‘ No regrets turning down Hollywood roles’
have truly been another milestone for our cinema.
There are very differing sensibilities in Hollywood regarding on- screen kissing and exposure, and you have steered clear of such. Do Indian actresses have to comply with Western standards to be accepted in lead roles in Hollywood, and is it fair that you have to consider the conservative sensibilities of your Indian audience, with the result that some great roles in international films are off limits?
Firstly, let’s show respect to our own cinema. It is recognised internationally, so let’s not even go down the road of ‘ What have you done on the global platform?’ One in six people on this planet is an Indian. Secondly, if you have done a couple of English projects they have found their audience. When it comes to saying no, it was my comfort as an Indian girl about the kind of roles I’d assay on screen, and that’s not something I’ve done only in English cinema. Even in Indian cinema, there is so much work that I have accepted because I’m comfortable and so much I have declined because I haven’t been comfortable. I think people have to acknowledge that basic truth rather than think risqué roles only exist in English films. Risqué roles even exist in India, and I didn’t make those choices either.
Your red carpet appearances are an endless focus of media interest. What goes into preparing your wardrobe for a major event such as Cannes or Royal Ascot?
“Scheduling. It’s the truth. I think this answer will be boring, but it’s the absolute, actual, honest truth. It’s scheduling first to begin with, because it depends on how much time you have in your schedule to dedicate when you come in, and that’s a basic truth. Depending on the time that you have, you’re able to look at designer outfits, you’re able to schedule in fittings and then, depending on what fits, of course by then, you’ve chosen a couple of options that you’re comfortable with and what you like, and then whatever fits on the day yougo with. It’s as simple and basic and honest as that. I guess people would like a much more dramatic answer than that, but I’m not the person to create one.
After all the accomplishments and accolades, how has motherhood changed your outlook and your professional aspirations?
Wow. I don’t know about changing my perspective, because motherhood is such a glorious blessing and I am very thankful for that. It’s such a beautiful experience. I so strongly recommend it. It’s bliss, love and fulfillment of another level. And truly, nothing can ever pressure you or make you feel down ever from this moment on. It’s like you just felt the light from up there, that’s why you know why it’s called a blessing. Nothing makes you feel down. When I’m with her the day can be packed, there can be so much going on, you can be sleep deprived, anything, but nothing makes me feel down.
Strangely nothing makes me feel tired, fatigued at all. I’ve gone days and nights without sleep, and still the mind is in such a positive space it just doesn’t make you feel fatigued. You don’t feel it, and for that just thinking you’ve discovered yet another facet to life. In terms of perspective to my career, that will not change because it’s about who you are. Who you are as a person. I’ve always been the kind of person that if I take on anything professionally it means commitment to me, so you take it on if you can commit to it and if you know you can accommodate and give your best to it, and that’s what you do and I have always done that throughout my life - before marriage after marriage, before motherhood, after motherhood. So that’s just the way I am and this is just who I am always going to be, irrespective of whatever experience I am blessed with or challenged by in life. How have you been able to juggle the demands of motherhood with your professional commitments? It’s just a year and a half since I had her. On May 16, [ it’s been] 18 months. Time’s flown by. I have been multi- tasking in fact very early. Professionally it’s been a lot of endorsement work, a lot of meetings, a lot of business plans, and there’s been a lot of time been consumed in preparatory work, scripts being listened to, ideas being discussed - but in terms of a film role, that hasn’t begun, but that’s in the anvil.
Any signs that Aaradhya has inherited the Bachchan acting gene?
( Laughs) That’s precious! Any 18- month old would be the most fascinating person, because there she is becoming a little person now feeling these emotions and expressing them and stringing her little sentences [ together]. That’s an original. And she’s an original.
What does the cinema of India mean to you?
It’s very precious. I have been an admirer of Indian cinema, I have been an audience of our cinema and I consider myself blessed to have been part of our cinema, and I think it’s wonderful to be present at a time when our cinema celebrates such a milestone. It’s wonderful to belong to a cinema at this special time in its history.
Who is the greatest star of Hindi cinema?
Oh. It’s difficult, and I’d be accused of bias, but worldwide currently Pa [ Amitabh Bachchan] is absolutely iconic, he’s celebrated, he’s respected. He definitely is deservedly iconic, and I say this without any bias, and if I am accused of it so be it.
Source:
digitalspy. co. uk