I STARTED MY CAREER ONLY AT 46: LILLETTE DUBEY

Central The actor wants to now play lucky to roles in projects; says she’s have done iconic films

From Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) and The Lunchbox (2013) to Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Monsoon Wedding (2001) — actor Lillette Dubey’s body of work is as diverse as it can get.

Yet, she continues to be active at the age of 69. Busting the belief that older women don’t find much work in films, Dubey reveals, “I started working in films at the age of 46-47. That phase was very busy. For the first 10 years, I did a lot of work. As I get older, I just want to do interesting things, with the central role. But my heart belongs to theatre. I enjoy working with different people.”

As for how she has a knack of choosing films that stand the test of time, the actor explains, “I didn’t choose them consciously. I also did My Brother... Nikhil (2005), which may not have been the most perfect film, but was a path-breaking one in its own way. It was the first mainstream film that treated an AIDS patient with respect and the right tone. Sometimes, it is important for me to do a great role, which may not be important.”

Dubey, whose next release is Blind alongside actor Sonam K Ahuja, cites the example of The Lunchbox, where she played the role of actor Nimrat Kaur’s mother. “I had nothing much to do in it. I did it only because I loved the story. I have done a lot of commercial films like Chalte Chalte (2003), too,” says the actor.

Proud of the kind of work she has done so far, Dubey adds, “My films just happened to be iconic, I don’t know how. At one point, producers would say, ‘Aap jo bhi films karti hain woh hit ho jaati hain’. I had to say, ‘Mere kaaran nahin!’ I was just lucky to pick films that rang a bell with people.”

For the first 10 years, I did a lot of work. As I get older, I just want to do interesting things, with the central role. But my heart belongs to theatre.