It has been a while since Vidya Malvade has been seen on the big screen and the actor cites lack of good work as the reason behind her long absence from films.

“I just at some point decided after the kind of movies I was getting, like I did a couple of films and I was really not happy. Then I realised why am I doing this to myself if I am not happy on a set. It is like going to my workplace, which is my temple and if I am not happy then there is no point doing work, is there,” she asks.

The Chak De! India (2007) actor says it was important for her to re-evaluate her career. “Then I gave myself a break and decided I am not going to sign another film which does not make me go like, ‘Oh my god I can’t wait to play this character.’ I didn’t want to be doing something just like that. It took a couple of films to realize mujhse ye aur nahi ho raha hai,” she says.

The 47-year-old says she did not care if she had to sit at home. “I don’t want to do it for money. I am not doing it for anything but for me to feel that magic of a good performance. I just decided to take a break and start teaching yoga, that was six years ago. I just kept saying no to projects left right and centre because all rubbish was being offered to me,” Malvade says.

But she wasn’t totally away from the acting scene. “I did short films and got awards as well, that kept me happy and busy,” she adds.

But things are looking up now for her and she only has the various OTT platforms to thank.

“Thank god for them because actors like us are getting work. I am not saying that work was not coming. Work was always coming, it was just the choice of doing something good,” she concludes.