‘I thought I should be back before I become a recluse’
Nafisa Ali announced recently on Instagram that she’s finally getting back to acting, now that her cancer is in remission. And, we can sense the excitement in her voice as she tells us: “I start shoot from August 1 in Mumbai. I’m nervous and very excited; I love our world of cinema.”
Ask what made her decide this was the right time to resume work, and she says, “Months ago, the doctors had certified I was in remission. I just wanted to say I’m well now and would love to work in cinemas again. A lot of offers came, but I didn’t have the courage to go to Mumbai in these Covid times. But now, I’m feeling stronger and well.”
Stating that the director of her project was very passionate about signing her, Ali, whose last Hindi film was Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 (2018), says she built up the courage to step out of her comfort zone of being all by herself in Goa. “A film, for me, is also about a message. That’s why I’ve accepted two films,” she says, adding that shooting of her second project will begin this December.
When it comes to acting, the 64-year-old quips she has been doing it for 40 years, adding, “Amitabh Bachchan and I are in competition!”
Does she think the industry has now started writing meaty roles for senior actors? Ali says, “India is young. It wants to see younger stories. They are not interested in oldies. I understand, who wants to delve into old age when you can delve into the young and romance? But, I think it’s important for our cultural roots to enjoy cinema which has a bit of the old, too.”