I was thrown out of films, called a liar: Raveena

Actor Raveena Tandon (right) was one of hottest leading ladies of Hindi cinema in the Nineties and Eighties. Once she moved to character roles, she did substantial work there, too. But it wasn’t roses all the way. Known for her outspoken nature, Tandon says that her honesty frequently landed her in trouble in the film industry. “I think, it’s challenging to survive in the entertainment industry if you are honest. I faced a lot of trouble — I have been thrown out of films, called a liar, treated badly.” However, “I stuck to being honest and treated people with respect... something learnt from my upbringing,” the actor adds. Tandon will be seen next in a film that deals with physical violence against women and emphasises on sensible parenting. Asked whether problems arise because working parents don’t spend time with their children, Raveena disagrees, saying, “Statistics say that children who bully any weaker living creatures, like stoning a bird, at a very young age, end up as criminals because they start taking pleasure in the pain of a weaker person or animal. It’s the parents’ responsibility to instil compassion in their children. You could be a homemaker or a working parent, but if you don’t have a sharp observation of your child’s behaviour, you can’t do that. I see no reason to blame working mothers.”

RAVEENA TANDON APPEARS NEXT IN A FILM ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. SHE SAYS THAT IT’S THE PARENTS’ JOB TO INSTIL COMPASSION IN CHILDREN