experimenting. Dum Laga Ke Haisha was the biggest experiment I’ve done so far. People can relate to the characters Ayushmann ( Khurrana) and I play. That’s why these films work.

Did you enjoy your sexy avatar in Pati Patni Aur Woh ( PPAW)?

I want to maintain a balance. That’s why I did PPAW. It came as a breather after the intense Sonchiriya. I came closer to the quintessential heroine. Today the definition of a Hindi film heroine has changed. You don’t have to wear a skimpy saree amidst the mountains of Switzerland. A heroine is someone people can look up to and be inspired. Having said that, I’ve grown up watching these beautiful women, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Priyanka Chopra... I want to do their kind of cinema. That’s why I did Ankhiyon se goli maare in PPAW. Mujhe dance karne ka chaska lag gaya hai.

Has success increased the pressure to score each time?

The pressure is exactly what it was since day one. I’m living my dream. I love my job. I enjoy it. I don’t ever want to be jobless. That’s why I work so hard. Whether a film works or not is not in my hands.

I just want to be better than my last film. I don’t look at the length of my role.

I consider the character and how much opportunity I have to shine playing it. I want the audience to remember the name of every character I play.

WHAt DO yOu OwE yOur CONfiDENCE tO?

It has a lot to do with my upbringing. My parents instilled a confidence in me. Whatever shape or size I may be, in my mind I’m the best. I’m not being overconfident but I believe every girl should feel like that. You need to value yourself, be yourself and respect yourself.

Are you a feminist?

Of course. Every girl should consider herself a feminist. Being a feminist, it doesn’t mean I dislike or hate men. Both the sexes need to co- exist. I love men. But I believe in equal rights and opportunities for both the genders.

What does success actually mean to you?

Success means getting better opportunities – be it in your career or choices. Otherwise, I’m still the same person. Success has not changed my core.

I still fight with my sister. I still do the things I did earlier. I enjoy roadside pani puri and vada pav. I travel by autorickshaw. I visit my college to meet the faculties. But I hope I’ve grown as a human being. That I’ve become more mature, empathetic, compassionate. I hope I’ve become a better version of myself.

Success comes with responsibility. Right?

Absolutely. I’ve achieved name, fame and success. But with this comes a responsibility. You’ve got to give back to society. That’s why I chose to associate with the pan India campaign Climate Warrior ( raises awareness on environment conservation and global warming). If the Universe has given me so much, I must give back. True success is only when you can impact lives.

What’s the best part of being an actress?

The love you get from people. I want my fans to love me more and more. No matter what I receive, it seems less. Then I feel, ‘ Oh my God! I should work harder for them.’ What’s the scary part?

The greatest fear is that one day I could just turn mediocre. The biggest challenge is to keep improving. I’m insecure as an actor. Every time I watch a film, I am like ‘ Bhumi, you could have done better ’. Being self- critical is essential for self- improvement.

How is the real Bhumi?

Mostly, I’ve played humble characters. Off screen

I believe in pleasures. I like dressing up. I like investing time in self- love. That’s why I’m a confident person. But the reason I’ve stayed balanced is due to the people around me. Be it my manager, my hair and make- up team, everyone has the permission to give me a reality check. We share that kind of relationship. The day

I have only yes men around me, the day I believe I’m superior and everyone else is a fool, it will be the end of this beautiful journey. It’s just not my journey, it’s also that of my family. Everyone has invested so much in me. I don’t want to disappoint them. There are bad days and there are good days. You should learn from the bad days and not get overconfident with the good ones.

Lastly, what would be an ideal relationship for you?

In my fantasy world, an ideal relationship would be, where there’s a lot of love and respect. Where there’s friendship, a feeling of completeness. When I’m with my partner, I shouldn’t feel the need for anyone else. But it doesn’t always happen like that.