In the city for professional reasons, actress Tanishaa Mukerji said she was in love with Lucknow and its “relaxed” vibes. Tanishaa, who recently participated in the dance reality Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, shared about the dancing journey, her mom Tanuja, her “Tom & Jerry” relationship with sis Kajol, and more...

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I have been to Lucknow before too. I shot for a film titled Rosy in Lucknow during the pandemic which was supposed to be Palak Tiwari’s debut film. I was in Lucknow then for quite a lot of days. I love the people of Lucknow. There is not only warmth in them but also a certain laidback calmness, I mean the city has a very relaxed energy. I wish today more cities could become like that as there is a lot of anxiousness in other cities. I hope this never changes. And yes, people here are also very chalaak. When I had come here at that time and gone for some chikan shopping, being a celebrity, they had charged me an exorbitant amount. Mera khoob bakra bana tha uss time since I didn’t know much about the fabric and the prices.

In Jhalak... I did a lot of lifts and tricks. I wasn’t quite athletic during my childhood. I was a very ladylike child. All the opposite stuff was done by Kajol.

So coming back to Jhalak..., when I first went for the rehearsals, I couldn’t rehearse for more than four hours. My whole body was in pain and I couldn’t sleep. Then later, I also did a lot of Iyengar Yoga which helped me in my journey on the show. I said yes to the show as I wanted to break certain barriers in my life. When I first did Bigg Boss I was told by Salman (Khan) that isko toh yahan aane ki zaroorat nahi hai. That’s not true. We all have that need of money and identity. I went as a kid to Bigg Boss and came back as a grownup. I was always in a very protective environment and wanted to learn to deal with different kinds of people.

Mom is amazing now! But yes, of course, it makes me insecure. I was inside the Bigg Boss house when she got this disease called diverticulitis. But now it is over after her operation in 2018. But there have been other issues because of age. In fact, when I was doing an act for my dad on Jhalak..., my mom was in the hospital. It was the worst feeling. I have lost my dad and that is the reason why I am more insecure about my mom. As far as dealing with it is concerned, my spiritual side helps me, especially my Buddhist chants. Plus, my mom has always taught me to live in the moment and not worry about the future. I enjoy every moment with her - partying, even the drama and the fighting.

Firstly, the Durga Puja’s our private affair and we are like a family in that space. Kajol and I have been like Tom and Jerry ever since we were kids. My dad used to call us that where I was Jerry and she was Tom. Over the years, Kajol and I are like mature Tom and Jerry (laughs) But on a serious note, Kajol is like a mother figure to me. Even Ajay (Devgn) is like a father figure to me, who has taught me to be considerate and kind to everyone while my sis has taught me to be strong and stand up for the people we love. It takes a village to raise a child and I had a beautiful village.

Yes, it is important for me to get married! It is a different kind of evolution with a partner as it teaches you a lot of tolerance. I see such a beautiful relationship between my sisters, their husbands, and their children; why would somebody not want that? And I still also want to be a mother and create my family, why else would I freeze my eggs?