She may have been part of come dies like Hera Pheri, Saajan Chale Sasural and Biwi No. 1, but Tabu has always been synonymous with intense performances in 'serious' movies, including Maachis, Astitva, Chandni Bar, Maqbool, The Namesake, Haider and Drishyam. So, when she signed up for another comic caper after long - Rohit Shetty's Golmaal Again - it piqued our curiosity.

Ask her if playing strong characters kept her too busy for light-hearted cinema and Tabu says, “Such characters worked very well for me, and there's a tendency in our industry to repeat actors in roles where they have succeeded. When it comes to certain types of films and roles, people still think of me, there's a space I occupy. However, it wasn't intentional.“

Most actors call comedy a difficult genre. What's her take on it? “Your chemistry with your co-actors is more important in a comedy. You can't leave it to your performance alone. So many things have to fall into place to make people laugh,“ Tabu replies, adding, “The director, the script, the timing you share with your co-actors... The Golmaal team has been doing it for many years, so they have that synergy.“

About her role in Golmaal Again, she says, “It is tailor-made for me. My character has some gravitas; there's some kind of intrigue about her.“

Though this is her first film with the Golmaal gang, Tabu shares good friendship with Ajay Devgn, Rohit and Tusshar. Asserting that 'comfort (with co-actors) is always an asset', she says, “The inherent feeling of trust with Rohit, Ajay and Tusshar translated well. That helps in films of all genres, but yes, more in comedy where you have to be in sync with each other.“

Interestingly, Rohit was an assistant director on Haqeeqat (1995), which featured Ajay and Tabu. Ask her about his journey in Bollywood and she says, “Rohit has a clear vision of what he wants and how he wants to achieve it. He is very clear about his zone and the portrayal of his characters. He enjoys a fantastic equation with his writers and is technically brilliant.“

As someone who has explored a variety of genres and characters over two decades, Tabu says that she would now want to play characters that help her discover different aspects of herself. “If there's too much of a kind, it loses its charm for me. So far, I've been lucky to play layered characters. I can't put a finger on them and define them. But it wasn't planned either - I pick up whatever I feels challenges me.“

Lastly, when we point out how some actors are stepping behind the camera to produce or direct films, she confesses that she has no such plans. “It can be a great professional choice for someone who can do that, but I'm not the kind of person to take on so much responsibility,“ she sums up.