'Indian cinema is changing'

Powerful presence

Cinema is only a part of her life, albeit an invincible one. Never one to shy away from laying threadbare her stand on social issues, her characters mirror real life. By all counts, Raveena Tandon has evolved from the commercial films that she was once an incredible part of.

Mother of three, she had taken a hiatus, only to came back with a stellar performance in ‘Maatr’, where she plays a mother who avenges the rape and murder of her daughter. With her winning the ‘Phalke Best Critic Award’ from the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy, her efforts have come full circle.

In a candid chat with Anupama Ramakrishnan, Raveena talks about how cinema is now holding a mirror to the society, making a change in the world we live in and the doting mother she is.     

‘Maatr’ must have been a pretty challenging act to do...
It has been an overall challenge for me. Being a mother myself, I could easily identify the character. It would be what any mother would have done in a situation like that. The film was made at the time when the Nirbhaya incident happened. It was a very strong role.  

And now the award... How do you look at it?
I am hoping it is just the start. I just went back to the reviews and it said what a comeback it was for me. I always wanted to do the right kind of roles. And it has been worth the wait.

Are good scripts hard to come by? Or do you sense a change in the way movies are made in this country now ?
Indian cinema is changing, it has very relevant roles to offer now. You know, it is very important to connect all roles suitably  with the personality of the actor. Today, what is relevant is being brought out in cinema. At least some films are departing from the usual commercial category. Indian cinema is broadening its horizons. It is reflecting what is happening around.

How do you juggle the many roles that you have — at home and work?
I have learnt the art of balancing — spending time with my kids and my work. I am in the middle of doing endorsements; I am doing a show called ‘Sabse Bada Kalakar’ and other film projects.

If you compare you as a newcomer with the new kids today...  
It all depends on how you evolve. Today’s kids learn everything much sooner than we did. They are prepared even before they enter films. I had not set foot in a beauty parlour before I entered the films. I had not attended any acting or dancing classes. I was offered the role and the next day, I was in front of the camera. What we did in our 30 or 40th film, the newcomers are doing in their first film, which is good.

On the personal front, you have adopted two of your daughters, thus setting a fine example...
If you look at it, here is a soul who has no one on earth and you are picking that
soul up. Frankly, there is no greater gratification in the world than that.