When it comes to birthdays, Bollywood celebs are used to being flooded with wishes from all over the world. And Urmila Matondkar, who celebrates her birthday today, is no different. But there is one person whose message she always looks forward to on this day — Amitabh Bachchan!

Elaborating on it, she says, “Mr Bachchan not only wishes me on my birthday every year, but is, in fact, always the first person to do so. Whether I am in India or abroad, he never fails to send across a warm message on the day. Hats off to him, it’s amazing to receive this love and respect from someone who is a legend himself.”

She shares, “Last year, I got pulled up by him. He asked me, ‘Oh your number is the same? Because you didn’t reply to my message’. It took me by surprise as who would not reply to Mr Bachchan? (laughs!) So, you see, once in a while he pulls a fast one on you.”

Talking about her plans for the day, the actress reveals, “My parents have always ensured that my elder brother and I did some charity work on our birthdays. And I plan to continue that. We have never cut cakes or hosted lavish parties. When I became an actress, being the private person that I am, I would shy away from cutting cakes on sets.” She also plans to visit an orphanage and an old age home today.

Urmila is also looking forward to hosting her first live interaction on social media. She says, “I have never done these live interactions before, so I am looking forward to it. I am one actor who’s quite slow on social media. It’s my husband (Mohsin Akhtar Mir) who pushed me to get active on social media to interact with my fans and well-wishers.”

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Birthdays, for Urmila Matondkar, are never about turning a year older. In fact, she takes it in her stride. “Sometimes, people troll me by calling me ‘aunty’. I want to tell them with folded hands, if you’re trying to make me feel bad about it, I’m not. Each one of those years, as long as it’s adding a lot to your life, bringing more in terms of life itself, it’s glorious!” says the actor, who turns 47 today.

Matondkar adds that one learns to appreciate things more as the years go by. “Those who’re probably not adding to their lives in terms of qualitative good might be feeling sad (laughs), but no comment or judgment on them. I’m busy making the most of what life has put in front of me,” she says.

Her plans for the day include a distribution drive for the underprivileged, and for the first time, a Facebook and Instagram live session for her fans. “I’m excited for other people’s birthdays, and busy making plans for them. Since childhood, social work has been engraved into me and my older brother. Our parents used to tell us to donate the money we got to institutions. There are many across Maharashtra, like Baba Amte’s Anandvan. They’d say these people need it more than us,” she recalls.

And after getting into films, birthdays were never the same. “There was no time! I’ve worked through Diwalis, New Years, everything. Today, it’s very exciting to see people reacting to my birthday with my songs being played, fans showing so much love. Even this interview, I’m doing for those fans (laughs), to whom I’m eternally grateful!” she gushes.