Everyone’s struggle is different, says Bhumi
She’s three films old in Bollywood, all of which have had a dream run at the box office. One can argue that actor Bhumi Pednekar had fewer struggles as compared to newcomers without any film background or connection. Her take? “Everyone’s struggle is different”.
Bhumi elaborates, “Mine was where I had to stay home for a year-and-half... to shed the weight was really tough (after her first film Dum Laga Ke Haisha; DLKH; 2015). Gaining the weight was also tough because it kept me away from doing something
that I love so much (acting).”
The actor could achieve all of this only because she comes from a supportive home, she feels. “My family is my biggest fan club. They are proud of the work I do. The person I’ve grown up to be is because of them. I feel lucky to have been born in this family,” she says.
DLKH, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan were all unconventional films dealing with social issues. Bhumi shares that the idea behind doing these films was not just their potential commercial success. “It was purely my greed to be part of a good story, and to promote different cinema. Having said that, the fringe benefits and perks of being an actor are great and I love them.”
Does she feel any pressure to live up to expectations, or is she picking future projects carefully? “My on-screen life has just started. Everything is an option for me. But I have been lucky to attract certain [a] kind of cinema. I hope I keep getting good films.
I don’t believe that I have to keep doing films to survive. I hope whatever I do is remembered even after years and I hope that they turn into iconic films,” she says.
The actor recently made her debut in the web space with a part in an anthology. Is she open to more offers on the digital platform? “Web is great. I am an audience and watch content on the medium. But in India, there is still a gap between films and web. [So, web] is something I am looking at doing extensively in the future. Right now, my focus is only films.”
I hope I keep getting good films... I don’t believe that I have to keep doing films to survive.
BHUMI PEDNEKAR ACTOR