In all seriousness

Bollywood buzz

The child artiste of Sagar Sarhadi’s offbeat hit Bazaar (1982) and the adolescent who has a crush on her professor in Dev Anand’s Hum Naujawan (1986) has now evolved into a performer who needs no introduction.

Multiple award winner Tabassum aka Tabu (her screen name) has mellowed down over the years. She is no longer blunt (“I still am, try asking me that kind of question!” she laughs) but much more relaxed, as we discover when we meet her.

Tabu plays a ruthless cop in the upcoming film Drishyam, the remake of the hit Malayalam movie of the same name. “It’s a new, exciting and powerful character for me,” she says. “In fact, I wish I was as powerful as she is, but for that I will have to be an Inspector-General of Police, and I run away from cops in real life!”

Being in power

The actor shakes her head when we ask whether she picked up a few things from real cops to play her role, citing the same reason. “Yes, the uniform made me feel good. But let me tell you, what we do on screen is not even one per cent of what real police do,” she declares.

Her character in the film, which is based in the inner Goa that is far unlike the fun haven most people know, is of a ruthless police officer who can go to any length to do her job, especially when her son goes missing. “The worst was when I had to torture children of the character played by Ajay Devgan — that made me feel really bad! And of course, apart from that was the fact that I had to oppose Ajay himself. Ajay, whom I know as Vishal, his real name, is an old friend, and I wish I was friends with him even in the film. In our last three films (Vijaypath — Tabu’s first hit, Haqeeqat and Thakshak), ages ago, we were romantically cast.”

She goes on, “Ajay has not changed one bit, he is the same good friend and fun-loving person, except that he has become a father, and a fantastic father at that. But working with him was such a relaxing experience. See, he has seen so much, is in such a strong position today, comes from a film family and has directed films — so he is never too serious, and shooting becomes like a picnic or a party. In fact, I would sometimes wonder if I was working or was on a holiday. “

Ask her about his famous pranks and she laughs and quips, “They have lessened over the years — he claims he has grown up now.”

On the other hand, the film is, according to her, “An unusually gripping format. It is a different story, a thriller with mystery, drama and emotions. It is about families too, and you get involved with the emotions when things happen and they get shaken up. At the same time, it is a smart cop story in which everyone has a point, are fighting circumstances and are doing what’s best for their families.”

Tabu reveals that the original film was made by her close friends and that she had loved it. “Since then, I wondered when I will be able to do such a character. When Nishikant Kamat offered me this remake, I blindly signed it!”

Tabu admits, however, that she knows that every actor who does this role will bring her own feel and flavour to it. So will every director. “Nishikant’s a great director, who being a Maharashtrian himself, knows the ins and outs of the Goan setting and the characters he has designed, and has brought in his own touches. Of course, the core of the characters cannot change. But I am sure that he has made an equally good film.”

Contrary to her image, Tabu does not hanker after awards (“If they come to me, it is fine.”) and chooses roles “from whatever is offered to me” based on their potential. “I must do justice to the character, and be able to perform well.”

Such a long journey

Tabu looks back on her 21-year-old journey as a leading lady as something “rewarding, yet difficult at times. I have grown a lot, and every actor will understand when I say that in this field you get the experience of more than 10 lifetimes within a decade. It’s not just the associates, the fans and the way one takes care of one’s image, but also the characters we get to play.”

Tabu credits her directors, whether it was Gulzar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Mani Ratnam (not in a Hindi film, though), Madhur Bhandarkar or others for making her what she is today. “I am a realistic actor, because that is the only way I know. My directors allowed me to be myself, without any reference points. So what I came up with was from deep within me, without any kind of restrictions, and that is what has made me develop a stamp of my own. At the same time, I never had any expectations from myself, because that too limits you as an actor.”

Why has she done less of comedy, at which she excelled in films like Chachi 420, Biwi No. 1 and even Hera Pheri? “No one’s offered me such roles,” she rues.

We decided to prod her a bit on an unusual aspect: she is actually the first heroine to make it to the top despite not working romantically with a single Khan (except for her cameo with Shah Rukh Khan in Saathiya). Right now, there is hype about Kangana doing the same thing. What does she have to say about it, and was this by design?

Laughing heartily, she says, “Though it was not by design at all, yes, you have answered your own question.” She goes on, “Having said that, I believe that the box-office is the most important of all for us. I do not think a hit can harm anybody, it can only do good. And those who say that hits are not important — I do not know whether they are being honest.”

The day we meet, a delayed film with her elder sister Farah called Do Chehre has been released. What is Farah, one-time top star, doing nowadays? “Oh, she is busy bringing up her son,” she answers.

And what does Tabu herself do in her free time, as she does very few films? “I know, I do such ‘few films’ that every new film is called a comeback. Yes, in my free time, I just waste time.” A guffaw follows before she explains, “I was joking. Actually, I write prose. I would also like to be trained formally in music. I have recorded a song now for Neeraj Pandey’s film Missing, where I am working with Manoj Bajapyee. The music is by M M Kreem.”

Apart from this, the only other assignment she has is Abhishek Kapoor’s Fitoor, in which she has replaced Rekha.

Yes, these will be her next two “comebacks”. Of course, we are joking!