This character was written for a male: Tabu on her cop character in Aasmaan Bhardwaj's 'Kuttey'

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; April 4, 2023)

In the past few years, Tabu has been unstoppable. Yes, the actress has been seen in a range of films across genres, but more importantly, she’s been a part of some of the most successful films recently. She doesn’t go to town talking about it, but her work speaks for itself. Tabu, who plays a tough IPS officer Diana Joseph in Bholaa which hit the theatres last week, shares screen space with her friend and co-star of many films, Ajay Devgn. In a chat with Bombay Times, she talks about the comfort of being directed by him, playing several cop characters differently and why she does not feel the need to flaunt her successful run at the box office. Read on...

In his interview with us, Ajay Devgn said that the key to remaking a film is picking the story idea and adapting it. The role played by you was essayed by a male actor in the 2019 Tamil film Kaithi (of which this is a remake). How much of a difference do you think that has made to the film?
It’s the biggest difference as there’s a gender shift. Since it is a female character, the nuances are different. The equation between Bholaa and my character is exactly the way it was in the original, but of course, some things are different because she is a female cop. One of the most challenging things about my part was that my arm is in a sling throughout the movie, so it restricted my movements. So, the scenes that required me to run, fall and get on a truck were difficult, because with one hand, you are not as agile. We had an excellent 1000-member crew, and some of them have worked with Ajay for decades. So, I knew mujhe yeh log sambhal lenge. I didn’t have to be extra vigilant. I have worked with that action team for so many years. During Prem, I had worked with Ajay’s father (action director Veeru Devgan).

You have worked with Ajay in so many films and both of you have been friends for years. So, by now, do you perfectly understand how to work with him and around him, without much being explained?
Yes, I understand exactly what he wants. I understand his moods, personality and rhythm well. I know him as a person — his likes, dislikes, how he functions and what he wants to convey even though he doesn’t use too many words to explain. It is easy to work with him. I know when to leave him alone, when he is tense or relaxed. Isiliye shayad mujhe aisa lag nahi raha hai ki maine kisi director ke saath kaam kiya hai, also because he’s acting in the film, it was fun. As actors, we have worked extensively. In recent times (films like De De Pyaar De, Golmaal Again and the Drishyam franchise), we were paired in each film in an interesting manner, and our journey since 2015 has been very strong. It has its own solid space. I think these films have accommodated us well together.

After Drishyam and Kuttey, we are seeing you play a cop once again in Bholaa. What attracts you to play these strong characters of a woman in uniform?
Filmmakers came to me with these roles with the thought that I would be good at playing them, and I have loved the parts. Also, I liked the roles apart from the fact that they were of a cop. She’s a woman and being a cop is just a part of her work. There are many other things that dictate her behaviour, and those things made her who she is on screen. These were some interesting aspects to play. These three films were so different from one another that you automatically have varied roles on your plate. Pammi of Kuttey is very different from Meera Deshmukh of Drishyam, and so is Diana Joseph of Bholaa from the other two.

Last year, you struck gold at the box office as Drishyam 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 proved to be massive hits. While most actors would flaunt this achievement, you enjoy the success in your own way (quietly, we assume) and move on to the next.
Everybody said it (that the films were successful and made money), then why should I talk about it? Mere nahi bolne se thodi na woh fact chhup gaya? Dekho, jab duniya koi cheez bolti hain na, toh aapko chup baith jaana chahiye. Everybody else was doing the job for me, so why should I do so much mehenat (laughs!). Mujhe kuch toh apne seniority ka faida hona chahiye na, ki mujhe ab zaroorat nahi hai bolne ki. Mujhe pehle kabhi bhi zaroorat mehsoos nahi hoti thi, but abhi doosron ko bolne do yaar, maine apna kaam kar diya. See, ultimately, people should do what they enjoy doing and what really exudes through their personality. I have always been like this. It’s not like main suddenly aise ban gayi hoon.