JOIN USAs an actor, she is just one film (and hit) old — she was the obese female lead in Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015. However, for some years before that, Bhumi Pednekar was a part of the casting department of Yash Raj Films, and has auditioned hundreds of hopefuls and cast some of them. At the same time, she is perhaps the only recent YRF protégé who has never done a second film with them as an actor. Why was that?
She laughs and says, “After Dum…, I spent almost two years bringing down the 27 kilos of weight I had put on for that role, and then got busy with the two films I have. They too did films where I could not have possibly fit in. But yeah, you are right, we must work together now. They are still managing my career.”
With a bang
In retrospect, Bhumi feels that the YRF film was the best she could have got as a debut film. “It opened doors for me, showed me how to be an actor who was willing to experiment, and also established my talent, which is a chance very few get with their first films. After that film, I really have read some great material in scripts. But I have been picky. Today, we actors play diverse characters, just like it is in Hollywood, and we do not have to do 100 films at a time,” Bhumi avers.
Her first ‘normal-looking heroine’ film is Toilet—Ek Prem Katha. So how was the journey from overweight to normal? A loud guffaw punctuates the hotel suite where we are seated, before she says, “I was normal even then! I had put on weight only for the role, and to lose all that in a healthy manner took about 18 months. But yeah, life is great. I am doing two films that are very good, credible films that are satisfying for me, and I am proud of both.”
Bhumi considers herself as very lucky in so many matters. “I thought that I would have a long struggle because I would be stereotyped after my debut. That did not happen. Also, all my films have something to say and are made by passionate film-makers.”
How would she compare the two AKs — her leading men? There is a prolonged guffaw again before she replies, “Oh God! I never thought of them that way, and I would rather not compare them.” She then relaxes and says, “We all have this preconceived idea about big stars, but Akshay-sir is the most down-to-earth, punctual person and someone who treats the director, me and even a spot-boy as equals. And he is so dedicated. Ayushmann is earnest, passionate and so god-gifted. He writes poetry, makes music, sings, was a VJ, and also acts.”
Coming to her new release, Toilet—Ek Prem Katha, she reveals that the title itself intrigued her. “But the narration blew me away. I thought that the film was just about sanitation, but the script made me realise how grave and big the issue was. Essentially, the film is a love story — Akshay sir’s first since Namastey London 10 years ago — and the toilet is the villain. Keshav and Jaya are simple people in their setup, and the film will leave the audience with a sense of change.”
She explains, “We all come from privileged families and have never gone without a toilet, so for me, it was a superficial issue until now. But today, I look at it differently. I like to prepare for my roles and try and make every movie’s Bhumi Pednekar a different person, so I even stayed away from the loo for two days to feel Jaya’s agony. That may sound gross, but it’s true. Some facts in the script absolutely shocked me. I can understand now why the UN is taking up the issue so seriously, especially in South-East Asian countries.”
Change through films
The actor is hopeful of a quick social change. “We must stop blaming the government when the mindsets of people themselves are stuck in a time warp. But awareness is increasing — to give a simple example, kids today prevent parents from throwing things on the road. For the first time, we have a government and a prime minister who talk of cleanliness, which to my mind, is as important for the growth of any country as any other aspect. Like when we go abroad, we first see how clean the place is, and we do not know its GDP.”
Do we see a pattern in Bhumi’s assignments — Dum… was on obesity versus character, Toilet… is on open defecation as a women’s issue, and her forthcoming Shubh Mangal Savdhaan is on erectile dysfunction!
Another loud guffaw erupts before the actor says, “I am lucky and thank god for such scripts. I am glad that today cinema like this is appreciated, or I don’t know if I would have made it as an actor.”
You would have, Bhumi. Didn’t you say you are the lucky one?