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Tabu's Transformation "I'm a trendsetter." |
"They dare not call me Tubby Tabu anymore." Today the light of victory flashes bright from Tabu's Eyes. The physical transformation she has undergone is indeed breathtaking.
I meet her at her extremely-middle-class, sans-star-trappings house at Versova and when Tabu emerges in a nightie (don't get ideas, guys, it was the kind Mother Teresa would have given the thumbs up to), the effect is still jaw dropping. She's dropped all that seemingly extra baggage and the endearingly gangly ("Anupam Kher and I were the only two actors who'd perpetually stand with our stomachs out") girl could now be easily called slender, svelte and yes, that other s-word - sexy. |
After finishing my interview, when I returned to the MOVIE office, we had a brainstorming session to choose between Tabu and a more conventional option for the MOVIE cover girl. I was amazed to find all five people plumbing for Tabu.
Stars are known to reach out for their audience. Tabu tried that until she realised that she could manage something more; she could be herself and let the audience reach out for her!
Your life has changed irrevocably in the last year
Yes, I would say 1996 has been the best year of my life. I have acheived the respect that I wanted. Maachis and Kaala Pani did wonders for my acting credibility while Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet were commercial hits. Morever, I've made it entirely on my own. Nobody, I repeat, nobody, has helped me arrive where I am today.
Personally, too, with Sajid, I've achieved emotional stability. We've been lucky mascots for each other. He also had his maiden hit as a producer (Jeet) last year. When 1996 began, our relationship was still new but now I'm very content. And I feel that contentment in your personal life is very important for you to be able to do well in your professional life. Also, I want to achieve so that Sajid is proud of me.
What is it about you that has attracted art filmmakers? One could pass off an odd Maachis or a Kaala Pani as pure chance, but now you're doing Mani Ratnam's Aanandam, Kalpana Lajmi's Darmiyan and art cinema's demi god, Govind Nihalani's next!
Even I wonder as to why and how it happened! I can't figure it out. Govind has seen my first film Pehla Pehla Pyar (that was released before Prem) and he had liked me a lot. He was doing Drohkaal then but recently he offered me his next.
With Ajay Devgan playing the hero, is Goving attempting to cross over?It is still a very Govind Nihalani film. Its a totally new approach to relationships but it's made in a commercial way.
Coming back to how an unlikely candidate like 'you' became the parallel cinema's favourite muse.....
Maybe they feel I'm a sensitive actress. Maybe I suit the role. Maybe I showed the willingness to do something new.
So how does the keeper of the flame evaluate herself as a performer?
I can never be overconfident of my work. When I go wrong, I instantly recognise it. I'm so critical that if I do a scene in a medicore way, it spoils my day. Other people are better judges of my talent. I think I'm ok.
Just ok?
Well, I have proved that I've gone beyond a lot of things.
Gone beyond a lot of people too?
See, I believe everybody is equally capable or talented (seeing my incredulous look)... at least to some extent. Nobody's extra gifted or extra blessed. It's just that you have to be aware of your talent. And you have to be alert enough to know how to use it. It's pure extra effort that matters. I've never compared myself to anybody else and I've never worked with the attitude that 'I have to prove a point to somebody'. Because I know I'm made of different stuff.
| "YOU HAVE TO DO SOME FILMS FOR MANI SOME FOR MONEY. ANYWAY, AFTER EVERY FLOP I'VE RAISED MY PRICE. BECAUSE I DEMAND THE PRICE FOR MY TALENT." |
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How would you define 'different'?
See, I don't know how different I am but I have managed to be a trendsetter. I have never wanted to do what everybody else is doing. I have never wanted to be like everybody else. It wasn't a superior attitude. I did'nt want to be 'above' them. Maybe I could not be.
I have my own values and I know what I want to do. How does it bother me what others are doing? And see, this attitude has worked. I have proved myself as an actress long before any other girl from my generation. A lot of others were just proving their dancing abilities. Now they have become aware of their acting and their talent. But from my generation I was the first.
Which actress would you name as belonging to your generation?
(Laughs uproariously). You know better!
Were you convinced about your 'difference' even before you found validation with Maachis?
I think that anything done with conviction will work. Even when my career was going nowhere and films were flopping, I did not get tempted to do hazaar films and just any kind of role. Even before Maachis I was choosy. In so many years of my career I've just had 20 releases.
Where did all the typically commercial cinema that you did (the Ruk ruks and Pappiya jhappiyas) fit into all this high falutin ideals?
Of course, I owe my claim to fame to commercial cinema. Children still call me Ruk ruk aunty. I cannot deny that where I am today is because of my commercial films.
But inspite of that, I took such a drastic step towards parallel cinema. It needs guts. When an artiste decides to do something a little different you fear failure. People definitely did tell me, 'What are you doing? But I never cared. In fact I've got more commercial offers now than I've got before Maachis.
Would you have preferred it if the kind of success you've witnessed in parallel cinema had come your way commercially?
I would be lying if I said I don't want to be successful or I don't want to give hits. But it does'nt matter to me so much. My world does'nt collapse if my film does'nt do well or I'm not a commercial star because in my own right I've established a name for myself which lots of others take years to achieve.
I feel nice today when people like Shabana Azmi compliments me or somebody like Naseer says "Beautiful work". He said he really liked my first scene in Maachis where we are all in the house and interacting with each other. It's much better to work with respect. If you have a certain amount of respect, then even in commercial cinema, its easier for people to accept you.
If you had to chose between art and commercial success what would you choose?
I would definitely like to be known as a successful actress. Because a hit film is remembered but a good performance is remembered forever.
So in the future we will see you more in art films than commercial?
All said and done, I'm still a commercial star. But I think I've balanced it quite well. I think I've been quite lucky (thank God) to have the best of both worlds.
How much has being Shabana Azmi's niece influenced your inclination towards art cinema?
I'm very thankful to Shabana aunty for always making me conscious of the need to do better. The first time I thought I had done good work was when Shabana aunty called me from Calcutta after seeing Maachis. She said, 'I can't believe you have acted so well.' I had tears in my eyes. That's a very big compliment coming from Shabana aunty because she's extremely critical. She's always been like a bad conscience. And I've always been so conscious that, 'Oh my God, Shabana aunty is going to see this film.'
So I guess, the kind of atmosphere you've grown up in and the kind of people you have interacted with definitely influences you. Also, of course, what you allow to affect you. I mean, if I did'nt care a hoot about what she said then I could've done what I wanted.
Besides a willingness to experiment, part of your appeal for art filmmakers must also lie in your readiness to compromise on your prize.
See, without money you can't live. But you do some films for Mani and some for money.
Anyway, after every flop I've raised my price because I demand the price for my talent.
| "IHAVE PROVED MYSELF AS AN ACTRESS LONG BEFORE ANY OTHER GIRL FROM MY GENERATION. A LOT OF OTHERS WERE JUST PROVING THEIR DANCING ABILITIES." |
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In Kaala Pani just the climax scene justified my presence. I've grown old and am still waiting after 50 years for Lal (Mohanlal) at the railway platform. My nephew does'nt tell me he's dead and leads me away. I still get goosebumps whenever I see the scene.
For Mani's film, while narrating the role itself, he told me, 'You don't have any songs in the film but you have two very good scenes.' There are many heroines in the film (there's Aishwarya, Gautami and even Revathi who's there for only one scene) but it did'nt matter to me. I loved the role because it was very different from what I've done so far. In fact, I must be the only heroine from Bombay who willingly wakes up at three in the morning.
Were'nt you insecure about Aishwarya especially considering she is the heroine?
I've never been insecure, never known that emotion. Personally or professionaly. Once you're insecure you're always insecure, you're finished.
Even a Rekha feels insecure about a Sonu Walia. Insecurity also helps to motivate you. For instance in N Chandra's Shikari, you have the newly successful Karisma with you. Are'nt you worried?
In Shikari, we both have great roles and Govinda has a terrific role. It's gonna be a brilliant film.
I may be doubtful about my own work, vis a vis my own expectations from myself but I've never been insecure. In fact the people around me get insecure when they see that I'm not getting insecure.
Have you shoot with Aishwarya at all for Aanandam
No. I did'nt. I wish I had. Because we are both Scorpios.
Maachis really opened the floodgates for you. Your performance (especially in the first half) was remarkably true-to-life. How much do you identify with your character
A lot, inspite of the fact that the character eventually became a terrorist. I definitely identified with the strength of the character.
In Maachis the character is that of a person who fights aggression. What would you say is your personality type. An aggressor or a victim?
In real life I would definitely fight an unfavourable situation. I'm not a victim. I have always been a fighter - not an aggressive vocal fighter. And I have come out of situations. My family, my God has been with me. I definitely identified with the pain in my character.
How much pain would you say you have experienced?
I have experienced my share. Without that you can't grow. I think I'm very lucky to have undergone pain. I think I'm very lucky to have undergone pain. It teaches you a lot. Maybe that's why I do the kind of films I do. I think it's important for everybody to go through the grind and see what life is really about. It's not just a bed of roses.
There is talk of Maachis being banned for it's un-sympathetic take to terrorists. How politicised are you?
I'm not at all politicised. I know just who the PM of India is - that's about all. Nowadays, in my interviews also they all ask me frivolous questions - one journalist asked me about the craft of film acting. Nobody knows that I know jackshit about the craft of acting.
| "IAM A WORKING GIRL AND SAJID UNDERSTANDS THAT. WE HAVE ACCEPTED EACH OTHER AS WE ARE. NOT ACCEPTED EACH OTHER TO CHANGE." |
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OK I'll ask you a few frivolous questions. Do you consider yourself a Navketan discovery or a Boney Kapoor find?
My God, what a strange question! I owe everything to Dev saab. Whenever I am dubbing in Anand. I always try to meet him. In fact, more than me, my sister, Farha is in films because of him. He screen tested both of us and he was the one who showed her screen test to Yash Chopra and that's how she got Faasle. We owe our stardom or whatever to Dev saab. I was in the eigth standard when I did Hum Naujawan. After that I went back to school in Hyderabad, came back to Bombay, joined St. Xavier's college and then returned to films with Prem. Earlier Shekhar had tested me for Dushmani. I must have been 12 years old and I still have those stills with Sunny. I showed them to him recently.
Tabu, when an adolescent does a suggestive scene as in Hum Naujawan (there's a molestation scene) or a Brooke Shields does a Pretty Baby, does it any way affect the fragile psyche of a child-woman?
No. I just saw it as 'acting' even then.
Since you say you were in school, didn't the other students have anything snide to say?
Nobody saw it.
Dating from those days are your bad vibes with Jackie. Now the two of you have surprised everybody by signing Dil Sacha Chehra Jhoota together
I'm not opposite him. But I have scenes with him. Of course we are cordial to each other.
In other words, you'll be enacting the film's title whenever you meet. You seem to be busy mending fences these days. Next you'll tell me you have nothing against Boney-Anil-Sanjay too.
Nothing at all. In fact, I asked Boney why he wasn't taking me for his films. They did, in fact, approach me for a film, Gharwali Baharwali but there were some date problems.
After all the water that has flown under the bridge would you work with Sanjay?
Why not?
Ingrid Bergman had once said, "The key to happiness is good health and ....
... poor memory' (laughs). I've written it on my bedroom wall. It's the best advice. You can't do anything about the past. So why dwell on it?
Is it more of 'forgive' or 'forget'.
Forgive. Forget toh you can't unless you have amnesia or something.
Would you say your supporting roles in Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet helped you?
Though Saajan Chale Sasural was more of a Govinda-David Dhawan film than mine or Karisma, it was successful. I think an artiste should do every kind of role and film. Once you're typecast you're gone.
Aye, in Jeet also I knew that I was not the main heroine in the film but I liked the role inspite of the fact that I had only four-five scenes. I knew I could hold my own and score in them. And I did. I've got a lot of applause. Sometimes one scene is better than a full film.
Okay, when is the marriage to Sajid taking place?
We have not decided yet. People just started saying December 16. Not true. We'll plan a big marriage, not make an overnight decision and go in for a hurried wedding.
Do you plan to work after marriage?
If I don't work, I'll go mad. Because what I am today, my confidence, my self-esteem is all because of my work. Gulzar saab always says,'Kaam ki lathi hamesha kaam aayegi'. For me my work is much more than just a profession. It's an outlet. It's my criterion to judge myself. It's my happiness.
I guess for the kind of person I am, a thinking person, not doing anything would mean rotting of the brains. I think any person who stops growing stops living.
Will the audience accept a married heroine?
Let's hope so. Because somebody will have to change the trend no? I changed the trend of heroines by doing different films and somewhere set an example and I'm proud because if we don't take ourselves seriously, nobody else is going to. Somebody has to take that step. It's like, 'Who'll bell the cat'. I'm glad I did it. At least people tell me I have. I did'nt know uptil now but I'm getting so much feedback and so many reactions: 'You're a trendsetter', 'You've set an example' that I realise what I've achieved.
And will Sajid accept a working wife?
I am a working girl and he understands that. We have accepted each other as we are. Not accepted each other to change.
But what about certain demands of your profession? After Sajid do you see yourself wearing revealing outfits?
I 've done my share of glamorous roles but I've never gone overboard and exposed too much. Basically I'm uncomfortable doing certain things (it could even be speaking a line) and I'll continue to not do them. Not that there has ever been any pressure from Sajid not to do A or B or C. He's never done or said anything that will discourage me, or which could be detrimental to my career. He's always encouraged me.
| "JACKIE, ANIL, SANJAY KAPOOR ... I DON'T DWELL ON THE PAST. INGRID BERGMAN HAD ONCE SAID, "THE KEY TO HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A POOR MEMORY." |
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That's commendable. Because most industry men have acute double standards where their women are concerned.
Because he is a producer and he knows the demands. And he also knows I'll never do something which will show me in a bad light. And he's very modern, very understanding.
So we are going to see a lot of you in the coming years. Are you doing Gulzar's next film?
All I know is that I will be in it (laughs). Some confidence, na? That's the deal I've made with Gulzarsaab. He's adopted me. He's my everything. My guru, my friend, my father, my tutor, my philosopher. If I'm in trouble or if I have a problem I go upto him. So much more mature. Important to have the right people to guide you. Bosky and I are very good friends too. She's one hell of a mature girl. I'm sure she'll do very well whenever she wants to direct a film (she's assisting Saeed Mirza).
I have spoken to Rakheeji on the phone. She called me after Maachis and I was so touched. She said, "Arrey, hame to maalom hi nahin tha tum itna accha kam karti ho. Badi badmaash ladki ho.'
I can't imagine life without Gulzarsaab.
Just a thought - did any of your competitors call you up after Maachis?
(Laughs) Not one. Govinda said he saw the trailers and loved them.
Can you recall any advice that Gulzaar saab gave you?
He said, 'Even in your closest relationships, you have to make your stand very clear. You shouldn't let yourself be taken for granted.' He taught me how life is like a screw which goes round and round and round and with every twist turn it becomes stronger into place. In life every painful experience is like that screw. The more you go through the grind, the stronger you become. He's encouraged me to write, to read, to write poetry. Every poem I've written I've shown to him. He's promised to publish them. Encouraged me generally.
Have you laid down the condition that Gulzar saab advised you to with Sajid - to make yourself clear even in your closest relationship.
Actually it is difficult to do so, especially in the beginning of your relationship. But even if you don't, slowly and steadily the person knows what you want.
What does stability with Sajid mean to you?
After Sajid, my life has become much more clearer. I've settled down mentally. Earlier there was an element of confusion in life. You don't know where you are heading. You don't have a goal.
What is your concept of love?
Love is accepting each other the way you are.
Would it include accepting even infedility as Basu Bhattacharya's Aastha suggests?
No that I don't think is possible. It must be Basu's concept. But I don't think anybody could accept infedility. It's too Utopian.
As Tabu excuses herself and goes into her bedroom, I ruminate over what Tabu has said and what emerges strongest is her amazing belief in herself. Can it be the same girl who had come the MOVIE office for the Phone Call Scheme a year ago? Then she that perpetual stop and the vibe she gave was of somebody receding into herself - she had reminded me of a collapsible xylophone.
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I also remembered how she had been all agog with excitement at a picture of hers that MOVIE had printed and had told us how she had shown it to the whole unit of her film. Just then Tabu broke my reverie as she came back into the drawing room with armful of stills from her forthcoming films and excitedly spread them all over the small wooden table. I realise that perhaps Tabu is still the same. Maybe its our perception of her that has changed. |
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