Urmila Matondkar: To say that I entered politics because my film career is over, is a petty way of looking at it

Versatile actress, skilled dancer, style icon and one of Bollywood’s original oomph queens, Urmila Matondkar — now a politician — is also an eloquent speaker. Fiercely private about her personal life, Urmila made an exception as she opened her heart and the doors of her beautiful house, in the city for us, for an uninhibited chat on politics, marriage, films and religion.Excerpts from the conversation...
Not many actors have been successful politicians. When you announced your foray into politics, many believed you did it since your movie career, too, was long over.
Yes, politics is not everyone’s cup of tea. But there were people like Sunil Dutt as well, who did well in politics. It’s the intention that matters. I can’t speak for others, who couldn’t sustain in politics, but I can speak for myself. I didn’t want to cash in on my celebrity image. If that was the intention, I wouldn’t have campaigned the way I did. I wouldn’t have gone out all the way to reach out to people. Whether I win or lose, I intend to do the work I have promised to do. To say that I entered politics because my film career is over, is a petty way of looking at it. There’s nothing that politics can give me that I didn’t have before. I don’t get swept by what people think as it reflects their intellect.
In 2016, you married Kashmiri model-turned-businessman Mohsin Akhtar Mir in a private ceremony. The wedding was a low-key affair and you went completely off the radar post it.
I don’t like to talk about my personal life. I was never on the radar. I have always been a reclusive actor, who has believed in letting my work speak for itself. I joined Instagram pretty late, that too, on my husband’s suggestion, who felt that this would be a great way to keep in touch with my fans. I have always been a private person, so even my marriage was a low-key affair.
How did you meet Mohsin and what drew you to him?
We met at Manish Malhotra’s (fashion designer) niece’s wedding. A lot of Kashmiri work that is used by Manish comes from Mohsin’s factory. He is into handicrafts and artwork of Kashmir, so he been working with Manish for many years now. That’s how they met and that’s how we met. He is confident, yet easy-going. Mohsin is sure of himself without being cocky about it and has those things which I feel are important in a companion. We hit it off instantly.

There was speculation over you converting to Islam after marriage, which didn’t turn out to be true.
That was in bad taste. That’s the kind of politics I don’t appreciate. First of all, how does it matter? The kind of person I am, I have always done things my way and with my head held high. I am proud of who I am, and I am not saying I am infallible, but I have never done things that I would be ashamed of. The kind of industry that I was in (films), it takes a lot to not be dragged into toxicity, backbiting, negativity, gossip and bitching. I have never done all of this, so this (religious conversion news) appalled me the most. I am a Hindu. That’s the religion I have followed, but I believe in Hinduism in a wider sense, not the kind of Hinduism that’s sold to us today. Even if I had converted to Islam, I would have said it with as much pride. However, it’s none of anyone’s business. I am not just talking about the secular fabric of the country because I am married to a Muslim. Contrary to that, because I always believed in it, I was open enough to marry a man of a different faith. I wouldn’t have responded to these speculations and dignified them otherwise, but because I was a candidate contesting an election, it was my duty to clarify things. I owed it to the people. People ask me about being a Maharashtrian, a Mumbaikar and seeing others coming into the city. But that’s the beauty of it. Religion and region are secondary. I think humanity and Indianness are the only way to progress. The country needs to be in harmony.
It’s only now that people have discovered that you are an eloquent speaker.
Films were the most beautiful part of my life, but they were not the be-all and end-all of my life. People are surprised to know that I read a lot. I have been an excellent student and I come from an academically-oriented family. It’s my time to help those who supported me, irrespective of who I was, where I came from, or what my surname was. There came a chance and I took it up. Whether I win or lose, those who showed confidence in me, I will always stand by them.
Will we see you in the movies sometime soon?
I don’t think that acting in films is a possibility in the near future. Politics is a new field for me, and I have never done anything in a haphazard manner. Plus, it deals with people’s lives. I don’t want to do 50 things at a time.
You were an outsider when you joined the film industry. Do you think that the dialogue and debate about nepotism, which has unfolded over the last few years, should have happened before?
Certain things won’t change. If you have to make your way, you have to make your way. I never spoke about it then and I won’t speak about it now. These things only take away your energy and bring nothing to the table. I am not one of those people who make statements to be in the news. I am extremely happy and satisfied with the way I conducted my career and what I could achieve. I constantly stuck my neck out and did films and roles that were hugely unconventional. There may have been actresses of my era who were more successful than I was, but I doubt if anyone has shown the kind of range that I have, in terms of genres or characters that I chose.
You were a style icon in the ’90s. What do you make of fashion in Bollywood today with all the stylists and the PR machinery that goes with it?
I didn’t do it to make a statement. There is no negativity or bitterness for what’s happening today. I have said no to 50 Rangeelas after Rangeela and 50 Judaais after Judaai. I never repeated my characters. People were shocked to see the horror films that I did at the time. When Kaun didn’t do well, they told me not to continue with the genre, but I insisted that we shouldn’t doubt the intellect of the audience. As far as style is concerned, I find this whole thing (stylist-PR) a bit funny. Your personality needs to stand out, of course, if you have one. I genuinely feel that maybe it’s the need of the hour, but I can’t relate to this process.