‘After Vicky Donor, I was offered same kind of roles, I said ‘no’ to all’
Dolly Ahluwalia, apart from being a National award-winning costume designer, has left an impact on the audience with her acting chops too. Vicky Donor (2012) which was Dolly’s high point in her acting career, saw the actor portray a loud Punjabi mother to Ayushmann Khurrana’s character.
And as anyone would have expected, after the film, Dolly did get many offers but the actor clarifies, “Surprisingly, a lot of opportunities came — but they all said ‘it’s a wonderful role, on the lines of Vicky Donor’. I politely said no to each one of them, otherwise I would have been everywhere.” In the past eight years, the 62-year-old who has starred in only four films since then, says she has been waiting for something “challenging”.
“My character as Dolly Arora was the past. If you want to have me in a film, take me as a challenge. Even if it’s a similar character, leave it to the actor on how he/she wants to do it. That’s why I said ‘no’ so many times. If I am a director and liked you in a comic role, I would trust that you have the potential to do other stuff. Even if I make you laugh, look at the pain that is inside me,” adds Dolly.
But what type of comedy does she find tougher — playing it subtly, or over-thetop? She quips, “There are a lot of loud actors around us. What I did in Shoojit Sircar’s film, I have myself seen Punjabi single ladies speak like that. The balance between the two kind needs to be understood by an actor. Once you know the language, you can translate the same on screen.”
If you want to have me in a film, take me as a challenge. Even if it’s a similar character, leave it to the actor on how he/she wants to do it. That’s why I said ‘no’ so many times.
DOLLY AHLUWALIA ACTOR