From The Innocence Of Roja To The Intensity Of Kannappa: Madhoo's Magical Journey In Indian Cinema

Lehren Retro

In an exclusive interview with senior most journalist Bharathi S Pradhan for Lehren Retro, the mesmerizing Madhoo Shah talks about some of her amazing cinematic works like Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Roja (1992) & the recently released Pan-India film Kannappa (2025). The leading lady talks about her close bond with cousin Hema Malini and sister-in-law Juhi Chawla in turn elaborating upon their family tree. Shah also shares her experience of working with co-stars Ajay Devgn, Arvind Swamy & Akshay Kumar and reveals the real reason behind becoming a film actress. Madhoo gives some unheard and exciting insights on her love-story with husband Anand Shah while commenting on her talented daughters career plans. The Pan-India artist gives her strong take on Operation Sindoor conducted by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation to Pakistan's terror attack in Pahalgam (Kashmir) & hails PM Narendra Modi's firm stance & diplomacy during the entire situation. Watch the full podcast as Madhoo gets candid on her Magical Movie Journey only at your favourite digital destination, Lehren. #madhoo #madhooshah #roja #phoolaurkaante #kannappa #hemamalini #operationsindoor #madhoointerview #madhoopodcast #modi

Transcript

00:00:00As long as my mother was alive,

00:00:02they told me that I am the prettiest girl in the whole world.

00:00:06And I wanted to go out just to get out of my house

00:00:10because we were very close as families,

00:00:12Amba and all of that.

00:00:14So my auntie also told me,

00:00:16After Hema, it is you.

00:00:18Arvind for me is very funny.

00:00:20I recently worked with him in a film called Talevi.

00:00:22So we had some scenes together.

00:00:24After so many years, we reunited.

00:00:26We were on the set,

00:00:28I don't know,

00:00:30I don't know, an iconic scene,

00:00:32me and Arvind's whole,

00:00:34I mean, a lot of things,

00:00:36so he has a very funny sense of humor,

00:00:38and a very sweet way of talking.

00:00:40Those two actors killed it.

00:00:44You know, you are extremely well-mintained.

00:00:48No one will say that you are going to be the same.

00:00:50Very, very well-mintained.

00:00:52And Akshay Kumar,

00:00:54who you are as heroes,

00:00:56and now you have a picture with them.

00:00:58He is doing a guest appearance.

00:01:00Yeah, Karnapa.

00:01:01So he also said,

00:01:02in the public,

00:01:04that she lives in a refrigerator

00:01:06because she is so well-mintained.

00:01:08Yes.

00:01:09Yes.

00:01:12Today, the films are very different from the films you have done,

00:01:16that you have done,

00:01:17that you have done,

00:01:18that you have done.

00:01:19Today, the films are very different.

00:01:21The scenes are very intimate,

00:01:23etc.

00:01:24Are you ready for your daughter to do those?

00:01:26Is she ready?

00:01:27Yes.

00:01:30I don't feel like listening to her.

00:01:33Namaskaram Madhu.

00:01:49Namaskaram Bharati Ji.

00:01:51Nice to see you after such a long time.

00:01:54You know, I was just telling somebody,

00:01:57I am doing a lot of interviews and podcasts,

00:02:00and I love it,

00:02:01you know.

00:02:02But when they said,

00:02:03Lehre.

00:02:04You have such a special relationship with Lehre.

00:02:07I have a special.

00:02:08Lehre for me,

00:02:09is like,

00:02:10it takes me,

00:02:12Lehre is me.

00:02:14Someone from the back in the day,

00:02:16still continues,

00:02:18is still relevant and still contemporary,

00:02:21like me.

00:02:22That's what I am trying to be,

00:02:23and that's what Lehre is.

00:02:24And that coming together is special.

00:02:27So, one is Lehre,

00:02:28and the other thing,

00:02:29you.

00:02:30So,

00:02:31I have confirmed that,

00:02:32is Bharati Ji going to talk to me?

00:02:34Because I want to talk to Bharati Ji.

00:02:36Correct.

00:02:37Yes.

00:02:38Thank you very much for having me.

00:02:39My pleasure, Madhu.

00:02:40Really my pleasure.

00:02:41I love you.

00:02:42I love you.

00:02:43I love you.

00:02:44In 1991,

00:02:45you were Roja girl.

00:02:46Yes.

00:02:47And how many photo sessions

00:02:49with you.

00:02:50You both gave it.

00:02:51They had a blow up.

00:02:54Yes.

00:02:55Yes,

00:02:56absolutely.

00:02:57I love you.

00:02:58I have seen you in 1991 when

00:03:00Pool and Kante came.

00:03:01Yes.

00:03:02You and Ajay Devgan.

00:03:03You both of the first movies.

00:03:06And it was wonderful.

00:03:09Such a big hit.

00:03:10Yes.

00:03:11And really nice meeting you there.

00:03:13How did you get that film?

00:03:15You know, this is an easy question for me actually and it is a very magical and difficult

00:03:26question.

00:03:27When I was thinking about myself, what was it, what was it, I can say that I don't

00:03:35have any planning, how do you plan your life, how do you plan your launch, how do you plan

00:03:41your life and how do you plan your life, how do you plan to be the life of your life, okay.

00:03:53When I was 13 or 14 years old, my mother was off and passed away.

00:04:03You were only 12 or 13?

00:04:07Yes, I was only 13.

00:04:09My dream was that I would become an actor.

00:04:13After 13 years and 16 or 17 years, it was over.

00:04:17In that sense, I didn't see you as an actor.

00:04:21In my teenage years, I didn't feel good.

00:04:26I didn't see the criteria for being an actor.

00:04:31I didn't see you as a beautiful person.

00:04:34When I saw you in the mirror, I was only looking at pimples.

00:04:38I was a sporty girl.

00:04:40I was always playing in cricket.

00:04:43At that age, I had a little weight.

00:04:49I didn't see you as an actor.

00:04:54Then I became an actor.

00:04:57I always say, I didn't become an actor.

00:05:01I didn't have a career because of me.

00:05:04I had a career in spite of me.

00:05:06I had a career in my career.

00:05:07But how did you get it?

00:05:08It happened so that my dad was a producer.

00:05:11Because he became a single parent,

00:05:14so he took my service to be a producer.

00:05:17He made a film like Awargi, Marg and Mahesh Bhatt was the director.

00:05:23director. So, one of them was Hema Ji. I had to go to my house and I had to go to my house

00:05:30and I had to watch all of their films and the premieres and rehearsals. So, I had to

00:05:37watch that. And in my childhood, I had to teach my mom dance and I was a dancer. So,

00:05:42I had to watch dance, music, films. And then my father became a producer. So, I went to

00:05:49the production of his set. So, I went to music recording. Anu Malik Ji was a music director,

00:05:56Maish Bhatt director. So, when I was in my father's music setting, sitting and recording,

00:06:02someone else saw me and told me to my father that I am making a film and I want to launch

00:06:09Madhu. So, my father was very confused because as I said to you, that from the beginning of

00:06:16five years of age, I had seen this dream that I wanted to become an actor. But after

00:06:23coming to my mom, that dream was gone. Because I felt like I can't be one. And I didn't

00:06:29talk to my father as well as he was a producer. But then, I didn't talk to him that I want

00:06:35to be an actor. Then, when I went to the set, someone else saw me and said to my father,

00:06:41I will launch my son. And my father was confused because I didn't talk to him. He was confused.

00:06:48So, he came to the house and said to his tone, he wants to launch you. So, this is a disbelief.

00:06:54I said to my father, I want to be an actor. That is when I expressed myself. And then,

00:07:09that was launched with him. So, they had made me a photo shoot for Illustrated Weekly Magazine.

00:07:16And then, they enrolled me to Roshan Tanijajji in the acting school for a crash course for a

00:07:22month. And then, when the shoot started, they thought that I wasn't ready. And then, they

00:07:31replaced me with another artist. So, after shooting, they were replaced? Yes. After

00:07:38shooting, they were replaced? Yes. After 3-4 days, I realized that I wasn't in that film.

00:07:46But then, that period, they said that I would be an actor. So, after that determination? Yes.

00:07:59After that, that period, the confusion, that I couldn't see myself as an actor, that

00:08:06was changed after that moment. Then, I did my training with Roshan Ji. I did my diploma course.

00:08:16I did my language and confidence. I joined my filmy dance class. I did my team brush-up.

00:08:24And my father's dream was that I will graduate. And then, I completed it.

00:08:31After all, after all, I had done a few things. And then, after all, I decided to answer your question

00:08:36in short. Because, in short, I couldn't answer it. I couldn't do this.

00:08:39Because, all of this happened before. Yes.

00:08:42It turned out. It was a magical moment that when I was at home, after all I tried everything,

00:08:47after all I had tried, when I didn't do anything, I was graduate, studies also completed,

00:08:53I had a course and a diploma course. After all that happened, I was an empty space in my life.

00:08:59I was not doing anything.

00:09:00And Papa was pressure on me.

00:09:02I was saying, do you want to be a doctor, or do you want to work?

00:09:06Or I will do a divorce.

00:09:09But I will not be empty and empty.

00:09:14That conversation, when I was at home, actually when I was at home,

00:09:20I was playing with my friends and brothers,

00:09:24and at that time, that phone rang and rang.

00:09:29When I rang the phone,

00:09:31and on the other side, there was a sound of Kukukoli.

00:09:35And they said, I am talking about Kukukoli.

00:09:38We are making a film.

00:09:39We are making a film with Virudev Ganji.

00:09:41We have launched his son.

00:09:43The film actually has been made.

00:09:46And we are looking at you for the romantic lead.

00:09:50So I have not heard that whole thing.

00:09:53Because my concentration was on the coin,

00:09:57which I was aiming for.

00:09:59And I had taken my phone.

00:10:00So I have not even known for today's children,

00:10:03that there was a big phone on the table.

00:10:05Yes, a landline.

00:10:06A landline.

00:10:07And his connection was in the other room.

00:10:09So my father was sitting in the hall room.

00:10:12So I was sitting here,

00:10:14and I was like, just take a call.

00:10:16There is somebody called Kukukukoli.

00:10:18Next thing I know, he spoke.

00:10:20And next thing I knew, I was doing that film.

00:10:22Wow.

00:10:23And that is how magically, there was no auditioning.

00:10:26There was no office-office.

00:10:29There was no office-office.

00:10:31There was nothing.

00:10:32There was no waiting period definitely.

00:10:35There was no rejection.

00:10:37But that was my training period.

00:10:40And that was the most important period.

00:10:42Because I thought, now I will try it.

00:10:45Little, long, fat, thin.

00:10:49Whatever may be the case.

00:10:51Zidh.

00:10:52Zidh.

00:10:53Zidh.

00:10:54Now I will become an actor.

00:10:55After that moment, I got this opportunity.

00:10:58One question.

00:10:59You said that the film had become an Aadhi.

00:11:03Did someone else make it?

00:11:04I think so.

00:11:05So you replaced someone else?

00:11:07Yes.

00:11:08And so it goes.

00:11:10Okay.

00:11:11And did you meet Ajay Devgan at that time?

00:11:16I mean, just before shooting or?

00:11:18No.

00:11:19I met on the set.

00:11:20Okay.

00:11:21Okay.

00:11:22And.

00:11:23What did you feel your first impression of Ajay Devgan?

00:11:25Because he was not a very good looking person.

00:11:31You know, I was very blinded by my own desire.

00:11:34Burning desire.

00:11:36Today I am a very different person.

00:11:39That's why thinking about that girl, 20-year-old girl,

00:11:44who was fighting for the 13 years of life.

00:11:57You know, she was fighting in every situation.

00:12:00She was making food in her mother for what was going on.

00:12:04And the girl who had been able to allow her to get a gas cylinder order.

00:12:09because I didn't order a gas cylinder because my dad told me to order a gas cylinder, so I'm going to go to the night.

00:12:14So, my dad left the service and became a stay-at-home dad.

00:12:18Because I miss her.

00:12:20Now she was small.

00:12:22Yes.

00:12:23But that girl didn't believe in her dreams.

00:12:27To have self-belief.

00:12:29To have self-esteem.

00:12:31As long as my mother was alive,

00:12:34they told me that I'm the prettiest girl in the whole world.

00:12:39And I was just going to go out of my house and go to Hema Ji's house.

00:12:43Because we were very close as families, like Amba and all of that.

00:12:46To go to their house, cousins to their house,

00:12:49the culture of friendship and friends with friends was not.

00:12:53We were going to go out of our house,

00:12:55we were going to play with friends with building friends,

00:12:57and we were going to go out of the house of cousins.

00:13:00So, my auntie also told me,

00:13:02after Hema, it is you.

00:13:04Okay.

00:13:05Okay.

00:13:06You know.

00:13:07So, my mommy used to say,

00:13:09you are going to be the next actor.

00:13:11I will become an actor.

00:13:12You are the most beautiful girl in town.

00:13:14So, that...

00:13:15That was the support, right?

00:13:17The moral support.

00:13:18That mother and father thinking,

00:13:21you are the queen on this earth.

00:13:23And I didn't see anything.

00:13:24There was no exposure on social media.

00:13:25There was no exposure.

00:13:26There was no TV channels.

00:13:27I didn't know what the world was.

00:13:29The world was just me and my world.

00:13:31That's all.

00:13:32Right.

00:13:33After that,

00:13:34when I went to Mithibhai College.

00:13:35Okay.

00:13:36Then I saw that,

00:13:38oh,

00:13:39girls feel like that.

00:13:41And they can become an actor.

00:13:45They can become an actor.

00:13:46They can become an actor.

00:13:47And they can become an actor.

00:13:48They can become an actor.

00:13:49And they can become an actor.

00:13:50And then I became into a shadow of me.

00:13:52I expected that.

00:13:53So, that girl that woman,

00:13:54then another person would select me and choose me.

00:13:59The picture is where I was in a picture.

00:14:01I even had been told.

00:14:02In fact,

00:14:03this is a funny thing.

00:14:04Mahesh Bhatt ji ko yaad ho ya na ho, wou mere papa ke director tha, toh mujhe select karne ke baad, jab mein unke saath set pe baethi thi, mere papa ke set pe, mene kaha tha, uncle, I have been selected to do this role, you think I can be an actor? I asked him this, you think can I be an actor? So he in his very majestic voice said, do you want to be an actor? He asked me, I said yes, he says then never ask this question ever again, okay, you want it,

00:14:33you go for it, he said that to me once, typical Mahesh, yes, yes, but having said that, I was replaced, I faced rejection, and rejection because I was not good enough, obviously, unko asa laga tha, ke mein redi nahi ho, ya mein good enough nahi ho, toh mein nahi thi, wou picture bani, ban gai, aur apne dekha, bilkul nahi dekha, par mein jant, nekin wacharli, susi,

00:15:02ap ke nasib me toh kuch auri tha, jese bolte na bachin sab, hamasha bolte joo man ka ho ho achcha, joo man ka ho ho achcha, joo man ka ho ho achcha, joo man ka ho, or or bhi achcha, woho ho aapke saath,

00:15:12but I want to come to that, toh aap ne poucha ki, ajey devagun yao, set pe, jak aapne kya impression li, the back story is, I came from a place of such a not good feeling, jab mein set pe, gai ni,

00:15:28not to see Ajay Devgan, not to see Amrish Puri, not to see Aruna Irani Ji,

00:15:34not to appreciate Nadeem Shravan's tune.

00:15:40I didn't see anything.

00:15:42It was just that I was going to be an actor.

00:15:48And I will see you on the screen.

00:15:52And I will say this from the whole world.

00:15:55I belong to the film world, but I did it all by myself.

00:16:01One question everyone asks,

00:16:04because there are different relationships on Wikipedia and internet.

00:16:09You are Hemumalni's cousin, correct?

00:16:13Yes.

00:16:14My father and Amba were brothers and sisters.

00:16:16So that's why Hemumal and me are cousins.

00:16:18Cousins. Okay, Mama.

00:16:20Sorry, means Jaya Ji's brother is your father.

00:16:24Yes.

00:16:25And okay.

00:16:26So you are cousins.

00:16:27Yes.

00:16:28So do you call each other by your name?

00:16:29Yes.

00:16:30Yes.

00:16:31She's always my Hemum.

00:16:32Hemum.

00:16:33Okay.

00:16:34Okay.

00:16:35So in fact, again, funny thing happened.

00:16:38When she later on directed me.

00:16:40I did a film with her.

00:16:42And I did Urvashi for Women of India for Zee.

00:16:50Right.

00:16:51So she was a director.

00:16:52So the first day on the set, I didn't know what to call her.

00:16:56So I said, what do I call you?

00:16:58I call you director Hema Ji.

00:17:00Hema Ji.

00:17:01What do I call you?

00:17:02You have to call me Hemu, right?

00:17:04She said.

00:17:05Okay.

00:17:06Because that's how I've called her as a little girl.

00:17:07Since she was a kid.

00:17:08Yeah.

00:17:09That's right.

00:17:10So you wanted to be an actress?

00:17:13Yes.

00:17:14It's a childhood impression.

00:17:16What you see at home, you get impressed with that.

00:17:20I think that is my only explanation.

00:17:22Because at home, my mom was very ambitious.

00:17:25As a dancer, she also became a producer.

00:17:28When my father was still in service, she couldn't become a producer.

00:17:31Because he was in the government.

00:17:32My mother became a producer.

00:17:34She made a film with two films.

00:17:36Hema Ji, Dharmendra Ji.

00:17:38They were in lead.

00:17:40And Dulaal Guha Ji.

00:17:43He was the director.

00:17:44He was the director.

00:17:45And I went to their shooting.

00:17:47And my mommy.

00:17:48So she was there.

00:17:49I will make your film.

00:17:50I will launch you.

00:17:51That's what I'm listening to.

00:17:53Your mommy was saying.

00:17:54I saw that from 3 to 5 years old.

00:17:56She was my first dance teacher.

00:17:58And because I didn't listen to her and I didn't dance well,

00:18:02she kept me outside.

00:18:03And she used to beat me.

00:18:06My mommy.

00:18:07You know that thing that Bharatanatyam still.

00:18:11Yeah.

00:18:12She used to hit me.

00:18:13And I would be more angry.

00:18:15Mommy, why is my mother hitting me?

00:18:17Then she decided that she couldn't become my teacher.

00:18:20So then she got me Raja Rajasri, Master Ji to come home and teach me.

00:18:24And all that happened.

00:18:25So I saw what dance happens at a very high level.

00:18:32Then I saw how Hema ji conducts her life.

00:18:38Who comes to her home.

00:18:39Who comes to her.

00:18:40There are story settings.

00:18:41There are dance practices.

00:18:42She used to learn sitar.

00:18:44I don't know.

00:18:45I have just observed these two women in my life.

00:18:48My mother and Hema ji.

00:18:50And my mother's voice.

00:18:52You are an actor.

00:18:54You are an actor.

00:18:55So I just believed that I am born to be an actor.

00:18:57So do you think that your mother looked at Hema ji and thought that my daughter couldn't become my daughter?

00:19:05No.

00:19:06I don't think so.

00:19:07And that's why she taught Bharatanatyam and learned Bharatanatyam and then you become an actor.

00:19:12No.

00:19:13I like that.

00:19:14I like that.

00:19:15I have done my mother's incomplete dream.

00:19:18She wanted to be an actor.

00:19:20She wanted to be an actor.

00:19:22She wanted to be an actor.

00:19:23Oh.

00:19:24Because where the dancer came from.

00:19:27Ramya Prilay ji, Guru ji.

00:19:30I think Saroja Devi ji.

00:19:33You know that old actress.

00:19:35Yes.

00:19:36I think she, she danced with her on stage.

00:19:39Oh.

00:19:40Those same students there of Master ji.

00:19:42Okay.

00:19:43So my mother said that you look like Saroja Devi.

00:19:46My mother thought that she looks like Saroja Devi and she should be an actor.

00:19:50But even your face is a little like Saroja Devi.

00:19:52You know maybe.

00:19:53So my mother had a dream that she wanted to achieve a lot in the artistry, artistic world.

00:19:57Oh.

00:19:58So you are.

00:19:59Okay.

00:20:00Actually.

00:20:01She was dancing on the stage when Amba.

00:20:02We all call Hema ji's mother Amba.

00:20:03Jaya ji.

00:20:04Jaya ji.

00:20:05Jaya ji.

00:20:06Okay.

00:20:07She was the matriarch of her family.

00:20:08Right.

00:20:09So Amba has seen my mother dance on stage.

00:20:10And she went backstage and said, I would like your daughter for, I mean Renuka for my brother.

00:20:26Oh.

00:20:27So she was dancing on stage.

00:20:28And she brought her into the family.

00:20:29Jaya ji.

00:20:30Jaya ji.

00:20:31Okay.

00:20:32Jaya ji.

00:20:33Okay.

00:20:34So you know what I am saying is, of course then you are watching another gorgeous, talented

00:20:39human being as Hema.

00:20:41Right.

00:20:42Hema ji in the family.

00:20:43And she herself was.

00:20:44So one thing, she was going to be incomplete dreams.

00:20:46She wanted to become something else.

00:20:48But at that time, she was like, you know, she got married.

00:20:51And then she saw Hema ji, she is achieving amazing great heights.

00:20:58So she thought, why not my daughter?

00:21:00Right.

00:21:01So I always feel that I lived my mother's dream.

00:21:03Your mother's dream.

00:21:04Yeah.

00:21:05How sweet of that.

00:21:06I didn't know.

00:21:07What was her influence?

00:21:08Whether Hema ji was her inspiration or whether her own life was an inspiration?

00:21:13I don't know.

00:21:14But all in all, I grew up only in that energy.

00:21:17Okay.

00:21:18How beautiful.

00:21:19Do you know that Hema ji had the same start to her career?

00:21:24She also had the first film after shooting.

00:21:28She started a film with Shridhar.

00:21:31And she started a film with Vachan.

00:21:33Yes.

00:21:34I will never work in the South.

00:21:37But she did it.

00:21:39She did it with Shridhar.

00:21:41She also did it.

00:21:42That's what I heard, yeah.

00:21:43That's what I heard, yeah.

00:21:44And she did it.

00:21:45And I asked her once in an interview, did you talk about it when he came to you?

00:21:50She said, no.

00:21:51I have never asked her and she didn't talk about it.

00:21:54Like Shridhar, I mean, did you take it out on him in any way?

00:21:58No, not at all.

00:21:59No, he gave a nice role to me and he was very sweet, extremely nice.

00:22:03Okay.

00:22:04And we never even ever mentioned also, see you took me in that film and you rejected me.

00:22:08Talk to me.

00:22:09Why did you do that?

00:22:10Oh, you never talked about it?

00:22:11We never had a one talk also.

00:22:12Nothing.

00:22:13Oh.

00:22:14Very sweetly.

00:22:15But did he apologize?

00:22:16No, nothing.

00:22:17He also?

00:22:18So neither of you spoke about it?

00:22:19Nothing.

00:22:20As if it never happened.

00:22:23I want to, I'm listening this for the first time and I connect my life with that person.

00:22:28Hema ji has been my silent inspiration.

00:22:31I never learned anything in front of him.

00:22:36Life lesson.

00:22:37But just watching.

00:22:38But just an influence, you know.

00:22:40Like you said that when Shridhar ji came in front of me, he didn't talk about it.

00:22:45No, he didn't.

00:22:46He rejected me.

00:22:48In the same way, I came in the industry and I felt very good.

00:22:52And I felt very good about myself.

00:22:54I came with that I wala taj.

00:22:56I.

00:22:57I came with that taj.

00:22:58Okay.

00:22:59I.

00:23:00But I have never felt that person to anyone or anyone.

00:23:06All those people who have seen me, or have not taken me or rejected me.

00:23:15When I came in front of me, I have never felt that feeling.

00:23:20I never did that.

00:23:21Okay.

00:23:22Okay.

00:23:23The person who rejected you after filming a little film.

00:23:26After that, I haven't taken my name.

00:23:28No.

00:23:29That's okay.

00:23:30But have you ever met them?

00:23:31We will meet them in parties.

00:23:34I remember that I was immature.

00:23:37They saw me.

00:23:38And when I saw them, I went ahead and stopped.

00:23:42After that, I didn't talk about the film.

00:23:43They didn't talk about the film.

00:23:44You went through the film after the film.

00:23:45You went through the film after the film.

00:23:46Yes.

00:23:47And then you went through the film.

00:23:48And then you went through the film.

00:23:49When I felt I am a good actor also.

00:23:51Correct, correct.

00:23:52I felt that.

00:23:53So yeah, that happened.

00:23:54But I am surprised that you have said that after the film you replaced the film after the film.

00:24:01It was strange.

00:24:02But you know, it's always a good thing.

00:24:03That's why I said that a 20-year-old girl did not understand that.

00:24:16But a 50-year-old girl, I should say 50-year-old woman, but a girl definitely understands that

00:24:25every mistake, every fall or I hate the word failure.

00:24:33I never use the word failure.

00:24:34There is no failure.

00:24:35There is no experience.

00:24:36Yeah.

00:24:37But yeah, correct.

00:24:38I hate the word.

00:24:39But every time those feelings happened, they were like the fire that propelled me to go higher.

00:24:45Right.

00:24:46They were like the producer, Mahesh Bhatt and Dulal Goha as a director, they didn't tell their father that I wanted to be an actor.

00:24:57That girl got the spring only because of all these experiences.

00:25:02Correct.

00:25:03So that's how I see it.

00:25:04Okay.

00:25:05Excellent.

00:25:06Yeah.

00:25:07Everything is an experience actually.

00:25:08Yeah.

00:25:09No.

00:25:10Ajay Devgun is still going strong as a hero.

00:25:13Yeah.

00:25:14Yeah.

00:25:15Unki raid too bhi achhi chal hai hai.

00:25:16Yeah.

00:25:17Yeah.

00:25:18It's doing well.

00:25:19So he's lasted right from 1991 to abhi 2020-25 mein.

00:25:22He's still doing very well.

00:25:24How do you look at it?

00:25:26Because do you feel that women are not given the same lifespan as the men?

00:25:35Not at all.

00:25:36He's still a hero.

00:25:37Han ji.

00:25:38I don't know, but I've come back to working only in the last few years.

00:25:44You know me.

00:25:45And I've played a lot of strong roles.

00:25:49Strong roles.

00:25:50Hit ho na.

00:25:51And that hit ho na.

00:25:52And that hit ho na.

00:25:54Baaki hai.

00:25:55Baaki I'm getting the due respect and getting the roles that I feel I can carry out.

00:26:01And I feel very humbled.

00:26:02Yeah.

00:26:03That I am ready to do a film.

00:26:04No.

00:26:05It's called Chinna Chinna Aasai.

00:26:06It's a bilingual Tamil Malayana.

00:26:07Chinna Chinna Aasir like your Roja song.

00:26:08Yeah.

00:26:09But that's the title.

00:26:10Yeah.

00:26:11In fact, Mani sir very kindly has released the poster of the film.

00:26:12Okay.

00:26:13Very soon that film will release.

00:26:14The title role I'm playing.

00:26:15Okay.

00:26:16I feel so grateful Bharati ji.

00:26:17Imagine.

00:26:18that after 10, 12, 15 years I was totally out of the industry.

00:26:34Now I'm back when I came back.

00:26:37People, producer, maker, audience are still giving me that respect to give me a title role.

00:26:44Because you're a good actor.

00:26:45Yeah.

00:26:46And you have maintained yourself beautifully.

00:26:49He has his trajectory.

00:26:51The male actors with whom I worked from Saif to Akshay to Ajay.

00:26:57They're all never had to give up.

00:26:59Never had to leave.

00:27:00But I left voluntarily.

00:27:02Okay.

00:27:03Because I wanted to so badly want to have my small world.

00:27:04My small world.

00:27:05I was stuck with that image.

00:27:06Small world.

00:27:07My world.

00:27:08My children.

00:27:09I wanted that.

00:27:10I didn't want the business of this industry.

00:27:11And I made that choice and I went.

00:27:12I made my world.

00:27:13When I went there.

00:27:14When I went there, I felt my identity.

00:27:15Because I always say that I don't have a lot of thinking or planning.

00:27:19But I didn't even know that I was supposed to be a person that was the first time I got campo.

00:27:20I didn't want the business of this industry.

00:27:21I made that choice and I went to the world.

00:27:22I made my world.

00:27:23When I went there, I felt my identity.

00:27:24And I always say that I can't do a lot of thinking or plan.

00:27:25I made my world.

00:27:26When I went there, I felt that my identity, because I don't have a lot of thinking, I don't

00:27:36plan.

00:27:37But at the first time, I didn't know that I wanted to be an actor.

00:27:40I had confidence.

00:27:41I made my life and destiny an actor.

00:27:45At the second time, I left and left and left and left and left and left.

00:27:49I wanted to be a family person.

00:27:50I wanted to be a mother.

00:27:51I went there.

00:27:52After going there, I felt that my identity, if I can work or not, I am only an actor.

00:28:01Because I didn't have fun in the kitchen.

00:28:04I didn't have a feeling of joy.

00:28:07I didn't have a feeling of joy.

00:28:09I didn't have a feeling of creativity.

00:28:15Then I felt like, oh my God.

00:28:18I am only.

00:28:19So, I remember before 5 or 4 or 3 years, in the passport, or in the school certificate, that I wrote

00:28:27in the occupation of the mother, I was a housewife.

00:28:29Really?

00:28:30Okay.

00:28:31In the occupation of the housewife.

00:28:32After 3 or 5 years, I didn't have to be an actor.

00:28:37But in that column, I started to write an actress.

00:28:41Okay.

00:28:42Okay.

00:28:43Silently.

00:28:44I went back.

00:28:45I went back.

00:28:46Who am I?

00:28:47Who am I?

00:28:48I am not working.

00:28:49But I am an actor.

00:28:50Correct.

00:28:51But I am an actor.

00:28:53Correct.

00:28:54So, when I felt like I am an actor.

00:28:55And one time, Hema Ji and the whole family, we were going to lunch.

00:29:01At that time, Hema Ji took a film by Aesha.

00:29:05Tell me Oh, Khuda.

00:29:07I said, why don't you come for a family holiday?

00:29:11We are going to Rajasthan.

00:29:13So, Rajasthan is where we are shooting.

00:29:14There is a role of a girl.

00:29:15Vinod Ji is also there in your segment.

00:29:16Come, do this role.

00:29:17And it will be a family holiday with us.

00:29:18Okay.

00:29:19Aesha, Ahana, Hema Ji.

00:29:20Everybody was there.

00:29:21And then my family also didn't feel that Madhu is going back to work.

00:29:24Going back to career.

00:29:25They all said, yes.

00:29:26Yes.

00:29:27Yes.

00:29:28Yes.

00:29:29Yes.

00:29:30Yes.

00:29:31Yes.

00:29:32Yes.

00:29:33Yes.

00:29:34Yes.

00:29:35Yes.

00:29:36Yes.

00:29:37Yes, That's right.

00:29:38Yes.

00:29:39Yes.

00:29:40Yes, Yes.

00:29:41Yes.

00:29:42He is going with her cousins on a holiday.

00:29:43Correct.

00:29:44That did not feel the pain in the conversation.

00:29:45I went to work easily and put makeup on.

00:29:46And then I was making makeup on.

00:29:47And I felt, I am an actor man.

00:29:48Then nothing.

00:29:49This is me.

00:29:50This is me.

00:29:51Yes, it is a work.

00:29:53I have my job, two days.

00:29:56In fact, I took a role as I thought.

00:29:57When someone said, you have a role.

00:29:58I have two days' roles.

00:30:03When someone told me that I had a role in two days and when someone told me that I had a role in 10 days, I didn't do it.

00:30:10Can you imagine? And my husband also said, why will you do this?

00:30:16You've been the Roja. Why are you doing this?

00:30:19So I told him, Anand, I was Roja 20 years ago, 30 years ago.

00:30:26But life is today. All my life I cannot live thinking about that.

00:30:32Today I want to do something. I cannot leave the house.

00:30:35I don't want to leave the house with my little kutis for 10 days and 20 days.

00:30:40But I want to sit in front of the camera. I want to wear the makeup.

00:30:44So it's just two days, three days. So I started this way.

00:30:49Because that whole thing of wearing makeup and facing the camera made me feel alive.

00:30:55Fantastic. Can we backtrack just a little?

00:30:59In 1992, Rojai, what was life like to have Mani Ratnam come and offer you a film?

00:31:07You don't believe me. I always say this.

00:31:11When I say that, when I say that, whose work you recognize as great.

00:31:19Suppose I say, Amitabh Ji or Rajni Kanthar, I might be like, oh my God, oh my God.

00:31:27I might feel like that. But at that time, I was not in awe of anybody.

00:31:33I was not intimidated by anybody.

00:31:36And I was launched by Balchandar sir.

00:31:39As you know, Phool and Kante, I didn't speak Hindi.

00:31:42But actually, I was also at the same time picked up by K. Balchandar sir.

00:31:47As you know, they launched me with Shri Devi Ji, Rajni Kanthar sir and Kamal sir.

00:31:55So, such a person chose me, but I didn't feel like I am selected by this great man.

00:32:07I never felt that. So, when Mani sir selected me, also I never felt that Mani Ratnam.

00:32:14Wow, I killed it.

00:32:15I never felt it.

00:32:16Okay.

00:32:17And that was my advantage.

00:32:19Because I was so natural.

00:32:21In my first film, in my first shooting, with Mamuti sir, Banu Priya Ji, with Raghun Master,

00:32:31I had recital in one take of classical dance and Swarajati in one take.

00:32:39It was a one take shot in Balchandar.

00:32:42It was a one take round trolley action.

00:32:45They wanted me, that was one take.

00:32:51And I am not a singer.

00:32:52So, I have never taken classical singing training.

00:32:55So, that was one take.

00:32:57Although, there were many retakes.

00:32:59But he asked me, sir asked me, should I break it up and take it?

00:33:05I said no sir.

00:33:07I rehearsed, rehearsed, rehearsed and did that.

00:33:09Did the shot.

00:33:10Did the shot.

00:33:11And in the same way, I did that dance step in front of Banu Priya Ji.

00:33:16She is a great dancer.

00:33:18But I was not scared that Banu Priya Ji is watching me do or Mamuti sir is watching me.

00:33:24I didn't feel that.

00:33:25You were never in awe of any way.

00:33:27Because I said I am going to do it.

00:33:30I don't know what it was.

00:33:32You know.

00:33:33So, also when Mani sir took me in his film.

00:33:36I never felt I was doing a great film.

00:33:39That is going to make me the Roja girl of the industry.

00:33:42I didn't feel anything.

00:33:45I didn't feel anything.

00:33:46Did life change after Phool and Kante and Roja?

00:33:50Because they came in quick success.

00:33:52One came in 1991 and the other came in 1992.

00:33:55So, after that.

00:33:56And I was very happy.

00:33:57And there were many films.

00:33:58In that time.

00:33:59Gentlemen.

00:34:00Yodha.

00:34:01It went on in every state.

00:34:03I went.

00:34:04I think I was too happy.

00:34:07I was very happy.

00:34:10The difficulty that the actor's life is not going to get me.

00:34:15I don't know.

00:34:16Like one film is launched.

00:34:17And then you are waiting for the release.

00:34:18For the result.

00:34:19If it's a hit.

00:34:20Then you will get another film.

00:34:21That's what happened.

00:34:22That's what happened in my life.

00:34:23Because simultaneously.

00:34:24I had a Malayalam film with Mukesh.

00:34:25Rajiv Menon.

00:34:26I think.

00:34:27K Balchandar sir in Tamil.

00:34:28And Phool and Kante in Hindi.

00:34:29I signed.

00:34:30Release.

00:34:31All.

00:34:32They were all big hits in their own time.

00:34:33In the same year.

00:34:34To Mujhe.

00:34:35Malayalam.

00:34:36My second film.

00:34:37Mealgari and Yodha.

00:34:38Karnedha film.

00:34:39Tamil film I got.

00:34:40Gentleman.

00:34:41In Hindi.

00:34:42I started getting movies like Pehchan.

00:34:43Which nobody wanted to do.

00:34:44I wanted to do that.

00:34:45Halaluki.

00:34:46Mere secretary ji ne muje baut advice kiya tha.

00:34:48And.

00:34:49Mr. Jeejj.

00:34:50Mujhe Baut advice kiya tha.

00:34:51In Hindi.

00:34:52In the Tamil film, I got Gentleman, in Hindi, I started getting movies like Pachan, which

00:34:57nobody wanted to do.

00:34:58I wanted to do that.

00:34:59And my secretary had a lot of advice that don't do it, son, don't do it.

00:35:06I said, I won't do it.

00:35:07Because at that time, the image, the heroine, doesn't do this role.

00:35:12And Roja was released.

00:35:14And Fuller Kante was released.

00:35:16So, they said, this film, how do I do this?

00:35:18I said, I have to do this.

00:35:20Because Roja is also in the theatre.

00:35:22And you will see me in different ways.

00:35:27So, I did all that and felt very happy.

00:35:31I was very insecure and scared as a human being.

00:35:35I think.

00:35:36Now, I'm thinking back.

00:35:38I don't know what I thought at that time.

00:35:40Because my policy was that I have to be busy every day.

00:35:44So, I didn't choose any film.

00:35:47So, I'm thinking back, and I didn't choose any film.

00:35:50I just said, I didn't choose any film.

00:35:51I would say yes.

00:35:52Yes.

00:35:53Now, I would say yes.

00:35:54Yes.

00:35:55Yes.

00:35:56Yes.

00:35:57Yes.

00:35:58Because I would go to set every day.

00:35:59I would say yes.

00:36:00I would say yes.

00:36:01Yes.

00:36:02Yes.

00:36:03Yes.

00:36:04Yes.

00:36:05Yes.

00:36:06Yes.

00:36:07Yes.

00:36:08Yes.

00:36:09Yes.

00:36:10priceless moments with Hema ji. One was when they watched a Raja film. I never had to call

00:36:22a special show for my family. I never had to go to the theatre. I was scared and I would

00:36:33try not to see it because I was always thinking that it will not be good, I will not be good

00:36:38to see it with my friends. I was always that person. I was fully satisfied. I was just

00:36:47looking at what the problem is, the makeup is bad. You are very self-critical. Maybe it came

00:36:56from that place of low self-esteem. I had created a very offensive frontier. I had

00:37:07to see it with a wall. You are self-created. You are self-created. You are self-created.

00:37:16Yes, I was not face. I was not face. So, to show people that it is my work, to see it.

00:37:22And to face people's opinions, I never did it. I didn't want to ask any film magazines in my

00:37:27home. I didn't want to read the film magazines. I didn't want to read the film. If I had

00:37:34written something wrong, I didn't want to see it. If I had written something wrong, I didn't

00:37:37want to see it. If you have written something wrong, then you don't want to see it. That

00:37:40was my thing. So, I never made a film of Roja. I remember that I had already

00:37:47filmed another film shooting in Polachi. And my father was coming from Chennai to

00:37:54me. So, in Chennai, I saw a fully ready film of Roja, and then he came like he saw something,

00:38:06an angel. He came to me and said, this is it for you. This is it for you. I said, okay,

00:38:13this is my, because my father said, I am better than Madhuri Dixit. He would see me dance,

00:38:17and he would say, you are better than Madhuri Dixit. So, my father was my greatest cheerleader.

00:38:23And I am telling you, Bharti ji, in my house, when I was little, my mom and my dad always

00:38:30felt that I am the best. Then, the world showed me something different. So, that was it. So,

00:38:38when my father came and said, he saw Roja, and he said, ah, like that, like that, I am like,

00:38:42okay, whatever. Then, I didn't call anyone, I didn't see anyone, I didn't see anyone,

00:38:46like that, man. He said, see. Mani Ratnam has made this film for me, with me, see it. Nothing.

00:38:52Hey, Ma ji, and my family saw it in their own time, whenever they saw it, because, that was a film

00:38:59that nobody missed. Every film. Nobody missed. One of the first few films on Kashmir,

00:39:07Terror, all of it. Yes, nobody missed it. So, everybody saw it on their own time. Right.

00:39:14And what was the song that was going on?

00:39:17So Hema ji's reaction was priceless because she wrote a letter to me saying that she loved it and many more to come and all that.

00:39:27I kept that letter for a long time but that was a special moment.

00:39:32And then another special moment was when I worked with him and he directed me to me.

00:39:42And in a shot he was behind the camera.

00:39:46And I finished the shot and then I had to exit the frame.

00:39:55And I stopped and I gave a look to the camera and I held a look and then I went.

00:40:02And Hema ji forgot to say cut.

00:40:05And then she said cut.

00:40:08And then she said you are a very good actress.

00:40:11So this is, you know, these are, these are the priceless.

00:40:15These are not things that you are doing for targeting.

00:40:18These are moments when they feel it, stop it, cut it, and they told me you are a very good actress.

00:40:24So those moments, you know, you never forget.

00:40:27Absolutely.

00:40:28Any memorable moments with Mani Rattam when you were working with him?

00:40:33Mani sir is a man with Arvind Swami.

00:40:39Mani sir is a very man of few words.

00:40:44I don't think that he feels very vocally to anyone.

00:40:49I don't see him.

00:40:51He is so shy, he doesn't even know how to accept compliments.

00:40:58He is really shy.

00:41:00So I don't know what he feels or thinks or whatever.

00:41:03But Arvind Swami is very funny.

00:41:06I recently worked with him in a film called Talevi.

00:41:09He was a chief minister, MGR sir.

00:41:14And I became his wife, Jan Ki Amma.

00:41:17First wife.

00:41:18And Jail Alita Ji's role was played by Khangana.

00:41:21So we had some scenes together.

00:41:24After so many years, we reunited.

00:41:26And then we were on set.

00:41:28And I don't know if anyone had an iconic scene.

00:41:34Mera and Arvind's work.

00:41:37So he has a very funny sense of humor.

00:41:42A very sweet way of talking.

00:41:44Those two actors killed it.

00:41:47How sweet.

00:41:49He praised ourselves.

00:41:53The two of you.

00:41:54He praised us.

00:41:55He praised himself and he praised me.

00:41:57But he didn't say we were so good or whatever.

00:42:00He said those two actors killed it.

00:42:03That's like him.

00:42:06Yeah.

00:42:07After 1991, 92 then Gentleman and all those films that you did in the south and out here etc.

00:42:16When did you meet Anand and why did you quit?

00:42:19I quit.

00:42:22Because

00:42:24You were good.

00:42:25I was good.

00:42:26You were good.

00:42:27You were good.

00:42:28That's what you thought.

00:42:29That's what happened.

00:42:30You know I am a very feeling oriented person.

00:42:34I am a very feeling oriented person.

00:42:37I do not think much.

00:42:40It's advantageous for me.

00:42:42Because I was not intimidated by someone.

00:42:45Shami Kapoor Ji was standing in front of me.

00:42:49Chintu Ji was standing in front of me.

00:42:51Nana Partaker was there in front of me.

00:42:54In so many movies.

00:42:55They are all greats.

00:42:57And I have seen their work and felt wow amazing.

00:43:00But when they were in front of me, they felt like I am okay.

00:43:06I can hold my own.

00:43:08So that person suddenly started feeling.

00:43:13Especially in the Hindi industry.

00:43:15Even though I have done a lot of good roads in the south industry.

00:43:19I would not know more.

00:43:20Even more.

00:43:21And more than Hindi films.

00:43:22I had no knowledge to this.

00:43:24If anyone would think that you are South.

00:43:25Or you are a bit of a hit in South.

00:43:27Or you are a bit of a hit.

00:43:28If anyone would say that you are a bit of a hit.

00:43:29Or you are a bit of a hit.

00:43:30If anyone would say that.

00:43:31I would be a big angry.

00:43:32Because I always thought of myself as a bollywood actor.

00:43:36You know because I always thought of myself as a Bollywood actor, Hindi actor

00:43:41By default, I was trying to establish that in Hindi films and I had to establish that

00:43:48In South, I had never thought about it, that was by default I had to get myself busy every day

00:43:56So I didn't say anything to anyone, I did everything

00:44:00But in Hindi film land, I wanted to see myself doing better and better and better

00:44:07And it happened like that, Roja Ho or whatever the film was there

00:44:14I did Beta in Kannada called Anaya which was a super duper hit

00:44:20But all those roles, it was happening in the South

00:44:25In Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil

00:44:28I got those roles and characters there to explore

00:44:32In Hindi, I had a lot of films and songs

00:44:37Of the top actors like Akshay and others

00:44:42But I started feeling, after 1997

00:44:47I know it's a very short period

00:44:49I know it's a very short period

00:44:50Because I started my career in 1991

00:44:52And in 1997

00:44:54I started that feeling of discontent

00:44:57I felt like I am not doing good work

00:45:01And I remember this story distinctly

00:45:05When my father had to go to Kamalistan

00:45:08I felt like why would I go to Kamalistan

00:45:12When this story is supposed to be based in Jambu Kashmir

00:45:19Or XYZ

00:45:21I went to Kamalistan

00:45:23And I went to Kashmir Chaiwala

00:45:26I put a board and shoot them

00:45:29And after having worked with authentic directors

00:45:33In the South

00:45:35Malayalam directors are very authentic and realistic

00:45:38And after having worked with a board

00:45:42They showed us that we are somewhere else

00:45:45And it was cheating

00:45:47As an artist, I felt like a discontent

00:45:52And I was not able to brush it under the carpet

00:45:55I was not able to carry on

00:45:58I was busy

00:46:00I was not able to keep that attitude

00:46:03I started feeling very irritated

00:46:05And slowly and slowly

00:46:06I felt like I am not happy

00:46:08I was sad going to the set

00:46:11Which I had so much desire

00:46:13To go to the set

00:46:14Every day

00:46:15I felt like I was going to the set

00:46:16I felt like I was not going to the set

00:46:18And then I know

00:46:20I call you destiny's child

00:46:29Because when that feeling strongly comes to me

00:46:32I have experienced it

00:46:34And that thing feels like

00:46:36In today's language

00:46:39In today's language

00:46:41We call manifestation

00:46:43That thing is manifestation

00:46:44At that time

00:46:45It was not all words

00:46:46It was not manifestation

00:46:47It was not

00:46:48But

00:46:49When I felt like

00:46:50What I felt like

00:46:52When I felt like

00:46:53I felt like

00:46:54I felt like

00:46:55And I started feeling

00:46:56That now I am not going to the set

00:46:58And it so happened

00:46:59I fell in love

00:47:00And it so happened

00:47:01I got married

00:47:02And then I just got the reason

00:47:04So you didn't think

00:47:06You didn't give it to

00:47:07You didn't give it to

00:47:08You didn't think

00:47:09You need to have a second thought

00:47:10To leave it

00:47:11And as a temptation

00:47:13It was coming

00:47:14There was a film

00:47:15Along with Amitabh Bachchan Ji

00:47:16Which has done another South Indian actress

00:47:19This song

00:47:21Had done that role

00:47:22Someone had done the role

00:47:24And that was coming

00:47:25To me

00:47:26That was my secretary uncle

00:47:27I remember the conversation

00:47:28With Dugal

00:47:29My treachery uncle

00:47:30Having heard that

00:47:31And he has

00:47:33I said, uncle, my date fixed my date on the 99th Feb, no, I don't want to do it.

00:47:38Think about it, you can get married after the film. I said, no, uncle.

00:47:43How did you meet Anand?

00:47:46We had a common friend.

00:47:51Anand is a person who is far from the film industry.

00:47:57Anand Balraj was Anand's very good friend.

00:48:07And in those days, I was shooting with Andy.

00:48:13In the week of the film, Jackie Shroff, Andy, me, we were shooting.

00:48:19We were shooting in the film industry.

00:48:25And then they had dinner with Anand.

00:48:29So, there was a conversation between them.

00:48:32Where were you? I was shooting with him.

00:48:35I was shooting with him.

00:48:37And then, he had just gone to Singapore, Anand.

00:48:40Before meeting Andy, that dinner.

00:48:42He had just come back from Singapore.

00:48:44And I believe he thought, he says to me, I don't know if I want to believe him or not.

00:48:54But Anand tells me, he didn't see Roja.

00:48:58He hadn't seen Roja because Roja didn't see Roja.

00:49:02He is an Indian who didn't see Roja.

00:49:05And he liked me.

00:49:09And then, when he came and had dinner.

00:49:12With Andy.

00:49:13Andy.

00:49:14That very day, I was shooting with Andy.

00:49:16In the day.

00:49:17Okay.

00:49:18So, he must have talked.

00:49:19And Anand said.

00:49:20Universe conspired.

00:49:21Anand said, shoot me for my company.

00:49:24Madhu.

00:49:25So, Andy came with a business proposal.

00:49:28That, my friend is my company.

00:49:30And he wants to engage you for your company.

00:49:34And then, I said, talk to my father.

00:49:37Ad campaign.

00:49:38Ad campaign.

00:49:39Ad campaign.

00:49:40Ad campaign.

00:49:41Ad campaign.

00:49:42I haven't seen those photos today.

00:49:44That's why I didn't get the idea.

00:49:45That's why I didn't get the idea.

00:49:46Yes.

00:49:47That's why we met.

00:49:48That's why we met.

00:49:49Wonderful.

00:49:50So, Anand was the chance that you would leave it in the film?

00:49:54If I have to be honest.

00:49:55I know that that's what he and the family would have wanted.

00:49:57They were wanting to be.

00:49:58But to the credit.

00:49:59Kabhi.

00:50:00On your own mother's face.

00:50:01And to the credit.

00:50:02No Anand, no her parents.

00:50:03Mommy, Papa, never talked about them.

00:50:04In fact, mommy still works.

00:50:05My mother-in-law still works.

00:50:06Every day.

00:50:07So, she understood every girl must work.

00:50:10my mother-in-law still works everyday so she understood every girl must work except I am

00:50:23not sure that as an actress they wanted me to work or not but because I already reached

00:50:30emotionally I said that I will not work I took my family 2 years of time and we were engaged

00:50:40on the 97th of October and I got on the 97th of April and in June and July and we decided

00:50:51that I think we will be together and in October we were engaged in Navaratri and Diwali

00:50:59and then I asked my family to give me 2 years of time and I will settle down and never

00:51:08go back so I have never said that I have never said that but Anand's family, Juhi Chawla

00:51:16is also there Anand's cousin is married to Juhi Jai Mehta so Juhi has never left his work

00:51:25at home and they work in their house so did you not have any influence on that?

00:51:34Juhi Jai Mehta so I was going to take my experience and I was going to take my mother to be a family

00:51:44from the beginning of the day and to the day of the past and I decided that I was going to be a big

00:51:52episode and I was going to go to school and I will go to school and go to my home and this was all my dream

00:52:05So I came from my experience, I don't want anything, I don't want anything

00:52:12I ask a question, is it anything to do with your mother that you lost your mother early so therefore you wanted that, you couldn't have that fulfilling life with your mother

00:52:25At that time, it was not a language, you know, if it was incomplete, then you wanted it to be fulfilled

00:52:39Psychotherapy, psychology, I didn't think about it, I didn't think about it, I didn't think about it

00:52:47But today I was trying to understand your own terms, but I try to think about why that I did it

00:52:56I Wo Viä bin, why did I happen to the next day?

00:53:04I am not afraid of being in a cat or a lion.

00:53:09That was my thing.

00:53:11As much as a person is strong, I do not try to show that.

00:53:15I am not afraid of being scared today.

00:53:18I am feeling weak, I am feeling vulnerable.

00:53:20I don't because I see the strength.

00:53:22You have the security.

00:53:24To answer you, I don't know what I have felt.

00:53:29But as I got the opportunity that I got a stable home.

00:53:33In fact, my mother-in-law, my mother-in-law, my mother-in-law thought,

00:53:43that they are two children.

00:53:45When they are married, they will not bring their parents to their home.

00:53:50They will leave their home.

00:53:52I will only have dinner or lunch.

00:53:54I will not live with them.

00:53:56Only then I will have a good relationship with my daughters-in-law.

00:53:59with their own family.

00:54:00And that had to pray for me.

00:54:01That was something that had to pray for them, last year.

00:54:02We had to pray for their families, next year to their house.

00:54:03And I thought that they will stay in that home.

00:54:04And I would stay in that home.

00:54:05After my wife and wife, he had to stay in the same house.

00:54:07And they would stay at home and I would stay in that home.

00:54:08And through that home I would stay there.

00:54:09I will live in your bedroom and I will live in the front of your bedroom

00:54:16I still live in a joint family

00:54:19all the other apartments are there

00:54:22but I still live because I wanted a mother and a father

00:54:26and you are happy with your choice

00:54:28I am so happy because what a support I got with my daughters

00:54:31I would go outside but I would leave with my dad

00:54:34I am so secure

00:54:37that I have desired from my mother

00:54:40that someone would ask me when I am at home

00:54:43the girls rebel

00:54:45why do you ask them?

00:54:47but they want that caring also

00:54:50my mother-in-law

00:54:52when I came to the party at night

00:54:541-2-3

00:54:55my mother-in-law

00:54:57was sitting there

00:54:59she is a girl but she says

00:55:02I am waiting up for you

00:55:04and because my mother is awake

00:55:07I changed my timings

00:55:08I would come back soon

00:55:10because I knew that my mother is awake

00:55:13and I felt lovely about it

00:55:17how is it that you have maintained yourself so well

00:55:21because you have grown up daughters now

00:55:24what are you doing?

00:55:26one is engaged to be married

00:55:29you will be married in the morning

00:55:31you will be married in the morning

00:55:33when I wear short dresses

00:55:35I think two times

00:55:36that I don't think about it

00:55:38then I don't think about it

00:55:39so what is it?

00:55:40what is it?

00:55:41but I think

00:55:42one is Hanji

00:55:44engaged

00:55:45and

00:55:46what is her name?

00:55:47Ameya

00:55:48and

00:55:49my second daughter is Kea

00:55:51and

00:55:52she wants to be an actor

00:55:54and

00:55:55she wants to be an actor

00:55:56graduate

00:55:57as my father told me

00:55:58she will graduate

00:55:59and she will do

00:56:00and she will do

00:56:01and she will do

00:56:02and she will do

00:56:03and she will do

00:56:04and she will do

00:56:05and she will do

00:56:06and she will do

00:56:08and now she is back

00:56:09and

00:56:10God willing

00:56:12we will

00:56:14but your other daughter Amai

00:56:15doesn't want to be an actor

00:56:17she wants to get married

00:56:18and not have a career

00:56:19no

00:56:20as of now

00:56:21not a film career

00:56:22for sure

00:56:23and she is an intellectual

00:56:24highly most clever person

00:56:26in the family

00:56:27so she will do

00:56:29anything

00:56:30but right now

00:56:31she is in that euphoria

00:56:32so your second daughter

00:56:34your family is alright with it?

00:56:35what do you want to be an actor?

00:56:37my family is the most amazing family

00:56:39in Bharti ji

00:56:40I am not saying this

00:56:41because I am talking

00:56:42in front of the camera

00:56:43so you can ask Juhi ji

00:56:45she will also say

00:56:47that the families

00:56:48that we have gotten married

00:56:49into

00:56:50her family, my family

00:56:51we are all one

00:56:52we have the most amazing

00:56:54mothers-in-laws

00:56:56that I feel like

00:56:58mother-in-law

00:56:59I am insulting her

00:57:01I say mother-in-law

00:57:02she is the most amazing

00:57:03mother-in-law

00:57:04and what a wonderful

00:57:05person she is

00:57:06and that is the family

00:57:07we are in

00:57:08because I think

00:57:09mother-in-law

00:57:10you have to continue

00:57:11working

00:57:12you have to continue

00:57:13working

00:57:23you have to continue

00:57:24being who you are

00:57:25my family will not

00:57:27I am

00:57:28they are protective

00:57:30they probably

00:57:31don't want care

00:57:32to come in the industry

00:57:33because this industry

00:57:35as beautiful as it is

00:57:37you, I and everybody

00:57:39knows

00:57:40it's a very hard place

00:57:41you have to love

00:57:42you have to love

00:57:43you have to love

00:57:44you have to love

00:57:45you have to love

00:57:46and it doesn't seem

00:57:47that time

00:57:48and then how do you

00:57:49make mental health

00:57:50I have to leave

00:57:51as well

00:57:52because before

00:57:53my friends

00:57:54school friends

00:57:55my family

00:57:56and my family

00:57:57my father

00:57:58my brother

00:57:59and my brother

00:58:00so I had a conversation

00:58:01about mental health

00:58:02today

00:58:03I am very secure

00:58:04my family

00:58:05I am very secure

00:58:06I have to do

00:58:07fantastic work

00:58:08I have to travel

00:58:09I have to travel

00:58:11so I have to travel

00:58:12but it's not so easy

00:58:13and today

00:58:14the digital world

00:58:15the world

00:58:16in the social media

00:58:17people

00:58:18in your hands

00:58:19you have to be

00:58:20I have to do

00:58:21I have to do

00:58:22film magazine

00:58:23in my home

00:58:24film fair

00:58:25magazine

00:58:26cine blitz magazine

00:58:27stardust

00:58:28I have to do

00:58:29I have to do

00:58:3010 friends

00:58:31and say

00:58:32amazing interviews

00:58:33I have to open

00:58:34I have to do

00:58:35because I don't

00:58:36know

00:58:37what criticism

00:58:38is written

00:58:39my family

00:58:40who is

00:58:41who is

00:58:42protect

00:58:43me

00:58:44because

00:58:45people

00:58:46read

00:58:47in my time

00:58:48magazines

00:58:49people

00:58:50read

00:58:51me

00:58:52control

00:58:53what to do

00:58:54what to do

00:58:55what to do

00:58:56but today

00:58:57it's like

00:58:58social media

00:58:59comments

00:59:00troll

00:59:01about it

00:59:02you really

00:59:03have to feel

00:59:04strong

00:59:05strong

00:59:06about it

00:59:07so

00:59:08we are all human beings

00:59:10some day

00:59:11you look good

00:59:12some day

00:59:13you look good

00:59:14some day

00:59:15you look good

00:59:16some day

00:59:17you look good

00:59:18weight

00:59:19or

00:59:20gain

00:59:21or

00:59:22weight

00:59:23you get

00:59:24troll

00:59:25and

00:59:26famous

00:59:27you also get

00:59:28famous

00:59:29because

00:59:30you know

00:59:31people are looking at the gym

00:59:32you are watching the airport

00:59:33you are watching the food

00:59:34in the airport

00:59:35and you know

00:59:36everyone

00:59:37knows

00:59:38so there are advantages

00:59:39and disadvantages

00:59:40advantages

00:59:41one of the advantages

00:59:42I am enjoying

00:59:43I have a lot of advantages in social media.

00:59:46I have no need to press.

00:59:49I had to say before.

00:59:52I have to put a pick up on Instagram.

00:59:55I know what you are doing.

00:59:58So that's the advantage.

01:00:00The disadvantage is that people say something.

01:00:02And that's straight to you.

01:00:04And that's what you ignore.

01:00:07You have to build that strength.

01:00:16But there are children.

01:00:18Because they are a generation.

01:00:20They have grown up with it.

01:00:22Bharti ji, if you are saying that this is right, then it is a very good thing.

01:00:26But I have seen a word like depression, anxiety.

01:00:30You know this is a panic attack.

01:00:32In the 90s, we would fail.

01:00:35It is a flop.

01:00:37But anxiety is not happening.

01:00:41So this is the language that changed.

01:00:44We want to save our children.

01:00:48But I know that if my daughter is watching this,

01:00:52we will support her.

01:00:54I will stand by her.

01:00:56If she is talented and if my God wants it,

01:00:59she will do what she needs to do.

01:01:01But, what is the difference between all the films and all the films?

01:01:06We have seen the different films as well.

01:01:08The scenes are very intimate.

01:01:11Are you ready for your daughter to do those?

01:01:12Is she ready?

01:01:13Are you ready for your daughter to do those? Is she ready?

01:01:19You don't feel like listening to me.

01:01:23Because you have never done it.

01:01:25I have never done it.

01:01:26Hema Ji has never done it.

01:01:28You know, I have told you that I have said everything for everything.

01:01:32I have never chosen any film.

01:01:35The film would choose me.

01:01:37Okay?

01:01:37And the film was hit by them.

01:01:40And if it happened, it didn't happen.

01:01:42But I didn't choose why.

01:01:43I wanted to be busy.

01:01:45But one criteria was that explicit scenes and explicit clothing.

01:01:52If it is a requirement in your film, I won't do it.

01:01:56That's the only thing I followed that rule.

01:01:59So, it was a kiss in explicit.

01:02:02Even though kissing is a very sweet, romantic gesture.

01:02:06But for me, it was something that my father will not be able to watch it.

01:02:10I won't do it.

01:02:12And my makers respected that.

01:02:15My producers respected that.

01:02:17Everybody knew that.

01:02:18And nobody even came with that.

01:02:20Now, we are in today's generation.

01:02:23It is something every girl is doing.

01:02:28Because that's the way they communicate love.

01:02:32Now, as parents, we have to accept it.

01:02:37If my daughter is coming in this line, if she is doing all of the contemporary things,

01:02:42then how would my daughter say that I won't do it?

01:02:45I asked my daughter, baby, can you do that?

01:02:53I don't think she is giving it a full, I don't think she is understanding it.

01:02:57As of now, she is thinking dialogue, diction, acting, dancing is what it is.

01:03:04Do it, do it, do it.

01:03:08If it happens, then we will not do it.

01:03:10It's her choice.

01:03:11If she can't bear it, she won't do it.

01:03:13You'll cross the bridge when you come to it.

01:03:15When it comes and the yeses and noes are up to her.

01:03:17Correct.

01:03:18Because my children tell me, mama, you think you are a very cool mother,

01:03:25you are very cool, but you are the most non-cool person.

01:03:28And I think I am very non-cool when my children are concerned.

01:03:31I am the one who was my mother.

01:03:33I am the one who was my mother.

01:03:37And my husband, if I am a little liberal and understanding,

01:03:42because I am from the industry, so I have a little understanding.

01:03:45My husband and my mother, my father, my in-laws, how will they tolerate it?

01:03:51Do you know?

01:03:53We will cross the bridge when we come to it.

01:03:56But if you have seen that reaction before, you will understand it.

01:04:09I am very honest.

01:04:10This is my truth, Bharti.

01:04:15You know, you are extremely well-maintained.

01:04:18No one will say that you are going to be a woman.

01:04:22Very, very well-maintained.

01:04:23And Akshay Kumar, who you are as a hero,

01:04:26and now you have a picture.

01:04:28And he is doing a guest appearance.

01:04:30Yeah, Karnapa.

01:04:31Yes, Karnapa.

01:04:32So he also said that she lives in a refrigerator,

01:04:37because she is so well-maintained.

01:04:39Yes, I am totally into well-being.

01:04:43Okay.

01:04:44And I said that after 3-4 years of marriage,

01:04:51I have reversed my identity back from the back.

01:04:53Right.

01:04:54I became an actor.

01:04:56And I always watch myself as an actor.

01:04:59Okay.

01:04:59When I leave out of my house,

01:05:01I leave out of my bedroom, I watch myself as an actor.

01:05:04Okay.

01:05:04When the whole world was in lockdown,

01:05:07I was wearing my lipstick and kajal at home.

01:05:11My kids were laughing,

01:05:13Mama, where are you going?

01:05:14Are you going out for lunch?

01:05:16I don't believe this.

01:05:17Right.

01:05:18Because when I see myself, I see myself.

01:05:20You see the actor.

01:05:21I see myself.

01:05:22And this is an actor's face.

01:05:25So to answer your question,

01:05:27I do everything to keep myself ready.

01:05:30Okay.

01:05:31What Elizabeth Gilbert said,

01:05:34her word of genius.

01:05:36Genius is not you.

01:05:39Genius is something that's flying around,

01:05:42which sits on you.

01:05:44It connects with,

01:05:45that connects with you,

01:05:47and magic comes out.

01:05:49So you keep yourself ready,

01:05:51and wait for that moment to sit on you.

01:05:53So I keep myself as an actor ready.

01:05:55And when someone chooses a role or something,

01:05:58I am ready for that time.

01:06:02Okay.

01:06:03That's why I do everything.

01:06:06From mental health, from sleep,

01:06:08from water, from yoga,

01:06:10from how to keep myself happy.

01:06:13My only purpose in life is not that

01:06:15that I will make this,

01:06:16that I will make this,

01:06:17that I will make this.

01:06:18My only purpose in life is how to be happy every day.

01:06:22And I do whatever I want to do today.

01:06:25And you are a very happy person.

01:06:26I try to keep myself in that zone.

01:06:30The world tries very hard to make me unhappy.

01:06:35There are many things that I pull down.

01:06:39And then I ask that question to you.

01:06:43I've lost my calm.

01:06:44I've lost my peace.

01:06:45I've lost my balance.

01:06:46I've lost my happiness.

01:06:48How do I find my happiness?

01:06:49What should I do at that time?

01:06:51That I bring myself back to it.

01:06:53Then I get my answer.

01:06:55Sometimes it says,

01:06:55I drink with a friend.

01:06:58I might become happy.

01:06:59Let me phone a friend.

01:07:01Or go on to travel.

01:07:03Or do yoga.

01:07:05Or do sports.

01:07:06Or do retail shopping.

01:07:09I get my answer to be happy in that moment.

01:07:12And the rest of the things that are going to happen

01:07:14or not,

01:07:15that will be life.

01:07:17I don't want to be unhappy.

01:07:20You married a very well-to-do person.

01:07:23Which of course was not the criterion.

01:07:25But he happens to be well-to-do.

01:07:28And you've travelled a lot.

01:07:30Where do you like to go?

01:07:38I love to see magical phenomena of the world.

01:07:44But I haven't seen many of those things.

01:07:46Northern Lights?

01:07:47Yes.

01:07:47Because my family somehow manages to travel only to big cities.

01:07:53And do all those.

01:07:54You know, very rarely I have seen things.

01:07:58But actually, that's what I love to do.

01:08:01But having said that,

01:08:04I am a very scared person.

01:08:06I don't plan my travel.

01:08:08And I don't like to go alone anywhere.

01:08:11I like that comfort of my family.

01:08:13Or my very close people.

01:08:15So, if they go to Singapore,

01:08:17and go to London,

01:08:19then I go to London and go to London and I feel happy.

01:08:25You know, but I want to go to Northern Lights.

01:08:29I want to go to Northern Lights.

01:08:31But I haven't done so many things.

01:08:33I will do it.

01:08:34But I am very happy just going somewhere where my family is there.

01:08:39And you know what I enjoy?

01:08:40I go to Starbucks and eat a sandwich.

01:08:50You know, that joy of traveling together is what I love more than the destination.

01:08:55I have no bucket list and no destination.

01:08:58Okay.

01:08:59I have no bucket list.

01:09:00No bucket list left.

01:09:02No bucket list.

01:09:03I don't make bucket list.

01:09:05Why bucket list?

01:09:06Yeah, whatever you will do today,

01:09:07whatever you will do.

01:09:08In a lifetime, you wanted to become an actor.

01:09:12Whatever happens, I will become an actor.

01:09:14In a lifetime, you want a family.

01:09:16You want to settle down.

01:09:17But you know, that is not a bucket list.

01:09:19What I want to do, whatever.

01:09:21I want to see my daughters find, like if you talk about in that aspect,

01:09:27I want to see both my girls settled in their life, whatever their settled is.

01:09:31Settled is not like settled down.

01:09:34Settled means like my older daughter wants to be married and continue her life.

01:09:37I want to see that happen nicely.

01:09:40My younger daughter wants a career.

01:09:41So I want her to find that, whatever.

01:09:43So my, that thing, just say I wanted to be an actor.

01:09:47I wanted to be married well and have a family.

01:09:50I want to see that same joy for my children.

01:09:52That's not bucket list.

01:09:53Bucket list is that I will see Northern Lights,

01:09:55I will do this, I will buy them.

01:09:58I don't have those things.

01:09:59That bucket list.

01:10:00No.

01:10:01I don't have the dues.

01:10:02The materialistic bucket list you don't have.

01:10:05I just want joy and peace and well-being for my family.

01:10:09You know, just some time back, India went through this horrible attack on civilians,

01:10:17on tourists in Payal Gham.

01:10:19And Modi ji being the strong prime minister that we have,

01:10:24he also gave a good answer.

01:10:26So what are your thoughts about this?

01:10:29You know, I always play neutral.

01:10:32As a personality, I am non-controversial.

01:10:35I like to not attract trouble to myself with my comments.

01:10:39And not that much, I don't think much about that.

01:10:43I feel like my contribution is not possible.

01:10:46I don't bring it very close to myself.

01:10:49But I feel, that attitude that I don't think it is healthy.

01:10:55And if I am like that, I have to change.

01:10:58I have to have the courage to be what I really believe.

01:11:03And I think that as much as I am non-aggressive person,

01:11:08or personality, or situation, I believe.

01:11:10But I think that non-retaliation is a weakness.

01:11:18And retaliation is necessary to put everybody in place.

01:11:25But the cost of retaliation is high.

01:11:28And the cost that we pay for retaliation is very heartbreaking.

01:11:38And when we avoid that, how do we retaliate that?

01:11:42Only retaliation, you have to defend yourself.

01:11:45Defend, correct.

01:11:46We have to retaliate for retaliation sometimes.

01:11:48It's not just about holding people back.

01:11:51Sometimes you have to push them back.

01:11:53Yeah.

01:11:53So all this is a very sensitive matter.

01:11:56And I am really supporting Modi ji.

01:12:00Because I feel right or wrong,

01:12:02we can debate a lot more.

01:12:05But the man in power has the courage to do something.

01:12:16And for that person, I respect that person.

01:12:20Sometimes they do wrong, sometimes they don't,

01:12:22sometimes they go over, sometimes they do less.

01:12:25But the man who is at the helm of it all,

01:12:33I am very happy that he is our leader today.

01:12:35So hats off to Modi ji.

01:12:37So would it be right to say that in your bucket list,

01:12:40you don't have becoming a politician like Hema ji?

01:12:44Acting, dancing,

01:12:45I think you don't know what Hema ji did.

01:12:48You have done it.

01:12:49Yeah.

01:12:49Two daughters, same thing.

01:12:51Two daughters.

01:12:52Yeah.

01:12:53Yeah.

01:12:53You know, so somehow she has inspired me.

01:12:55Yeah.

01:12:56I also toy with the idea of becoming a politician.

01:12:59But now, not because Hema ji is doing,

01:13:02not because that is a nicer thing to do,

01:13:04because acting, you don't know whether you can be an actor always.

01:13:07It's always dependent on some assignments and all that.

01:13:11So I don't, there's a lot of time, so how do you fill up the time?

01:13:16What do you do?

01:13:16Do you do a business?

01:13:17What do you do?

01:13:17Do you do a politician?

01:13:18It seems to be very easy because there's a stage and you talk and you convey.

01:13:22And I, so I thought that would be my natural progression.

01:13:27So I've had those conversations with a few people in the past.

01:13:30Including Hema ji?

01:13:31Including Hema ji.

01:13:32Hema ji told me to think nicely.

01:13:35She says, in fact, she told me a very nice thing.

01:13:37Why do you want to become a politician?

01:13:40That is a very important question.

01:13:42She said, if you want to become a politician, just to, you know, be in the public zone,

01:13:50or whatever, power, fame, all that.

01:13:53She says, I'm not sure.

01:13:56Why do you want to be a politician?

01:13:58You must know your why and then, and then go, and then proceed.

01:14:02So I asked myself, why?

01:14:04One thing I know that there are many things that a politician needs to do.

01:14:09It's something that is not in alignment with who I am.

01:14:13Okay.

01:14:14But there are many things I would like to do with which a power person, which a person in power

01:14:19with a voice can do.

01:14:21So I have to find that balance.

01:14:23Can I do this?

01:14:24Can I not do this?

01:14:25How?

01:14:25So at this point, I have put that in the back burner.

01:14:28To be very honest, I'm enjoying the position of becoming an actor again.

01:14:32Yeah.

01:14:33I have done some amazing roles in the last two years.

01:14:36And things that I'm expecting to come in this year are even better than the ones that have come

01:14:41out in the past.

01:14:42For example, I've done this film called Chinna Chinna Aase, which will also release in Hindi.

01:14:47It's something that was magical when I was doing it.

01:14:50I've never felt like that before.

01:14:52I explored and I've done one Telugu, which will also release Amazon, a web series.

01:15:00I have completed season one as a matriarch of a music house.

01:15:04So that role with Prakash Rajji in the male dominant role and me being the matriarch was too powerful.

01:15:15And I feel very humbled and grateful that I didn't choose my role.

01:15:23I just wanted to choose my role.

01:15:25I just wanted to choose my role or not.

01:15:27But they have envisioned me in that role and also I have not been in the industry.

01:15:33There is a progression in an artist's life.

01:15:36You will have seen this when I am doing it.

01:15:39Then the other person says that you will give this role.

01:15:41Now people have seen me in a lot of roles and performing.

01:15:45But then you have thought that I will do this role.

01:15:48Because there are other actors in my area, who are very established and experienced actors in my age group.

01:15:57And everyone is very well maintained.

01:16:00I am very naturally and very...

01:16:02With a little help.

01:16:03With a little help.

01:16:04With a little help.

01:16:06That's my bitchiness.

01:16:07What's life without a little bitchiness?

01:16:10Exactly, little spice.

01:16:12I am a southern spice.

01:16:13I am a southern siren.

01:16:15Right.

01:16:16So I am very excited that after watching that, what is the name of the web series?

01:16:28But they came to me and which I have completed and I am waiting for them to come out.

01:16:35So I am very excited that after watching that

01:16:38What is that web series?

01:16:40Soul of Music

01:16:42Okay

01:16:43It's called Soul of Music

01:16:45And what is this Kannapa?

01:16:49Kannapa is again Pan India

01:16:52The first thing is that any film is released in all languages

01:16:59And the second category is that a film is made in Pan India

01:17:04It means that when shooting is mounted, it is going to be that Pan India

01:17:10This is one of those

01:17:11Like Bahubali and RRR, it's like that, Magna film

01:17:16There are state established actors like Kannapa has Akshay Kumar representing our industry

01:17:23Kajal Agarwal, Mohan Lal Ji, Mohan Babu Ji

01:17:27So, you know, and myself and Mukesh Rishi Ji

01:17:34You know, so they have got all these actors from all the states

01:17:38And it's a historical mythology film

01:17:42And it's my role of warrior

01:17:46And it's a cameo

01:17:48Because there are so many actors

01:17:50But as I said, Bahubali Ji

01:17:53I see myself as an actor

01:17:55And I prepare myself as an actor everyday

01:17:57So, people thought that she is looking quite frail

01:18:03Or thin or whatever

01:18:05So, this is a warrior queen

01:18:06War scene

01:18:08So, this is how will she be

01:18:10You know

01:18:11But, I do everyday work out

01:18:14And today, you know that

01:18:16Strength training is very important

01:18:18So, I have done

01:18:20And I do strength training

01:18:22So, I have done

01:18:23And I do strength training

01:18:24When I took the scenes

01:18:25I really felt that I carried them out well

01:18:27I was prepared

01:18:29So, I didn't have to practice on set

01:18:32I was prepared to do that

01:18:33I was prepared to do that

01:18:34So, I felt very

01:18:35I felt very happy about it

01:18:37So, I am very excited

01:18:39That role

01:18:40It's a small role

01:18:41It's a cameo

01:18:42You did Kartam Bhuktam also, didn't it?

01:18:45Yes

01:18:46Did you enjoy that?

01:18:47Yes

01:18:48You know why?

01:18:49If you have seen it

01:18:51You have seen it

01:18:52That

01:18:53In the beginning

01:18:55There was no makeup

01:18:57A poor lady

01:18:58Then

01:18:59You will see that

01:19:00The transition

01:19:01It was ultra glamour

01:19:03And then

01:19:04You will see that

01:19:05The negative villain

01:19:06The face

01:19:07The face

01:19:08The cosmetic surgery

01:19:09Botched

01:19:10The face

01:19:11The face

01:19:12The face

01:19:13The face

01:19:14The face

01:19:15Of the face

01:19:16The face

01:19:17That

01:19:18The main actress

01:19:19The main actress

01:19:20Was the power

01:19:21To make the actor

01:19:23For so ugly

01:19:24I was very proud of that film but that film I don't think it hit the mark but my character

01:19:47was a great actor who had no makeup, no makeup, ultra glamour look to go to a botched face and to play the evil mean lady

01:19:58so I feel that I got that whole range to do it and I did it with those prosthetics

01:20:08so I was very unsure of how to allow Madhu, director Soham Shah was very unsure

01:20:18I told him that what you have thought about this character, that you will do it

01:20:25so I allowed that so I felt very so that is what I am doing I am now exploring myself as an actor

01:20:32the actors like Kamal sir, you know all these actors who put on weight, lose weight, hair, hair

01:20:40like for a role

01:20:42I want to be that if I can

01:20:45so for that I have to break my own barrier

01:20:48the limitations in our mind

01:20:50that I am an actress, I have to always look pretty

01:20:53like I used to wear my lipstick in Covid

01:20:56that is my own barrier

01:20:58so for this role play, I break my own barrier

01:21:02so I feel like that was my triumph

01:21:05Fantastic

01:21:07we are waiting to see you

01:21:09in 2025

01:21:10such lovely films you are talking about

01:21:13waiting to see you

01:21:15and really waiting to see the most fulfilled actor in the Hindi film industry

01:21:21I hope

01:21:22in the Indian film industry

01:21:23thank you

01:21:24that is what I want

01:21:25thank you

01:21:26because it is really wonderful how many languages you work in this

01:21:29you know

01:21:30and you are saying that it is being in South

01:21:33two or three films in South

01:21:35you are a part of so many industries

01:21:39I think it is fantastic

01:21:41I feel very humbled and very grateful

01:21:44nice to see you

01:21:45all the best

01:21:46thank you

01:21:47yeah

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