I DON’T MISS THE FAME, RICHES OR STARDOM: MEENAKSHI

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; April 22, 2024)

The world is mesmerized by the youth and showbiz is no exception. A female actor’s shelf life is considered even lesser though things are slowly changing. It thus makes actor-dancer Meenakshi Seshadri’s comeback to Bollywood a brave move. Having relocated back to India from the US, Meenakshi now shuttles between Pune and Mumbai. The 90’s diva is optimistic that today content-driven cinema and series have gone past the age hurdle. Excerpts from a conversation…

You have stayed away from Bollywood for 28 years. That’s a long break, what brought you back?
Everyone has conspiracy theories around why I came back. Some ask if I am single. I have been private person always, even when I got married. They can continue to have an imagination. I worked in films for 16 years. I took a sabbatical for 28 years when I got married and moved to the US. My family is very supportive of my decision to come back to India. I have relocated here now, and I am looking forward to exploring avenues. My kids and husband continue to live in the US. I travel back and forth to spend time with them, or they come over.

How did your family react to your decision to move back to Mumbai, and back to showbiz?
My family is cut from a different cloth. They told me, ‘Go do your thing’. For me to come back to India at my age and believing I am going to take on the world, is because of my family’s support. It was always at the back of my mind that once the kids (my daughter is 25 and is working and my son is in college) grow up and become independent, I would come back. It wasn’t a sudden decision. You need people, friends, family, mentors in life. They knew that I never lost my passion for the entertainment industry, dancing or acting. I kept it alive in the US by becoming a dance teacher. I did many events as a performer.

Did you miss the fame and stardom in the US?
I am quite philosophical. Though I was one of the top actors of Bollywood, I never chased fame or success. It has come to me just the way my first movie (Hero) came to me. I don’t miss the fame, riches or stardom. I miss working with like-minded people and doing creative things. The experience of a whole team working together and making a movie that explores your range as an actor, is what I miss.

Seeing you chase your dreams at 60 is inspirational for many.
I believe actions speak louder than words. If other women draw inspiration from me for coming back to India, restarting from scratch at 60, learning the tricks of the trade today (for instance social media), it’s great. I think I have been fortunate. I became active on social media just six months ago and the response has been amazing.

Back then, when Sridevi, Madhuri and you were at your peak, it was very competitive and that kept you all on your toes. Do you see a shift in showbiz today and the way it functions?
Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Amrita Singh, they all are still actively working and doing well. I see a new shift in showbiz here and it’s more interesting for women. Shaadi ho gayi, so you are no longer attractive is all very gheesa peeta concept. That the male audience will no longer fantasize about you, your figure isn’t the same, and you will no longer look sexy…all these stereotypical notions are being trashed today. Everybody’s questioning it. I am a mother, I am 60, how do I work around it. I will find a way. I have excellent experiences reconnecting with my peers from the past and even meeting the newer lot today. I am close to Jackie (Shroff), I have met Anil (Kapoor) a couple of times, and they are always so warm and well-spoken. The south artists are also very real. There have been a couple of people who have ghosted me, not returned my calls, cancelled appointments at the last minute and not apologized…it’s bad behaviour from the younger generation. I stay away from these people.

You had your biggest hits with Sunny Deol -- with films like Damini (1993) and Ghayal (1990). His recent film Gadar 2 was a massive hit. Do you feel there’s a huge disparity in the longevity between the male and female actors?
It’s not about male vs female, but the fact is that when a woman embraces motherhood, it needs a lot of balancing. I am mighty impressed by actresses who are managing to do the balancing act like Shilpa Shetty and Alia Bhatt. It's a tough profession for men and women and these women are paving the way for others. Actors today are so intelligent. They are not just acting. They are building a brand. When Anushka Sharma became a producer, she was one of the first to do it. I was very impressed by her foresightedness. We need to excite our brains as actors.

You have admirers on social media, but then there are also trolls who misinterpret your return to cinema as a midlife crisis and make disparaging comments like, “You can never be Madhuri”. How do you react to such statements?
I can never be Madhuri and she can never be me. If people say, ‘Why don’t you work on your hair and skin more, or get a face-lift’, main bura nahi manti. When people say mean things like you look like a ghost, demon and call me old and ask, ‘why did you leave your family’…then it is not about me. It says a lot about their mindset. I distance myself from these kinds of people. If I start judging myself because of someone else’s opinion, then it’s a problem. I have a very high opinion of myself. I also feel people are judgemental of women because they have higher expectations from us. People think we wake up beautiful.
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"As a performer, I am a big fan of Shefali Shah. I not only enjoy her work but also find it inspiring. I educate myself by looking at her. Actors today are so intelligent. They are not just acting. They are building a brand. When Anushka Sharma became a producer, she was one of the first to do it. I was very impressed by her foresightedness."