In a way, I’m a very typical mother, says Soni

Till date, Soni Razdan has worked in many films such as 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Mandi (1983), Saaransh (1984), Monsoon Wedding (2001) and Page 3 (2005), but of late, she hasn’t been seen on-screen often. But, it’s not like she doesn’t want to act. “I am very happy and open to play roles of all shapes and sizes. I am waiting with open arms. Please give them to me,” says Razdan, laughing, as she readies for her latest outing in Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi, which stars her daughter, Alia Bhatt.

What do you think about your daughter as an actor?

I am always amazed about how she manages to bring something different to every role. I really love her approach to work. She breathes a different kind of life and brings distinct quality into every performance and character. That constantly surprises me, as it’s a mark of an actress who has depth. That’s very important, otherwise, after doing a role in certain way, you tend to keep copying the same format. In Raazi, too, Alia has a very difficult and challenging role. She plays a girl who is put into a situation that you can’t even imagine being in. But she has lived up to the task quite remarkably.

Besides the fact that Alia stars in the film, what made you take up your part in Raazi?

I haven’t told Meghna, but honestly, even if she had offered me only one scene, I would have said yes. My role isn’t an earth shattering one and I didn’t take it up to show off my acting skills. I did this film mainly because I wanted to work with my daughter, and I felt this was a wonderful opportunity to play her mother. Also, I wanted to team up with Meghna. Of course, the script is very powerful too.

Nowadays, Alia is very busy with work. Do you miss meeting her?

That’s why I said yes to Raazi. I got to spend time with her (laughs). Yes, I miss meeting her a lot; not only because she is busy, but she has also moved out and lives on her own now. When she moved out, I was like, ‘I will do anything but stay at home or I will go mad’. So I took up a TV series, as suddenly, my daughters [her elder daughter, Shaheen, also moved with Alia] weren’t at home. Also, I am not the kind of mother who likes to stay at home as I like to work.

Do you ever advise Alia to slow down a bit?

I do, but she says she doesn’t want to. When it comes to being a mother, I think I am a very typical one in that sense. For example, I always text her to ask if she has taken her vitamin tablets. Recently, when she returned from Bulgaria (after shooting for Brahmastra), she was looking very pale and unwell, so I told her to drink carrot and beetroot juice. I don’t know how much she listened to me. But you never really stop being a mother. Also, in today’s day and age, WhatsApp has come as a boon.

PHOTO: AALOK SONI/HT Alia Bhatt with her mother, Soni Razdan