Tabu: I wanted to be here, but I didn’t want to do what everyone was doing

When it comes to talent, grace and good looks, she stands tall. Really tall. Yes, in the past, she’s been given titles like ‘the reluctant star’, ‘mystery woman’, et al. But the only thing Tabu was really reluctant to do was follow the herd. And she would agree that this little bit of mystery is what has not let the sheen of stardom wear off. Alright, you wouldn’t probably call her the most competitive actor in showbiz, but she’s quick to explain, “Nahin hoke bhi, theek thaak hi ho gaya.Competitive hoti toh shaayad nahin kar pati.” That’s Tabu — funny, fiercely intelligent, picky about her choices in life and ready to break taboos. While she calls the twisted character in 'AndhaDhun' her favourite role, as she “was on a trip playing Simi”, her recent release De De Pyaar De was clearly not your run-of-the-mill romantic fare either. In a chat with BT, the free-spirited actress reveals a lot about her journey, roles, friendships, relationships and all that, yet, she continues to hold on to some of those mysteries close to her heart. Read on…
On one side, you have comedies like 'Golmaal Again', 'De De Pyaar De' in your filmography, and on the other, you have films like 'Astitva', 'Maachis', 'Chandni Bar', 'Maqbool' and 'Haider' to your credit. You seem to be an actress who has never liked being trapped in one zone. In your late twenties, you played a mom in 'Astitva', and did films that most actresses your age would not typically choose...
Well, everybody wants to look good and all of that, and there is nothing wrong with it. For me, it was always important to see what the scope to perform is. How am I pushing myself beyond the boundaries? Is there something for me to chew on? Every actor wants a platform where he/she can display their abilities. 'Astitva' was that platform for me, and it was the most cathartic experience of my career. At that point, it was a fantastic role for a woman. I didn’t look at the character from the point of view of…is she a mom or a wife. I asked myself, ‘What does the character do for me?’ Mahesh Manjrekar (director) had come to be with 'Vaastav', and I had told him that I don’t have much to do in it. So, when he came to me with 'Astitva', he said, “Okay, now you can’t say you have nothing to do!”
Most actors fear that they will be offered similar roles, hence, they often don’t want to take chances with parts that are unusual. In your case, I am assuming it didn’t happen? Or even if you were offered those roles, you didn’t accept them?
I am fortunate that every kind of role came my way and I didn’t get typecast. My choice of roles worked in my favour, things could have gone the other way, too. I must applaud every writer and director who thought of me while making their film, as they didn’t typecast me. A lot of people typecast you in their head, and then everyone steers in the same direction. Look, my beginning was also different. When I did my first film ('Prem', 1995), I wasn’t interested in doing this at all. Over time, it grew on me, and eventually, I found my groove, and I also found a home in the industry. I started feeling comfortable with the thought that the kind of work that I want to do is possible here. Earlier, I did not understand why the industry was making everyone do what the other person was doing. I never understood why people were not left alone to do their own thing. In my mind, I knew that I wanted to be here, but I didn’t want to do what everyone was doing. It’s also my temperament; I don’t like to be in one zone for too long.
Your film that released this Friday is about a 50-year-old man’s relationship with a 26-year-old girl. It is uncommon in our cinema, but obviously, not as rare in real life. Society is changing and becoming more accepting of relationships that don’t fit into the mould, would you agree with that?
Yes, I think so, in many ways. Having said that, I don’t think that romance between an older man and a younger girl is out of the norm. It’s been happening for years. It also depends on how the director is telling the story and how credible you make the characters. Today, I don’t think that anything is off-limits as far as content is concerned. The audience is consuming different kinds of content, at the same time, there will always be conventional stuff that will work. Also, there will be unconventional stories that might not work. In terms of man-woman relationships, we are now exploring different territories in cinema. Society changes much before cinema does. The people, who are making these films, are also part of the same society. I don’t think that we can still blatantly show what is happening in society. We have to censor it, cut it and tell the story.
The perception about you, off screen, has been that you are quite different from the rest of the people in showbiz. At one point, earlier in your career, you were given titles like ‘ice-maiden’, ‘recluse’ and more, but you seem to be a far stretch from that… at least now…
Well, I have become more open and outgoing than I used to be. Yes, I was called ice-maiden, reluctant star and things like that by the media, which were never true. It had become a topic for interviews. I was never a recluse, but it had become fashionable to ask me this question. Imagine, I was shooting every day, sitting in front of people and giving interviews, how could I be a recluse? There has been a huge change in my personality, at least in the last 10 years, but my essence hasn’t changed.
Today, being an actress has many more facets, like being a social media star, a fashionista and a diva on the red carpet. How are you coping with that new face of stardom? Has that also been a part of the change that you are talking about?
A little bit. If it is need-based (as in, if I must do it or I am told to do it), I will not fall into that trap. I have been on Instagram for a long time because I like posting pictures, and at the same time, I don’t have to say anything. Of course, there is a big change in the way we do movie promotions, and there is a constant presence of the media and cameras everywhere in our life. It is too much for someone like me. Some people enjoy it and that’s great. They like being connected with the world all the time. I can’t engage with the world constantly, but I like to share pictures and some thoughts with people on social media.
So, you do think that being on social media is important?
Personally, I don’t think it is important at all. Finally, if your films work, then other things will work around it. You can tweet and post as much as you want on social media, but I don’t think it will make a difference if your film does not work. Kaam important hota hai, nothing else.
There was one point in your career (around 1996) when you had eight releases (including Bollywood and Telugu movies). Sometime after that, your stream of releases reduced, did you consciously slow down?
I didn’t cut down on work consciously, but I was certainly conscious about what I didn’t want to do. Look, a film where director bhi accha hai, role bhi accha hai, producer bhi accha hai, aisa project toh hamesha nahin aane wala hai. But whenever it came my way, I said yes to it, even if it came to me after one or two years, or after I refused 20 films. Of course, I was always ready to jump into anything good that came my way. My point is that, I need to have one solid reason to do the film and I should be clear about it, whether it is…yeh main paise ke liye kar rahi hoon, yeh main kar rahi hoon kyunki mujhe iss director ke saath kaam karna hai, ya yeh film sirf role ke liye kar rahi hoon. It must tick one of these boxes, only then I can engage with a film.
In your long career in the movies, would you say that you were competitive or fiercely ambitious?
Nahin hoke bhi, theek thaak hi ho gaya. Competitive hoti toh shaayad nahin kar pati (laughs!). I am ambitious about the quality of work that I do and how that can take me to a more evolved space. How I am doing as far as competition is concerned or in the number game… I have never diverted my energy towards such things. I don’t think you can focus on acting, as well as your position in the industry at the same time. Aapki positioning toh kaam se banti hai, right? The rest will follow. Besides, what’s the point in looking at the competition around you, tell me? Can you do anything about it? Whatever exists around you, will continue to do so. And this is the way the industry works, there are so many people vying for the same role, same director and same project. What you can do is put all your energy in the work that is given to you. We all have to co-exist.
You don’t seem to be much of a party animal, but you do have your close set of friends in the industry. Who are the people whose advice you seek on personal matters and career choices?
Most of the friends that I have been through my work, because I have been working since the time I was 16. I have a fantastic set of friends, but I also think that I have chosen wisely (laughs!). I can’t imagine my life without them. However, I don’t discuss my work with them at all. It’s not like I don’t want to share it with them, but I am just not in the habit of doing that. Sab cheezein maine khud ki hai, every decision, every mistake and every accomplishment… I have done it myself. I didn’t ask anyone for advice, or help. It is just the way we have been brought up, we don’t ask each other, we don’t interfere in each other’s lives and we are all extremely independent.
‘Sab cheezein maine khud ki hain’… does that also explain why, once in an interview, you had said that your journey has been a lonely one?
Doing things on my own has been completely my choice, I am not playing the victim here. What I meant was that my journey has been alone, or a solitary one. I think an actor’s journey is always a lone one, because only you can get inside your character. In front of the camera, no one can become ‘me’ and do my part. Directors, writers, producers… they all have their teams, but in front of the camera, actor akela hi hota hai. That’s what I meant when I said my journey is a solitary one.
Do you feel the need to find a partner?
Need se toh kuch nahin karna hai. I am not resistant to anything, but it has to fit into my idea of things. I won’t go looking for it, nahin toh abhi tak ho chuka hota. (laughs!) While talking about me to someone else, my close friend pointed out, “Her life and her journey have been unpredictable, so with her only something unpredictable will happen”. She is absolutely right!