'I don't want to get delusive'
Anushka Sharma might be riding high right now on the success of Jab Tak Hain Jaan — it isn't every newcomer, after all, who gets launched and then associated with big names like Shah Rukh Khan — but the actress remains refreshingly practical about the film industry, pointing out that acting isn't all she wants to do in her life.
Stardom, she feels, is just a fleeting phase.
"I think 10 or 15 years down the line, I would not want to remain an actress. Probably, I will be married and driving my kids to school. Appreciation is obviously nice. Our
profession is such that it puts us in a trance while working and then we don't realise what all we can do," the 24-year-old says.
Anushka made her debut in 2008 opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Yash Raj Film's
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. She later went on to do movies like Badmaash Company, Band Baaja Baraat, 'Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl' and Patiala House.
Her recent release is late film-maker Yash Chopra's directorial venture Jab Tak Hai Jaan, along with Shah Rukh and Katrina Kaif. The film received grand opening in cinema houses upon its release on November 13.
Anushka adds that she does not get carried away by stardom. "Stardom is nice — but because I am an outsider to the industry, I don't want to get sucked into this too much. I have this sense of practicality that this is temporary," she explains, adding, "I think right now, I am getting many offers because my films have done well. But it's not going to be an ongoing process. I don't want to get delusive about where I am. I keep a constant check by saying that this isn't my entire life."
Stunned by SRK's performance
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan for one is very impressed by the late Yash Chopra's Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ), and feels it is one of Shah Rukh Khan's finest performances. Chopra passed away on October 21, just days before the release of his swan song, starring Shah Rukh, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. His family decided to go ahead with a gala premiere as a tribute to Chopra, with the who's who of Bollywood attending. Ironically, Chopra was last photographed on Bachchan's 70th birthday on October 11.
In an early morning post, the actor wrote, "Just back from YRF and the premiere of the film Jab Tak Hai Jaan, followed by a party ... And the film... what can one do, or say about it ... each portion poetry, each artist at his and her best, and for Shah Rukh his best performance after Swades (sic)."
Bachchan was impressed with the old-world charm of the studio. "And the film and stand alone ambience theatre built of such period architecture, reflecting the carving original of the columns and the entire ambience in the style of some old castle in early Europe. It was magical — just the way Yashji would have wanted," he posted.
The disadvantages of stardom
The team of Son of Sardaar — including Ajay Devgan, Sonakshi Sinha, Ashwani Dhir and producer N R Pachisia — recently visited Patna to promote their movie. And this time, accompanying them was none other than Sonakshi's father, Shatrugan Sinha.
The team first visited the famous gurudwara in Patna, which happens to be the
oldest gurudwara in India, and later headed for a press conference. But to everyone's surprise, when the team came out after their press conference, they were greeted by the humongous crowd of almost 1500 people who had come to catch a glimpse of them.
Due to this unexpected situation, the organisers asked the actors to go back into the hotel and wait till they cleared the mob outside. Later, the police and high security were called for the same. The team had to wait for almost 30 minutes before they could leave. Looks like stardom has its disadvantages as well.
'The role should excite me'
Waheeda Rehman, who used to be known for experimenting with unconventional roles — in movies like 'Guide' and Teesri Kasam — sees herself reflected in Vidya Balan, who is also bold in this respect.
"I also used to choose different movies. I never stuck to 'one-good-girl-in-love' (kind of role) and Vidya does the same thing. I had the guts to do 'Guide'. At that time, they told me not to do it because it was a vamp's role. I did Mujhe Jeene Do and Teesri Kasam. I
wanted to take a chance and even Vidya is doing that now," she says.
Waheeda follows the same maxim even today. This is why she has taken up nothing after Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 2009 release 'Delhi 6'. "The role should excite me. It must contribute to the movie — not just like standing there. That's not exciting. Even if it is an elderly role, it must contribute. I don't want to be there for the sake of being there," Waheeda explains.
In her 56-year-long acting career, she gave all-time classics such as Kagaz Ke Phool, 'Guide', Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Teesri Kasam and Mujhe Jeene Do. With no prior experience in acting, she always focussed on her director's brief. "Whatever acting I did, it was with the help of my directors and my imagination. I used to do things to the best of my ability. I emphasised on my feelings and not so much on the technique," she explains.
The big screen veteran has no plans to appear in television, though. "I got so many offers, but I don't want to do TV. I was told you get stuck badly if the serial becomes popular. I want to have my life at my time," she says, adding, "If I do one picture (at a time), it is fine. I want to enjoy my life. Currently, I'm doing so. There are so many things to do — I run a house and meet my friends. I do a lot of reading, meditation and I travel."
She also admits that she's in touch with many of her contemporaries in the film industry. "Nanda, Asha Parekh, Sadhna, Helen — we meet quite often. We go out for lunches or visit each other's houses. We watch movies.
Salim (writer Salim Khan) saab and Helen have screenings for all the movies they can get, and all of us watch them together," she explains.
The actress has always been fond of her fans but believes that there is a line that should not be crossed.
"Sometimes, it bugs you and irritates you. We go to a restaurant and we are eating. People don't have the sensitivity to let us eat. Once we finish, they can ask for an autograph or a photograph. Let us be. You are eating, so are we. We don't want to be disturbed like that," she insists.