In 2022, Twinkle Khanna embarked on an exciting new chapter of her life when she went back to being a student in her 50s. Accompanied by her daughter Nitara, the former actor-turned-author moved to the UK to pursue a Masters program in fiction writing at the Goldsmiths, University of London. After completing her degree last year, Twinkle returned to Mumbai.

When asked whether her back-to-classroom experience helped her understand her kids better, she replied, “No, it didn’t! I think education is wasted on the young because they take it for granted. They complain about homework and assignments, while I look forward to every assignment I get. At this stage in life, I’m eager to learn, but it’s just a task for them. So, we weren’t really on the same page.”

Reflecting on her experience as a student, speaking to us at the the Crossword Book Awards 2024, Twinkle said, “When I was a child, I was very studious. My sister and I were both driven, and I actually enjoyed studying. Math and science were my best subjects, not English. I’ve always loved learning. Going back to school was a life-changing experience for me. It wasn’t just about the lessons I learned at the university, but also about what I learned about life while being a student. It was like living a parallel life. I was there in London for two years. You can’t choose the life you want to live, but you can choose the compromise you want to make. Just because I’ve finished my Masters, doesn’t mean I’ll stop learning. I keep taking courses, like philosophy or short online ones, because I feel there’s so much more to know. It’s amazing to be surrounded by like-minded people, and I never thought I’d have a college gang at 50, but here I am.”

When it comes to encouraging her children, Nitara and Aarav, to read and write in today’s digital age, Twinkle believes in leading by example.

“Kids pick up habits from their parents. You can’t just tell them to read. With my daughter, we read a book together. She reads 10 pages, I read 10 pages, and we leave notes for each other in the margins. I might underline a metaphor and ask her if she noticed it, and she does the same for me. As for Aarav, he’s 22 now, so my job as a parent is mostly done,” she said, adding, “Aarav likes some of the books I read, but I think my daughter enjoys reading more.”

Twinkle has been writing for over 10 years now and has gained popularity with her satirical columns. When asked if writing with wit and humour can be tricky, she replied, “I guess humour is basically about looking at the intrinsic truth but from a slanted perspective. That’s how I see life. I try to lighten the mood, even in tough situations, and that’s how I want to portray the world. Is it difficult? No. Once I’ve done my research, made notes and thought of a few one-liners, putting the piece together isn’t hard. It might take me four-five hours, but the hard part is thinking of ideas. That usually happens when I’m walking my dog or when I am in the shower. Sometimes, I have to jump out and quickly put it down before it evaporates with the steam.”

In a world where AI is increasingly used to generate creative content, Twinkle admitted feeling nervous. She shared, “Right now, it makes me uneasy because I worry that anything I feed into AI could be replicated in my style, and I don’t want that. However, I believe that in the future, we’ll have to embrace AI in a way that helps us become more prolific. AI lacks memory and emotion. It might have an image library, but it doesn’t have the emotional connection that I do. That’s why I believe humans can never be replaced by AI.”

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 4, 2019)

After wrapping up a major chunk of his next, the horror comedy Laxmmi Bomb, Akshay Kumar will bring in his 52nd birthday on September 9 in London. He will be flying out this weekend with wife Twinkle and kids Aarav and Nitara.

The actor was in London recently with his mother Aruna Bhatia and posted a picture of himself wheeling her around the Queen’s City, pointing out that no matter how busy you are with life and growing up, it’s important not to forget that your parents are growing old too and spend some time with them while you can.

Talking about the upcoming birthday, a source close to the actor informed, “It will be a lowkey celebration for the Kumars. The idea is to spend quality time with the entire family.”

Last year, Akshay had turned 51 with a family dinner in Mumbai. Among the guests was friend and Housefull 4 co-star Bobby Deol. In 2017, he had vacationed in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland for four days. This year too, the family break will last for less than a week, as the birthday boy is scheduled to kick off a film in Mumbai after which he will start promoting Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull 4, which opens this Diwali. The Farhad Samji-directed reincarnation comedy features Akshay in two avatars. In the present day, he is a barber and in the Bahubali era, he plays a character who is bald and sports a handlebar moustache.

Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 9, 2019)

Akshay Kumar, who’s gearing up for the release of Mission Mangal, hopes Indian cinema will tell more stories of national heroes in the coming years. The actor, whose film is inspired by the 2014 Mars Orbiter Mission, conceded that most filmmakers were afraid to venture into sci-fi, forget space science.

On his own experiments with science, Akshay recalled the time his father bought him a transistor radio. “He paid Rs 175 for a shiny red transistor. I was five years old and having a radio was a big thing at the time. I would listen to songs on it. A few days later, I showed him a black circular object that I had discovered. It would stick when I threw it at the cupboard. He said, ‘That’s a magnet. Where did you get it?’ I told him that I had taken it out of the radio. I thought I had made a scientific breakthrough, till my dad told me that I had damaged the transistor. That was my tryst with science as a kid,” smiles the actor who plays senior scientist Rakesh Dhawan in the film.

When asked if he talks science and technology with his son, Aarav, Akshay asserted that the younger generation has an entirely different and much greater exposure than his own. “We don’t discuss, he tells me things. It’s a different learning experience. My son is like my science teacher,” he added.

When it comes to personal stories, the Khiladi Kumar continued to spill the beans during a recent turn on The Kapil Sharma Show. Appearing with his Mission Mangal co-stars, Akshay confided that he avoids going partying with his friends for fear of having to foot the entire bill.

Taapsee, who also features in the film alongside Sonakshi Sinha, Vidya Balan and Nithya Menen, chimed in, revealing that she broke up with her boyfriend in the ninth standard, so she could “concentrate on the 10th standard board exams”.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; November 28, 2018)

Akshay Kumar has never stuck to the age-old industry norms. Instead, he’s redefined them. With the kind of films he’s been a part of, it’s difficult to typecast him. Now with 2.0, where he plays supervillain to South superstar Rajinikanth’s Chitti, he has once again managed to surprise viewers. Undoubtedly, his character as Pakshiraja has created immense buzz. The Bollywood superstar reveals what appealed to him about it and why this is the best technologically-advanced film India has ever produced.

This is the first time a mainstream superstar has taken up a role like this. What went through your mind the first time you heard it?
I was immensely excited because I had never heard something like this before. I have done so many social films, but this was a movie that gave a universal message — that the world is not only for humans, it belongs as much to the animals around us, I was surprised that Shankar thought of something like this. At the same time, I was happy that I was getting a chance to work with Rajinikanth and Shankar, who’s one of the best directors of our country. Plus, they told me that it’s going to be India’s most expensive film. So, I got a chance to be a part of that and it was an overwhelming experience.

So, it was a ‘yes’ from the word go...
Absolutely. As soon as he finished the screenplay, I told Shankar that I was doing it. I didn’t even have to think much before saying yes to a film like this. It’s an extremely commercial film and not like Pad Man where the social message is given out in a certain way. Imagine a Transformers having a message. 2.0 is just that.

What were the things that you learnt from Rajinikanth?
We used to speak in Marathi on the sets because he is a Maharashtrian. The beautiful quality about Rajini sir is that you give him any regular dialogue and he will transform it into an epic. He makes every line entertaining. Moreover, he is an extremely professional and a humble man. Humility is one quality of his that I would like to imbibe. He is what he is — there is no putting on a different image. Even when it comes to his appearance, he is realistic. He’s not worried about how his hair is looking or anything else.

Today, India is at a challenging position in terms of global cinema. What kind of expectations do you have from 2.0 technology-wise?
This is the best technologically advanced film India has produced. It’s an original 3D film and not one that has been transformed to 3D. I would say Shankar is equivalent to James Cameron on steroids. Everything is larger than life. When we watch a Transformers and see two robots fighting, we are mesmerised. This is India’s attempt at making something at that level. We can’t compete with them because their budget is 17 times higher than what we have. Trust me, at  ₹500 crore, they cannot make what we have produced here. I think people will appreciate the technological aspect. As for the rest of the film and screenplay, ’ll leave it up to them.

You have successfully played villainous roles in several films. What excites you about such parts?
When you are playing a villain, you shoot for fewer days (laughs). I just shot for 38 days for this film, while Mr Rajinikanth shot double of that. It’s very much his movie — I’m just his Amrish Puri in the film (smiles).

The make-up and prosthetics must have been a tedious process? 
It was hard to sit in one place for three-and-a-half hours. You just need to stay calm and be on a chair while three people are working on your body. I have a lot of patience but this mellowed me down further. Then after I would finish shooting, I had to sit for two-and-a-half hours to get each piece removed. Every night, before going to bed, I knew I had to go through the same thing all over again the next morning. I had to do this for 38 days, and that was very painful. Also, when you are shooting with prosthetics all over, the pores of your skin can’t breathe because there is no oxygen as your whole body is packed. So the five to six hours that I used to shoot, all the sweat used to remain inside my body; it didn’t have a way to come out. I still remember when they used to remove the whole thing, I used to smell of sweat. Moreover, I wasn’t allowed to eat. My physique had to be intact as the body suit was made according to my size. So, I was on a complete liquid diet and consumed only milkshakes, juices and water while I was shooting.

What was your reaction when you got ready in that look for the first time?
When I got ready in that get-up, my family was with me, so I kept on clicking pictures with my wife and children. I still have them on my phone.

Aarav understands cinema now. What was his reaction when you told him you were doing 2.0?
He was quite happy and excited. He saw my look completely from scratch. And today’s youngsters love these kinds of films and looks. They are in tune with the changing technology, so he enjoyed it immensely.

Several actors have said they wanted to play superhero for their kids...
I could have played a superhero long back if I wanted to. I could have even made a film for myself. But I needed a proper script to do it. I liked the idea and story of 2.0 and that’s why I’m doing it. I’m not just being a part of this project kyun ki mujhe apne bachchon ko khush rakhna hai par logon ka nuksaan kara doon.

Deepali Singh (DNA; September 11, 2018)

We’ve reached 15 minutes early for a chat with Twinkle Khanna at her beach-facing residence. The lady in question arrives right on time and with just a minor digression into topics like black coffee putting her to sleep — an idiosyncrasy she blames on her being born upside down — we dive straight into a chat about her third book and first novel, Pyjamas Are Forgiving. After all, there’s a particular brand of humour the actor-turned-author has come to be associated with — there’s wordplay, some self-deprecation, irreverence and a pinch of political incorrectness — that has made her one of the most loved ‘no-filter’ writers today. Clad in a striped blue pantsuit, Mrs Funnybones (as she is popularly known) sits down for a no-holds-barred chat. Excerpts...

Did the title strike you first or the story?
As usual, I was writing something else. Then in the middle of it, somebody asked me to be a part of an anthology of short stories and I told them that I would let them know when I had an idea in mind. After a month, I had to call back and say, ‘Sorry, I have a feeling this is going to be my first novel and thank you for pushing me on that path’. Their idea was to have something to do with clothing. I had this story in my head for a while. I had been to a stringent ayurvedic retreat, like in the story, and it has stayed with me. 

So, there was no planned move from short stories to novel?
No. In fact, Salaam Noni Appa was supposed to be a big novel. I tried it thrice but instead, it became a short story and this was a short story that became a novel. So, I guess it comes to being born upside down (laughs). Whatever we plan, we end up doing it in a different way.

What seems like a light-hearted read actually talks about some relevant issues like consent and self-worth... That’s something we find in your columns as well...
I guess that’s the way I write. For instance, I wanted to write an adventurous dystopian India sort of novel, but I couldn’t find the scope of any humour in it. So, I abandoned it. Maybe one day, I will write a book which has no jokes, but I think it won’t hold my interest.

You have dedicated this novel to your mother, Dimple Kapadia. Somewhere in the novel, the protagonist says, ‘I still find it hard to figure when my mother is serious and when she is just trying to mess with my head.’ Does that apply to your mom, too?
Completely! So, whether it’s my columns or books, I seem to be writing about women who are not interested in finding a man. They are trying to live life on their own terms as well as dealing with the constant chafing between who a woman is and who she’s meant to be. I think it all comes from growing up with a mother who lived life on her own terms. We never had conversations about feminism or equality in our house, but it was only when I was about 35, that I realised what I have always taken for granted, is something most women don’t have. I never felt I was less than a man, in fact I always felt I was superior and we have to just bear with these creatures. Putting a man on a pedestal had never even occurred to me. That’s why I think not only this book but most of what I write should be dedicated to my mother because it comes from being raised in a particular manner. She did it with a lot of irreverence. There were never any complaints. She just shrugs off her burdens and I think I’ve learnt to do the same from her.

Do you get your brand of humour also from her?
Completely! She is more eccentric than me! You would not believe some of the things she tells me, they are bizarre! So yes, I have inherited my humour from her and her side of the family.

When you have to speak in public, do people expect you to be funny?
Yes, they do. When I walk on stage, they say things like, ‘Now, she’s here to make you laugh for the next one hour’ and I’m like ‘Somebody kill me right now!’ Actually, it’s one of my fantasies to be a stand-up comic. I practise in the mirror. But my husband (Akshay Kumar) has told me two things, to never go back to acting and not to ever do stand-up comedy, because I’m terrible at both! (laughs). But once you get onto that platform you know what’s expected of you and inhabiting that persona is not very difficult for me. Saying things which make people laugh is not such a difficult thing because I’m telling them the truth. It’s just from a person and in a way they don’t expect, so they find it funny. Also, I’m giving them a perspective which apparently most women don’t seem to hold. They would probably expect a man to say things in this politically incorrect way. I’m sure I will find one day that I’ve nothing funny to say and it will be a disaster, but so far it’s been fine.

Have the man of the house and the prodigal son read your novel?
No, they haven’t read it yet, but they know the story in detail. Both of them are my sounding boards. I had a couple of alternative ends. My husband wanted the more dramatic end but my son liked this one. There was an ending which was much darker and my editor Chiki Sarkar and I kept arguing about it. When I started writing, this is the one that made most sense.

Have you planned ahead for the next book?
I’m the person who wants to start writing a book the day I finish one. I don’t like having that empty space in my head; it bothers me. I don’t know what to do with myself. Suddenly, I have so much time and I’m not used to having time. I have ideas, but of course, I’ll abandon them and start writing something else (smiles).

DNA (August 8, 2018)

Aarav Bhatia is a strikingly good-looking boy and invariably makes heads turn when he steps out with his parents — power couple Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar. He has also become a paparazzi favourite for a few years now and manages to get photographed as much as his mom and dad.

The grapevine is abuzz with talk that Aarav and his close friends including Ibrahim Ali Khan (son of Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan) and Subhan Nadiadwala (son of filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala and Warda Nadiadwala) will lead the future Bollywood brigade.

On an earlier occasion, Akshay had shared with us that Aarav and his gang of boys work out religiously and some of them already sport six-pack abs.

However, when we recently met the Bollywood superstar, who was promoting his Independence Day-release Gold and asked him whether he sees Aarav and his friends in the movies shortly, the doting dad said, “I don’t know about others. As for Aarav, he is too young and currently, he is interested only in his studies. I’m not aware if he will get into the industry. I’m not pushing him. Today’s children have a mind of their own. My son is no different. Once he wraps up his studies here in Mumbai, he wants to go to a school in London, which he has already selected. I let my kids be the way they want to be.”

Akshay adds, “This is the way I was brought up. My father realised that I wasn’t inclined towards studies but was interested in sports, so he inspired me to pursue what I liked. Akshay adds, “It was due to my father that I went to Bangkok to learn Martial Arts. At that time, I didn’t know that I would end up in films as a khiladi (pun intended).”

Pondering a little more on the subject of parenting, Akshay avers, “Parents can only show their children a path and help them identify their goals as adolescents. After that, the latter can decide what they wish to do. All through their growing up years, parents need to watch out and be careful that their children don’t take to alcohol, smoking, drugs or any substance abuse. And, of course, they need to say a prayer each day for their young one’s well-being. Beyond that, the child is his own master.”

Getting back to Aarav, Akshay says, “With my son, my job is simple. I let him do whatever he wants. If he feels a particular school is good for him, he checks out its website, fills the form and completes the formalities by himself. My job is to sign as a guardian and just pay the money. It’s as simple as that. Not to forget, my wife, Tina, is also a fabulously responsible parent to both our kids.”

Akshay Kumar on his current agenda, secret behind his fitness, importance of family bonding and his balancing act as an actor
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 28, 2018)

In ripped camouflage pants and a black vest, he is fighting fit at 50, ready to take the field rather than shout instructions from the side-lines like Tapan Das, his character in the upcoming film, Gold, the manager of the hockey team that bagged India its first Olympic gold after Independence.

So, what’s the raaz behind Akshay Kumar’s tandrusti? “I sleep early and wake up early, take four breaks in a year and don’t take stress. I got to bed by 8.30 pm; if there’s a problem I tell everyone I’ll handle it after 7 am. Even the doctors will tell you stress is the main reason for all our problems so it’s best to shrug it off,” he advises.

That’s easy to say but not everybody is equipped to do that. “Chalo manta hoon it’s not possible to always keep stress under control because dimaag par zor padta hai but you can control your gut. Don’t eat anything after 6.30 pm. If everybody followed this one habit half our health problems would vanish,” the actor pontificates, pointing out that it is written in our shastras too that after sunset ann nahin khana chahiye and he’s been practising it since his childhood.

Akshay informs that he was on a flight recently, when a 23-year-old boy suffered a cardiac arrest and the plane had to be diverted to another country, so he could get medical help. “A 23-year-old getting a heart attack! It’s all because of poor eating habits,” he says.

Gold showcases the national sport and Akshay asserts that through the film he wants to advocate that every child in the country should select one sport, be it hockey, cricket, football or kabaddi and train in it rather than be glued to cell phones and video games. He points to Croatia, a country with a population of just four million which boasts of 400,000 active sportspersons and made it to the FIFA World Cup finals. In the 17 years since its independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia has bagged 44 Olympic medals, including 15 gold, primarily because it practises this golden norm. “Playing a sport keeps you forever young,” he promises.

While on Olympic golds, Akshay admits that he was amazed when director Reema Kagti narrated the story of this incredible victory, one he’d never heard before and was sure not many had heard either given that there are just a few stray references to it on google. “I had to bring it to screen. A year after becoming an independent nation, this ragged team of 11 hockey players go to England in 1948 and defeat several countries including England in the finals. It is the story of slaves triumphing over their erstwhile masters,” he says.

Akshay adds that it took an Airlift to bring the Indian Air Force and Air India’s feat of airlifting 1,70,000 people from wartorn Kuwait, a Guinness world record., to the world “I’m lucky to have the power to make films like these, true stories with all the masala,” he says.

Just then, wife Twinkle Khanna, stylishly casual, strolls in and demands to know what her husband is doing in her office. “Sorry, I’m giving an interview,” he explains, and she complains that with the children around, she’s finding it hard to work at home and needs to finish her column. He asks for a few minutes and she walks to her desk and gets started on her writing. He returns to his favourite subject of family vacation, having just taken one, insisting its great for family bonding. “I do four films a year but still manage to get away every three months for four-five days. Once a year we take a longer break. I put the globe in front of my wife and kids and tell them to pick a place,” he smiles, quick to say that for those who can’t afford exotic vacations abroad, a quick break in Matheran or Mahabaleshwar is good. “Growing up, I’d go there or to Delhi with my family and we made sure to take our meals together. Even today, we have either breakfast or dinner together. Neither my son Aarav nor daughter Nitara are allowed to eat in their rooms,” he says.

While in London, Twinkle revelled in the joys of being a student again, enrolling for classes at Central St. Martin College of Art and Design. Did Akshay take any special classes too? “Tina (Twinkle) and I took salsa classes together in New York,” he reveals.

Is there a skill he wants to learn? He reminds you that he was once an assistant to ace photographer Jayesh Seth. “I love still photography, portraits. On a shoot, I click my co-actors, the light man and even the spot boy,” Akshay smiles, adding that publicist Rahul Nanda has often told him to come out with a book of his photographs. “That’s not on the agenda now but I’d love to take a course in photography,” he avers.

For now, the focus is on Gold, which opens on August 15. Independence Day and Republic Day have become associated with the actor and Akshay points out that the idea is to showcase India. “In a Hollywood film, whenever there’s a terrorist attack or an alien encounter, it’s always America that comes to the rescue of not just its citizens but also saves every other country. Why? Bakiyon ka haath pair kya toota hai? I want India to answer every SoS call across the globe. The idea is to project brand India, not brand AK,” he asserts.

A few days ago, he met a paralympian in Pune who’d taken eight bullets during the 1971 war, lost both his legs and still has a bullet in his spine. Yet, he went on to bag a gold in swimming. “When he was being felicitated by the President of India, he pulled himself out of his wheelchair, walked to the stage on crutches and stood with his head high as the medal was pinned to his chest. Jazba dekhiye uss aadmi ka!” Akshay exclaims. Is this the story of his next production? “It’s too early to talk about that but stories like these can help showcase India as the best country in the world,” he avers.

His collaboration with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani is limited to that of an actor but will it translate into a co-production partnership soon? “Aage mujhe nahin pata kya hoga,” he retorts, saying after Gold, it’s 2.0 which was delayed because of special effects. It will finally release on November 29. The sci-fi adventure pits him as the antagonist against Rajinikanth. “It’s an important story, there’s something to learn there too," he adds.

And what’s the status on Hera Pheri 3, Awaara Pagal Deewana 2 and Rowdy Rathore 2 he’s supposedly in talks for? “Aisa kuchh nahin hai. How many films can one man do?” he asks. Twinkle is back, complaining that every cabin in the office has people spilling out of them. Akshay says that it’s release time for him and Mrs Funnybones quips that it’s release time for her too, referring to her next novel, Pyjamas Are Forgiving. It’s time to hand over her work space. As Akshay stands up, you wonder if politics is the next goal given that he’s a National Award winner, with socially relevant films like Toilet - Ek Prem Katha and Pad Man, and a Padma Shri. He says, “No, no, I’m just an actor. I like acting, making films and taking holidays with my family. It was kind of the government to think of me as worthy of the Padma Shri and the National Award, maine kabhi socha bhi nahin tha. The next goal is what I’ve been doing for 28 years. Films like Toilet... Commercial films like Housefull… Different cinema so I don’t get stuck with one image,” he says. You tell Tina about the book he should publish someday. She acknowledges he takes brilliant photographs and turning to him, says in a jocular manner, “Such a talented person you are. You can act, do martial arts and dabble in photography too.” He shoots back with a laugh, “Not as talented as the Khannas.” Their camaraderie leaves you believing that family vacations sure are a must.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; February 19, 2018)

Over the last few years, Akshay Kumar has become synonymous with films that highlight societal norms. Whether it was a Toilet: Ek Prem Katha in 2017 or Pad Man this year, it is evident that the Bollywood superstar is veering towards subjects that prompt people to take notice of traditional societal practices that need to change with time. However, he is one of the few actors whose association with such films doesn’t end with its release. Within the next few days, he will shoot a documentary for the Indian government on sanitation. In a freewheeling chat, he tells After Hrs why his work doesn’t end with the film’s release and how his son, Aarav, gave him a pat on his back after watching Pad Man.

Pad Man has been widely applauded. Do you think you have achieved what you had set out to do?
I’m happy that people have watched the film because it means that menstrual hygiene isn’t a taboo topic anymore. My family never spoke to me about sanitary pads, but in my house, there’s nothing that my wife, Tina (Twinkle Khanna) and I hide from our kids, especially our son Aarav because he’s older now.

Does a movie with a social message affect you personally?
Yes, to a certain point, it does affect me. When you take up a film like Pad Man, you start learning about facts and real stories — this maid’s story, that villager’s story, some girl who committed suicide because somebody teased her about menstruation — and all of this makes you think. You feel so strongly about such things that you just want to push this film.

Even with biopics, you tend to pick untold stories of lesser-known people. Is that a conscious move?
Nobody knew about Arunachalam Muruganantham or the guy (Shivaram Narre) behind Toilet - Ek Prem Katha. I pick such stories because somewhere, their heroism is a matter of pride for me. When I come to know about them, I feel like bringing their stories in front of people. Also, more than the people, it’s the cause that moves me, which is why I’m dedicated to a film like this. Pad Man addresses a huge issue.

There are actors who take up such social films and work towards a cause only till their film's release...
It’s not just a film or acting for me. Once the film releases, it doesn’t mean my job is over. In about four-five days, I will shoot a documentary for the Government about sanitation. Even Bhumi (Pednekar) has been asked to do it as a public service. I decided to take it up because I believed in it. I can’t even talk about what I’ve seen, read or heard about traditional menstruation practices. Around 42 crore women don’t use sanitary pads. Even if it changes three, five or 10 per cent, I would consider it great.

Initially, you were known for only action-oriented films. Now, that perception has changed...
That’s an achievement for me. When a filmmaker thinks about a film and feels that only I can do the role, it makes me happy. They won’t think that yeh toh comedy hai, tragedy hai, yeh villain ka role hai — they know they can come to me with all of it. I have done it with my hard work and my parents’ blessings. Earlier, there were so many films being made, but I would only get a small chunk of action flicks. The rest were taken up by other actors. I would never get them. That hunger got me to attempt different kind of movies. 

Do you take yourself seriously?
No, I don’t take myself seriously. I work in a good environment where I want to laugh and smile. I’m not that kind of an actor who would close the door and rehearse for a month for a role. I know actors who do it, but I cannot follow the same. I can work on it for four-five days, think about it, absorb the character and do it naturally. For me, acting isn’t work but my passion and it comes only when you are happy within. If you see me on the sets shooting, you will notice I smile, even while doing a serious scene.

Do you discuss your films with Twinkle or Aarav?
No! They just come and watch my films. When my son watched Pad Man, he came up to me, patted me on my back and said, ‘Dad, good job!’ So, he enjoys all the films that I do.

In an exclusive chat held at the mid-day office, writer and social-media sensation Mrs Funnybones Twinkle Khanna shines a light on fame and films, as she turns producer with the Akshay Kumar starrer 'Pad Man'
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; February 4, 2018)

You mentioned you haven't given an interview as a producer before. To ease you in therefore, how about we start with what I'm sure you've been asked all your life: Twinkle, are you really named after the nursery rhyme?
The apocryphal tales from my childhood would suggest that I was named (Twinkle) because it rhymed with sprinkle and sparkle. Luckily, I wasn't named Wrinkle.

What's wrong with Wrinkle?
Well, Wrinkle would just be slightly worse than Twinkle. At least, here you're shining, there you're sagging. Having said that, for very long, I didn't like my name. I fought against it. But as with everything else, my perspective (on this) was influenced as much by literature as life. I read Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter Of Maladies, which has a short-story about a girl with a fancy Bengali name, who insists on introducing herself to everyone as Twinkle - her 'pet name'. everyone is baffled by this, including her husband. And she's a popular, cool girl, who still insists on going by Twinkle. So I thought - if she's okay with it, I can pull it off as well!

Was there a connection between Twinkle (in that short story), and you? Did you ever meet or ask Jhumpa Lahiri?
Well I think there was a paragraph in there about an actress from Bombay, by the name of Dimple (Twinkle's mother). I guess she did kinda...

Oh, so there was a reference.
I don't know if it was completely directed at me. But it certainly did change my perspective!

The other name you're equally well-known by is Mrs Funnybones.
I seem to have a penchant for really funny names.

Now when you call yourself Mrs Funnybones, and write columns that are inherently funny, is there too much pressure to be funny at all times?
Now the good thing about hiding behind the persona of Mrs Funnybones - I mean that's not really me, it's a projection - is that I'm not supposed to be amiable, I'm just supposed to be myself. And cracking lame jokes comes easier to me than minding my P's and Q's, so I'm alright there. I used to feel the pressure in the beginning, but then realised that I just have to be myself, and really, how wrong can you go with that?

You've said before that since you were fat while growing up, humour became your natural defense mechanism. Is that cliche about fat people being funny really true?
It's not about fat people - it's about odd people being funny, while finding a way to fit in, making fun of others, before others can attack you. I mean, how non-conventional could I be? I was in a position where people would be nice to me, because of who my parents were. And they were also mean to me for the same reason. I had an odd name. I was the fattest girl, which is great, because I could sit on everyone in class, and beat them up. And I feel lucky to have been an oddball, forced to develop other skills. Because if I was really the prom queen, what would I be doing right now? Staring at my position - in my 40s, with the thing I banked on (beauty) depleting?

Going back to pressures of humour, I know stand-up comedians in particular, who are headaches to hang out with - they just keep thinking of repartees, comebacks, puns, during conversations. It's impossible to talk to them in a social setting!
Well, unfortunately, that describes me as well. And I do try really hard not to (fall into the trap), so I do my yoga to tell myself, "It's alright. I don't have to have the last, punch line!"

The other thing about humour is its decline that one senses in general. Would you agree?
You're telling me about it? (laughs). I definitely think so. But I'm divided on this (issue). There are certain things (we were used to) that I feel weren't politically correct -culturally, discriminatory, racist. And we're not okay with that anymore. But our funniest jokes used to be about other people. The other side of me feels sad, because we're losing that too. Or I'm losing opportunities!

There's also the element of an exponentially growing number of holy cows that you simply can't make fun of anymore. Or is that just a social-media thing?
My (Twitter) bio says that nothing is sacred, except laughter. And why do Hindu boys worship their mothers? Because their religion tells them to worship the cow! Clearly I'm the wrong person to talk to about holy cows.

Did you get trolled for it?
No!

Since you write opinion, that's the other thing happening, where every perspective is presently being boxed, while individuals are being conveniently reduced/diminished to labels: Bhakts, Libtards, and so on. Do you notice that?
I also see that if you write something 'Left-Liberal', as you'd call it, you get trolled majorly. I have a formula. Once I was writing a column about building a nation of tyranny on corpses of soldiers, and I began with saying that ornithologists can see a distinction between birds. I didn't get trolled, because most people didn't understand what ornithologist means, and they left it alone (laughs).

Politically, socially, your husband (Akshay Kumar) holds a totally separate world-view from yours. Is that fair to say?
I'd say our social, political ideologies, sense of humour, are very different. What's interesting is that after the first few years, we gave up trying to change each other. What we did instead was start to learn from each other. Luckily all his strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa. What would I learn if we were more like each other anyway? I really believe two peas in a pod died of inertia. And we are not like that. So we continue to grow. Marriages essentially fail, when you try to clone the other person to become like you, it's not possible.

But he's protective of your public opinions, censoring your columns, we hear, cautioning you against going too far?
We're two different brains. Mine is a washing machine, whirling, chaotic. His thoughts are neatly folded in the closet of his mind. I need his stability to hem me in. He needs me to push him out of his comfort zone.



Why does it feel like we're reading a perfectly-worded column of yours?
What can I say, I'm smart, you don't get to meet too many of those (laughs). So in a certain situation, he's only trying to protect me from the fact that there'd be people throwing stones at our house. And I appreciate that. Because I could, sometimes, get into a lot of trouble on my own.

Well you do represent 'soft power' - having grown up in the limelight - which inevitably make for soft-targets. What's the worst sort of targeting you've faced for your opinions? Have they percolated offline?
Well I had an elderly lady accost me at a hospital once, while I was waiting for my mother-in-law's test reports, and she kept asking me what I had against Yogi Adityanath. And she was a really old lady, and I kept telling her this was not the right time, and she just went on regardless.

Given excessively famous parents (Rajesh Khanna, Dimple), I'm sure you've been used to this sort of intrusion all your life, no?
I had no choice over where I was born. But being married to a movie-star was my choice. Still it (intrusion) is not something I'm comfortable with. I prefer sitting behind my desk - that's my life. When I'm pushed out there, of course, I have, with time, developed the abilities to deal with it too.

One of the challenges of your life, you've said before, was to be normal. What did you mean by that?
I've had a turbulent life, first of all. I went from living in (my father's) mansion, going to school in a convertible, to shifting into my grandmother's house, where my sister and I would sleep on mattresses on the floor. I would go everywhere in rickshaws that I absolutely loved. My friends had nicknamed me 'Rickshaw Rani' for some reason. (This carried on) until I got the signing amount for my first movie, and I put a down-payment for my car - a white esteem, which was a big thing. I could have borrowed my mother's car. But we were raised in a certain way, seeing my mom working - raising not just me, but my sibling, and my grandparents. I realised early on that I needed to be financially independent. So I don't know if I've had that semblance of a normal life, if you know what I mean.

I read a lovely column of yours (it also had Akshay's story in it) about taking suburban trains, and was quite surprised that you did take the locals growing up.
How else would I commute? As I said, I had a convertible until I was 10, and then it vanished. But more than that, it was about a work ethic, and a mindset. I went to boarding school, the most defining time of my life, where I turned from a complacent child, who came last in a class of 37, to always being in the top three. Which is true for children in general - it's the circumstances that propel them to go either way, not just their abilities. So the misfortunes, that I thought were devastating, turned out to be assets.

Looking at the post 3 Idiots phase, where so much premium is put on 'passion', there must be kids who probably want to become engineers or doctors, but their parents will probably force them to become poets! That's a joke. But this actually happened to you; you'd scored 97 in math...
Yeah, I wanted to be a chartered accountant. But my mom didn't even pay attention (to that). The thought was just thrown out of the window. I had applied for my (CA) entrance exam, during my second year in commerce. And I used to keep getting these (film) offers. There was Time Machine, which Shekhar Kapur was making, that I said no to, and many others that kept coming.

So it was clear to your mom that you would be in the movies?
She told me that this is the time (that I can pursue movies). I can always do other things later. And it worked out. And like I said, I really wanted to get financially independent quickly, and this was a good way.

Here's something that you do in all your interviews: you totally downplay your acting career, as if it never happened, or say that you sucked at it. You've had 17 lead-actor credits against your name, that's a lot!
Were you writing reviews at that time?

No.
Otherwise, I would've asked if you've ever written a good review about me!

Well your last film, Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001), was good. Shah Rukh Khan, for instance, is known as Baadshah (1999) for the film where you were the heroine...
What's the point of all these things? I don't even like my children watching my movies. And my son is such an a**. He keeps replaying a clip from the film Jaan (1996), where I am kissing around a man's nipple. He made a collage out of this for one of my birthdays. It's sick [laughs]. I don't think my family has been supportive of what you think has been a great career!

But you were pretty much in the thick of things back in that decade.
All I wanted to do was get back home. On sets, I would read books. There were times when I'd be sitting, and knitting, and my spot-boy would tell me, 'Aap mat aisa kariye. Sab log Auntyji bolenge.' So you had to live up to an image, and I wasn't that person.

If you felt like the 'outsider', you'd actually have the best observations to make. So much of writing is reminiscence, isn't it? Still, you've never written about showbiz/movies.
I couldn't really see people as clearly as I can now. Though, of course, you couldn't miss some people who were in a kaleidoscope of colours. I had a (male) co-actor who cancelled shoot, and he called me the next day to say that he was really sick, because he had a problem with his uterus [laughs]. I didn't really feel like saying anything after that.

What's the craziest story that you remember from a set?
This uterus story was really funny. And he (the same actor) always had strange medical issues. Once we were shooting in Switzerland, and after pack-up he said that his ear was numb, and the doctor was pleased that he got himself checked up in time - otherwise his brain would have dislocated! And I was like, this really can't be happening. So I have all these weird stories but somewhere, somehow, I don't enjoy writing about them.

Have things changed a lot in the movies since?
Well, I haven't produced any films, except Pad Man.

Are you going to disown Tees Maar Khan? You're credited as a producer there too, among a couple of other films.
My husband just put my name, because I was lucky for him [laughs]. I haven't done anything in Tees Maar Khan. Pad Man is the only movie I have produced. Well, the movie business has completely changed so far as women, and women's roles, are concerned. even the way women are treated has changed drastically.

Were women in the movies treated as dim-witted back then?
Yes, most of us were. Which is why you are surprised that I come up with these quotes!

Which brings me to a point about intelligence, and acting. How intrinsically linked do you think the two are? Do you really need to be an intelligent person to be a good actor?
It depends on how you define intelligence. If you are looking at somebody who is emotionally intelligent, then yes, they would be good at acting. But someone who is well-read might not be a good actor. I don't think intelligence has anything to do with your abilities. The ability of an actor is to feel emotions, and enact them. I didn't have that.

I've met actors who seem totally clueless and blank about the world they live in, and yet they shine on screen when they have to portray complex characters. Do you think it just comes naturally?
I think being able to act, as a quality, is as inbuilt as being able to write, sing or dance. You can't cultivate it. You are born with it. As for (some) actors you meet who seem blank-even now when I do a few commercials for brands, on the sets, there's just a whole bunch of people only talking about the current styles, all day. So you can't blame people for not being vocal (on stuff about the world), because their entire day is either spent in performing, or investing in the way they look. Where is the time to invest in their brains?

What did you do to not be in that bubble?
I was never in the bubble, that's the whole point. By the end of it, I started doing my own hair and make-up, because I got bored, just sitting, and looking myself in the mirror. I never felt that I would fit in.

Clearly you fit in quite well now as a bestselling author; and a first-time producer.
Yes (laughs). We keep telling kids that they have to be good at sports, or look a certain way. But it's your flaws, which make you unique, and that pay off in the end. By the time you're 10, your personality and attributes get completely defined. And if you play on those attributes, and strengths, those are things that really hold you as an adult, and (drive you towards) success.

Audience questions:

I'm told you literally had to chase Arunachalam Muruganantham around to get rights for the story of Pad Man? [Mohar Basu]
Yes, for some reason he couldn't just pick up the phone. When we finally met, he told me a lot of people were chasing him too. He mentioned Abhay Deol, Akshaye Khanna, who wasn't Akshaye Khanna, it was actually me. But I knew I really wanted to write the story and that it needed to get out there to every household. So I just chased him relentlessly for, I think, seven to eight months. I could have had another baby in that time [laughs].

Do you see television and web streaming platforms as the future of cinema? [Amit Karn]
For me, it (the future) is in immersive, virtual reality, where we're completely immersed in an environment, within a scenario. That's where we are heading. There is pollution, traffic. We're not going to be able to leave our houses very soon. So where are we going to be? Living in cubicles, pretending (through headsets/glasses) that we are living in a much wider world.

Meena Iyer (DNA; February 4, 2018)

Twinkle Khanna is a celebrated author and columnist, who needs no introduction. Known for her wit and candour, the lady with a sharp pen and sharper imagination, is gearing up for the release of her maiden offering, Pad Man, under her banner Mrs Funnybones Movies. Over to the producer…

Pad Man deals with the sensitive topic of menstruation. Is this an indication of how you are going to choose subjects for your future offerings?
I do not think being a producer is part of my career plan or trajectory. So, if you ask me whether I’ll make another movie again, my answer is—it will only depend on if I find a compelling enough story to tell. But it is not the other way around that I want to produce and that’s why I’ll go looking for these stories.

I chanced upon the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham when I had already written 10 chapters for my second book. I did a lot of research and even before meeting him, I started penning his story, which began with him on a cycle right in the middle of the road, exactly the way it is in the book — The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. At that point, I sent it to my editor Chiki Sarkar and I said, ‘I know you are going to be livid because we are mid-way through the book, but I want to drop it and write this story’. So, we started and within a month-and-a-half, I felt it was a very important tale. I realised this was something that would help elevate a little of the burden that we carry.

Burden?
Yes, the way we hide our sanitary pads in our purses. One pops out and someone jokes or passes a remark and we feel embarrassed. It happened to me once when I was going through a security check. I dropped my bag and all my sanitary pads fell out. I was so embarrassed. I was a lot younger, but such things kept happening over a period of time. This constant, ‘Don’t go to temples when you are menstruating’, etc are things that have stayed in my mind. I remember when I was in boarding school there were two girls named Jaya and Bharati, who said, ‘We do not like going home for the holidays.’ When I asked them why, they explained that when they had their periods, they were made to stay in a room outside the house. Their food was served on a separate plate and they were basically ostracised for those three to four days.

Contrary to what they went through, I grew up in a household where this wasn’t a taboo subject at all. We dealt with it in a matter-of-fact way. I thought a lot about these contrasts. As time went along, these thoughts stayed. I had done a column on menstruation and when I read about Muruganantham, I felt it needed to reach across India, especially to households where people have never spoken about this subject. You know that even women in modern society or progressive homes rarely talk about their periods to their spouses, except for saying something like, ‘My stomach is hurting today.’ Even if you’re running out of sanitary pads, only if you are really desperate, will you tell your husband to get it from the pharmacy. Otherwise, you do it yourself. There is a shame, an embarrassment about a biological function. And I thought, why should there be? Due to my own experiences (where I had felt awkward), I decided that no woman should be embarrassed about it. And that’s how this whole thing started.

Coming back to the original question, being a producer is therefore not a part of your trajectory, is that right?
No, that’s not the way I’m looking at it. I repeat myself. If I have a compelling enough story to tell, I will tell it. But I’ll not go looking for stories, just to be able to produce films.

You were pampered in your very first film outing because you got Akshay Kumar to act in it…
(Smiles) When I spoke to Akshay, we wanted to make a smaller film with lesser-known actors. I didn’t set out to make this big commercial movie. However, once we discussed it, both of us realised that documentaries are made on such topics. There is art-house cinema on subjects like these but who watches it? If we wanted our message to penetrate across India, then there were only two mediums — cricket and cinema.

And cinema of this scale?
Yes, cinema of this scale. Again, when you look at someone like Akshay, who has a huge fan base and whom men look up to, if he is portrayed holding a sanitary pad in his hand, that breaks taboos faster. At least half my work is done as there is an instant connect. Men, who’ve never talked about such things with their wives, are now having discussions about how Pad Man is a film about menstruation. ‘Should we go to watch it or not? How is the trailer? You know he (Akshay) is wearing a sanitary pad in that pink underwear.’ These conversations, which were earlier unheard of, are now happening in the country.

Which brings us to your choice of director. Was R Balki the first name on your list?
Rahul Nanda, the publicity designer, was coming over to show Akshay some poster. Akshay asked me to share my idea with him. So, I spoke to Rahul, who was very enthusiastic and suggested Balki’s name along with those of two other directors. The minute he said Balki, Akshay and I felt that he was the right choice to direct Pad Man.

We neither spoke nor met anyone else. In fact, that same week, Balki came home and within the first 10 minutes of our meeting, he was on board. It was so organic. I do not know if things will ever fall into place as easily as it did in this case.

Are you familiar with Balki’s work?
Yes, I am. I’ve watched Cheeni Kum (2007) and Paa (2009). And I liked both these movies immensely. I remember seeing Paa almost a decade ago and I was really impressed because the film dealt with progeria, a subject that no one had touched earlier. Cheeni Kum, which came before Paa, was fascinating, too. I needed someone who could make Pad Man aesthetically. So, it was a no-brainer that we would go ahead with Balki. 

When Akshay has a screening of any of his typical masala movies, he is hesitant to call you for it. Do you berate his choices sometimes? Is your husband scared of you?
(Laughs) No, he isn’t scared of me at all. I think he values my opinion. For a long time, I’ve been urging him to take a leap into the kind of cinema that would have another layer beyond just commercial films. I think, now he is happy to call me for screenings of those movies that have a social message or go beyond just being a blockbuster.

Incidentally, just the other day, my son Aarav was writing a play for school and he had two diametrically opposite ideas. I said, ‘Beta, please don’t write a masala comedy, but something along the lines of Airlift.’ But, it’s more of a joke. I’m not the Principal of The Prime Beach (the building where they reside) School. Everyone around is free to do whatever they choose to. But Akshay is prouder of the cinema that I approve of.

Are you choosy about the movies you watch?
I watch a lot of English movies and few Hindi ones. I prefer sci-fi and horror, those are the genres that I enjoy. As I’m getting older, even my tastes are changing. Probably the things that I would enjoy watching, reading and doing are all evolving. Times are changing, so it’s important to stay relevant and not get bound by what we think is cool. The society is expanding, so even our mindset should broaden.

Tell us about your third book.
I’m halfway through it but right now as I mull over it, I feel I’m doing three somersaults in the air. I don’t know whether I’ll land on my backside or my head (laughs). So, I’ll finish and then talk about it.

Can you be tempted to act again?
The only way you can tempt me is if I get Alzheimer’s and forget my whole identity. Then you can con me into coming in front of the camera. I wasn’t playing to my strengths when I was an actress. Even then I preferred reading a book. So, it wasn’t fair to continue. There is a wall that I live behind. And writing lets me penetrate it.

For me, to experience emotions and enact them, I would have to drop that guard. And I’m trying to climb that wall and look over it now at this age, but I don’t think it’s ever going to fall. I was born in this fishbowl, so I’ve had to keep a guard. I think it’s very difficult if your defences are high to even experience emotions, so then how can I enact them?

And before we sign off who is your favourite actor?
As far as Akshay is concerned, my judgement is biased because it comes with a lot of emotions. So, I’ll leave him out of this. Among the rest, I would say Aamir Khan.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; January 30, 2018)

Her pen is mighty, yet mirthful and her razor-sharp wit can slice and dice her words with ease. In a world of political correctness, she takes her chances with words, being playful, yet polite. Of course, also the fact that she’s an industry insider makes you guffaw in delight at her guts. Being in front of the camera was never one of her favourite things, so over a decade ago, she bowed out of her acting career, and years later, Twinkle Khanna flourished as an interior designer, and found her true calling as a columnist and author. While her hubby, Akshay Kumar’s filmi career is on a high, she steps into new territory as a producer with Padman, directed by R Balki. In a chat with Bombay Times, she talks about pads, parenting and pushing boundaries in the creative space. Read on...

Apparently, there were many people who were keen to make a film on Arunachalam Muruganantham’s incredible life, but he didn’t grant the rights to anyone, until he met you. How did you manage to impress him?
I was writing a column for The Times of India when I read his story and thought it was a unique perspective on menstruation. In India, we think that being proficient in English is being intelligent. But here was this man, whose intelligence wasn’t constrained or bound by his language skills or by formal education. That really struck me. From an uneducated man, he became an innovator because he saw that there was a need for it. I started calling him and chasing him, and for some odd reason he just wouldn’t answer my calls. Then I started emailing him and sending him text messages. When I set my mind on something, I am like this rhinoceros, I charge ahead without looking left or right.

I made it a policy to call Muruganantham every day, irrespective of where I was. Later on, I realised that he prefers messages and emails, as he finds it easier to comprehend. Finally, when I called him from England, he answered my call; I am guessing he thought that I was some foreign journalist. Soon after that, we met and he was open to the idea of a book, though he was reluctant to the idea of a movie. Perhaps, he felt he wouldn’t be portrayed well and would be shown in some item song in the movie. My intention was clear, I told him that I don’t know if I will make another movie, as this is not a career path that I have chosen, but this is a compelling story and I wanted to make it.

Apart from the fact that it’s based on menstruation, the film breaks many grounds; the lead role is being essayed by a man. This, in a country where most men don’t openly talk about menstruation...
Yes, that’s the idea. The conversation has started. Irrespective of how many people are going to watch the film, I want them to be aware of what we are doing. I am seeing that men, who would have never spoken about these things earlier, are doing it now. The other day, at a press conference I was asked, ‘What are you hoping to achieve with this film?’ I said, exactly this. The fact that you have started talking about it is what I am trying to do. Women are always talking about women’s issues, but are the men listening? Unfortunately, I don’t think that the men are listening. I thought that if we show an actor who is idolised by so many men holding a sanitary pad, a lot of taboos will be broken right there.

Was Akshay your first choice for the role? When you spoke to him about it, was he apprehensive at all?
At first, I was thinking of making the film with a smaller budget. Our cinema is divided between commercial and alternative cinema, so I thought I will probably make something in the latter space. Honestly, a documentary reaches only limited people and some film festivals. The point here is not to just educate the educated, but to also educate the uneducated. That can be done in two ways in our country, through cricket and cinema. I don’t know any cricketer, and they have their own pads, so I thought that making a movie was the right way to go ahead. I don’t think Akshay hesitated even for a moment. We didn’t even have a discussion about him wearing a sanitary pad in the film; maybe we talked about whether the underwear should be a pink-coloured one. I had written the first two-three chapters (of the story) before meeting Muruganantham, and I had spoken to Akshay about the story at that point. So, he had a fair idea about where the story was going.

Your sense of humour serves as a great writing tool, especially when you want to make politically-incorrect views palatable. Like they say, many a true word is spoken in jest...
Yes, it is the only way you can get away with saying so much more. Laughter and orgasms are two uncontrollable physical human expressions. If you can make someone laugh at something, it means you have gotten inside their brain. Hopefully, I have a penchant for cracking lame jokes, so that makes my work easy. There could be some people who don’t get the humour, but that’s okay, everyone does not have to understand everything.

Do you openly talk to your kids about various subjects, some that might be taboo or sensitive, too?
Akshay thinks I am excessively open with my kids while talking about all kinds of things. As I am growing older, I am realising that you can’t control things. You can’t control anyone, whether it is your kids, mother or husband. The only person you have any control over, that too barely, is yourself. The mind also has its own tricks to play. So, I keep channels open with my kids and crack jokes with them, as I think that it is an effective way of starting conversations. In our house, we don’t consider any subject as taboo. I crack jokes on everything from sex to drugs. Akshay and I have spoken to our kids about everything — homosexuality, alcohol, drugs and sex. Recently, I was talking to my son (Aarav) and telling him that in our country, it is illegal for people below 18 years of age to have sex. I explained to him that if a 17-year-old boy and girl have sex, the boy can be accused of rape and go to jail. He told me that it is not fair if it is consensual. So, whether it’s about consent or feminism, we have conversations about it. Nowadays, even in schools, kids are being gender-educated and they have such discussions with their teachers too, which is a great move.

Does Akshay ever censor what you write?
Yes, sometimes he censors what I want to write, and sometimes I listen to him. I talk to him about all my writing. I narrate my stories to him; I don’t think he has read any of my books, as he doesn’t like reading. He is the stabilising factor in my life and I think that’s why we work so well together. Marriage is teamwork; it’s like playing tennis doubles against the world, where you constantly lob these balls. So, when two people are different, one’s weakness is the other’s strength. What Akshay needs from me is to push him harder to step out of his comfort zone. For seven years, I pushed him to do different kinds of cinema, and at that point of time, he would tell me that this is what he needed to do. Then slowly, by his own evolution he started doing what we are seeing today and that is remarkable. You have to be relevant with the times and grow; you cannot do what you were doing ten years ago. Well, one thing that we have in common is that we both have a very strong work ethic, though we come from very different backgrounds. I think when both of us were very young we realised that if we didn’t work every day of our lives, we were not going to get anywhere. In fact, we laugh about it and say that if we both were thrown in a gutter, even then we would survive. That’s what we are and I am hoping this is something that our kids inherit from us.

It’s surprising you are saying this, given the privileged background you come from...
Life didn’t let me take it for granted. There was a big upheaval in my life when I was very young, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me; otherwise, I would have been a complacent child who ranked 35th in a class of 36 students, and sat and ate ice cream. But because of that upheaval, I went to boarding school and that’s when I realised that the only person you can rely on is yourself. It was something that changed the trajectory of my life.

Lately, there has been a general feeling amongst creative people that their freedom of expression is being attacked. Do you feel stifled as a writer? Being a public figure and the wife of a movie star, does it make it tougher?
I have been writing for five years and in the last two years, I definitely feel that even online you can sense a threat, where people want to rape you, kill you and do all sorts of things. I think that nowadays being politically correct seems important to most people, rather than genuinely going out there and doing something, achieving something or saying something. I think political correctness is taking over genuine human emotions. Yes, now I have to be more careful while writing and there is probably a lot more that I would want to say. For instance, a few days ago I was talking to Akshay about writing something on how certain things should be legalised in our country. He told me that for God’s sake don’t do it. He disagrees with me, but I will find my way to write it (laughs!).

So if you weren’t writing, what would you do?
Well, before I started writing seriously, I was doing interior designing. So that has always been there. I am always looking at doing interesting things. In our family, all of us can paint, knit, crochet and we are all voracious readers. In fact, when I was an actress, I would crochet on the set. Back then, there were no cell phones, so I would either be reading or knitting during breaks. My spot boy would tell me not to do it out in the open, but instead in the make-up van, as he feared that people would say, ‘Aap aunty type ho’.

Akshay Kumar plans to pursue hobbies this year alongside shoots; happy with his producer-wife Twinkle and adventurous kids
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 2, 2018)

Akshay Kumar, with wife Twinkle and children Aarav and Nitara, has taken off to South Africa to ring in the New Year and are expected to return later this week. “Festive times call for festive measures. We kicked off celebrations in Cape Town with Christmas which is all about family and loved ones. This year, my family and friends came together to join Tina and me in our paradise away from home. There was fun and games, food and festive cheer. We have done nothing but eat and chase all the kids around the mountains. People think I’m lucky because I’m famous, but there’s nothing more fulfilling than being an average dad doing average things but still bringing the biggest smiles to the ones I love,” the actor told Mirror from the Rainbow Nation, adding that he brought in 2018 celebrating his better half’s birthday with the same passion that they do every year, with madness and laughter, with friends and lots of good will.

However, the fun and frolic will end soon as the actor has a busy schedule ahead with his home production Pad Man, the Rajinikanth starrer sci-fi 2.0 and the sports drama Gold gearing up for release. He is also set to kick off the fourth instalment of Housefull, Kesari that recreates the Battle of Saragarhi and the Gulshan Kumar biopic. But Khiladi Kumar is determined to also make time for some hobbies. “Sword fighting and paragliding are on the cards for sure. One is for pain and the other for pleasure, both to be enjoyed equally as my passion for them is off the charts,” he maintains.

The Housefull franchise returns after a year with original director Sajid Khan. Akshay is gung-ho about doing a comedy after a string of socials with a message. “There’s no excitement like working on one of my favourite franchises with our nutty Housefull family. It’s like a kid made to work in a sweet shop as punishment. It will be so good for me because I need to laugh in order to survive. Knowing that every day I come to work I will be cracking ribs laughing is the biggest pleasure anyone can get from their work place. I’m looking forward to finding out who will be the new team to join us in our memorable antics,” he exults from miles away.

Twinkle turns producer with Pad Man based on a short story from her bestselling novel The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad. The film is inspired by Tamil Nadu activist Arunachalam Muruganantham whose mission was to make sanitary napkins available to poor women in rural areas. The actor jokes that he did not dare give any tips to his first-time producer-wife. “I’m a clever man or at least a clever husband so I didn’t dare give my opinion. Never underestimate the power of your producer. The best thing about this venture is that I genuinely feel it has brought us even closer. To understand and fulfill each other’s wants and visions on such a professional level has been one of the greatest experiences I’ve had with my wife.”

Twinkle is known to voice her opinion unabashedly while Akshay is more measured. Has the opposite’s theory worked for them? “It has worked like a blessing in disguise. We may be chalk and cheese, but we complement each other off screen in a way you couldn’t imagine,” he reveals.

The proud father then goes on to talk about daughter Nitara who though just five, loves adventure just like him. “My kids, they can be doing anything they wish, but as long as I’m in their vicinity, I’m happy. Aarav loves adventure and even my little princess likes to get mucky just as long as she’s wearing pink or purple when she’s doing it,” he chuckles, admitting that he’s always tried to give his kids a normal upbringing. “I’m not a star at home, I’m a son, husband, brother and father first. And my kids have been brought up knowing I’m just like every other man trying his best, the only thing they witness out of the ordinary are the paparazzi. They come to see all my films with humble hearts and never with an attitude of supremacy. That comes from teaching them that everyone is equal and only opportunities changes the outcome of people’s lives not momentary status.”

On the professional front, he’s happy with his choice of films over the years, admitting that he has more say in what he does now, rather than taking up everything sent his way. “I really get to sink my teeth into subjects I can’t wait to be a part of,” he says, reveling in the fact that last year’s risks, Jolly LLB 2 and Toilet-Ek Prem Katha, worked well for him. “Meaningful films have definitely become a part of my life now, there is so much that needs to be said and done, and these films can bring a lot of awareness. Last year was humbling as I was honoured with my first National Award after 26 years in the industry. I’d say it’s been one of the best years ever, and I can’t wait to give my audience even more.”

What’s the biggest challenge he faced with Pad Man, you wonder, and he says that it was thinking about how he was going to make others, specially men, come to terms with the fact that sanitary pads and menstruation are not taboo subjects but topics that not only need to be addressed but bettered for all the women in our lives. “I prepped by spending time with the true Pad Man, Aruchnachalam Muruganantham, the most devoted husband I have ever come across. His story is so intriguing I can’t wait to show you his journey,” he says, signing off with some advice for new colleagues. “Be a producer’s actor and a good human being. No job is too small and no person too little to be nice to. And hits don’t make a star, fans do, so treat them with the same love and respect that they give you.”