Describe your role in Aaja Nachle.

I am sorry. I am not supposed to talk anything about it. But I must say that it has been a very satisfying experience to work in this film.

What is the extent of offers that have come your way since you came to Mumbai for Aaja Nachle?

The extent is really very big. But I don’t want to do every film. I want to do films and roles which will satisfy my creative instincts and be worthy of buying a ticket in a theatre. But my first priority will always be my family. I will always consider where the film is being shot and if it is convenient for me to shoot in that place. Frankly, I will work at my own pace.

Will you play a mom or a mother-in-law?

Why not?

Why did you refuse Saroj Khan's film? She has been your mentor...

(Interrupts) I did not refuse her film because I was never offered that film. I don't know how these rumours started.

So there’s no fall-out with Saroj Khan?

Sarojji is family to me.

But she is not doing the choreography of Aaja Nachle, like she did in almost your films?

Well, Yash Raj Films has put everything in place. And I didn’t want to interfere in that. Vaibhavi Merchant is doing the choreography and she is very good.

 Have the work ethics changed in Bollywood from the days you got married and took a break?

Tremendously. Almost everybody has become very organised. Yash Raj Films were very organised even before, but now they are super organised (laughs). The technology has become wonderful and that really helps.

Have the actors become punctual?

(laughs) Yes. I think the corporate culture has paid good dividends.

The heroines have changed. They are doing bold roles and have bold scenes. Would you have been able to do it, if you were younger and in the thick of things now?

I haven't faced that situation. If I would have seen that the director is good and can handle the scene well, I may have done it. But I tell you, this boldness is a reflection of the society. Films reflect society.

Your relationship with Dr Nene became a long distance one, courtesy Aaja Nachle? Was it tough?

No. Distance makes the heart grow fonder (laughs). Plus, Sriram and I have our mobiles and we were in touch.

Did you get mobbed in the city when you went out during this stay?

To be honest, most of the days I have been shooting, and my life is restricted from home to studios and back. I went for a few movies with my kids- Arin, Ryan- and once to the Juhu beach. Many people came up to say hello, but nobody became unruly or misbehaved.

Did Arin and Ryan see other places in Mumbai?

They did. Sriram was here for some time, and he took them out to the Gateway of India and Taraporevala Aquarium. They also visited many malls. It's wonderful to see that Mumbai has changed so much in the past few years.

Have Arin and Ryan started seeing your films?

No. They have seen only Devdas. In fact, they saw some other films in Mumbai- Bheja Fry, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Dhoom2. They sat through all of them. Apparently, they love Hindi films. Good, na?

Did you catch up with your Bollywood friends during this stay? Any regrets that you couldn't meet someone?

I met up with all those whom I wanted to meet. I met Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Ahmed Khan, Rani Mukherji, Preity Zinta...the list is really long. No regrets at all.

New actors who have impressed you and you think they'll go a long way?

Konkona Sen Sharma, Kangana Ranaut- she was awesome in Gangster; Priyanka Chopra, Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shourey and Riteish Deshmukh.

When are you coming back to India?

From whatever I have been given to understand, Aaja Nachle will release sometime around Diwali. I will be coming sometime before its release - for the promotional activities.
TWF