She doesn’t feel the number her age stands at currently, and doesn’t look that either. Juhi Chawla has a double celebration in the offing — she celebrates her 53rd birthday today, and tomorrow, she ushers in Diwali. As we begin the conversation, she makes it clear that she is “absolutely not” a birthday person.

“I don’t think there’s anything exciting. At the same time, there are a few things that I enjoy. I feel very happy when my songs are played on the radio on my birthday. I feel that’s cool, it makes you feel you’ve done something,” she gushes.

But we are sure that her family doesn’t agree to her wishes for a low-key birthday. Chawla admits, “They do ask ‘What are we doing?’, and I say ‘Please do nothing, do me a favour’. They don’t listen. I want to go to some fabulous pilgrimage together, like Kashi Vishwanath.”

Ask if the age factor ever plays on her mind, Chawla says, “I’m not feeling any different! (laughs)”

Diwali, this time around, will be a lot different, with Coronavirus playing spoilsport. We ask the actor how will she celebrate her birthday and Diwali both. She tells us, “Luckily, the lockdown happened, and we woke up to family celebrations, and being together, realising how comfortable and joyful that is.”

Sonil Dedhia (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 4, 2020)

“I am shocked and devastated,” says Juhi Chawla on the demise of late actor Rishi Kapoor, who she worked with in many films during the past three decades. The two were shooting for a film, Sharmaji Namkeen before the star passed away. Recalling their last day of work, she says, “The last scene that I shot with him was at a table in a dhaba in Delhi. I was noticing the ease with which he plays a character. When he converses in a scene, it seems like he’s actually talking to you. He’s so natural. I told myself that’s what I should be doing without bothering how I’m looking in a particular scene (laughs). He taught me something valuable even on the last day. We have finished a major portion but I don’t know how we can finish the film without him.”

Having worked together on seven films, Chawla says that she always enjoyed working with Kapoor, “Chintu ji was an effortless actor. He was so easy with his craft. Whenever he’d be around, he’d make sure that work looked really simple. At the same time, he had a certain cynicism. He was always scolding us in a grumpy way which was really funny. I would be rolling with laughter, and there was never a dull moment with him around. Working with him was never stressful.”

Recalling her last meeting with the actor, she says, “It happened in early March. He told me that he had to go to the hospital for a routine blood transfusion and he asked me to join him and Neetu ji [Kapoor]. We had a long chat, he got his treatment and went home. Just a few days back, I thought I should call and check on him. But I didn’t, and then I received the news.”

MID-DAY (May 1, 2020)

I worked with Chintuji in films like Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani, and Ghar Ki Izzat. As a newcomer, I would be in awe [of him]. An effortless actor, he would barely rehearse, but the director would always be happy with his first take.

Though a little detached, he was always friendly. Chintuji [would arrive on set] at 10 am. He would often sit outdoors under a tree to have his make-up done. His make-up artiste, Shashi dada, would set out a neat table with the [products]. A tiny transistor radio would be turned on while the make-up was done. When done, Chintuji would impatiently pick up the sponge, rub it all over his face, and undo dada's effort, and then announce that he was ready.

As time went by, and we worked on more films together, including Bol Radha Bol and Saajan Ka Ghar, Chintuji [and I] would play Scrabble on set. I played well, but he was too good, and would often beat me. Nonetheless, I kept trying to win!

In September 2017, a charming script [of the upcoming film, Sharmaji Namkeen] was narrated to me. It was about a middle-aged gentleman called Sharmaji. I liked it immensely and found it amusing and heart-warming. It was tailor-made for Chintuji. Producer Honey Trehan wanted to hold a joint narration with the entire cast and crew. It seemed like a good ice-breaker.

Chintuji was reluctant, but agreed, because he said Amitabh Bachchan would do such sessions often. He said [he'd leave early] too, however, when the reading began, it was so joyful that he stayed till the end, and was the last to leave.

I last met Chintuji at HK hospital, where he had gone for a routine treatment, in early March.

A few days ago, I thought I should check on him. I heard the news [of his passing] this morning, and was devastated. I have many happy memories of him, and have laughed so much on the sets with him. I am going to miss him very much.

Juhi Chawla recounts how Coronavirus pandemic cut short her trip to Austria, prompting hurried return to Mumbai with husband and son; informs daughter is in Uganda with her grandparents
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 3, 2020)

Around this time of the year, Juhi Chawla is usually in Kolkata, cheering her Boys in Purple (team Knight Riders) from the stands while anxiously watching the scoreboard. But this IPL cricket season, the actress and franchise co-owner is locked down in her Mumbai home. “Unless the situation improves and travel restrictions around the world are lifted, we can’t expect matches to start,” she reasons.

Juhi’s Austrian family holiday with husband Jay Mehta and children Jahnavi and Arjun turned into an event straight out of a film as the Coronavirus scare spread across Europe. “Austria partially closed off its borders soon after we left. Ditto Switzerland. So, we returned to our London home where my in-laws joined us,” she recounts.

By then, India had started restricting incoming international flights and a lockdown-like situation seemed imminent. “So, we decided to fly back. Apna ghar, apna ghar hota hai aur apna desh, apna desh hota hai,” Juhi says emphatically, asserting that she didn’t want to be anywhere else but home during these trying times. “We approached the High Commission of India and they helped us reach Mumbai safely. All the racing and the dodging made it seem like we were shooting for a thriller.”

Upon her return to the city, the actress faced yet another challenge. “Some of our staff comes from outside and it quickly became apparent that they wouldn’t be able to continue reporting to work. So, we re-organised everything and shut off some of the rooms for better management of the rest. Thankfully, I have people in the kitchen, otherwise it would have been a disaster. We are functioning with skeletal staff and one in-house driver,” the actress informs.

Juhi’s businessman-husband is with her, along with son Arjun, while daughter Jahnavi is in Uganda with her grandparents. “She studies in the US and they have to attend online classes. Being in India would mean staying up all night for lectures. At least the time difference is not so huge there,” she explains.

Arjun, who will appear for his standard 10 exams this year, is continuing with his studies, too, in case the school suddenly decides to hold them. “He’s also watering the plants, now that the gardener can’t come in. There’s also a lot of fiddling around with gadgets,” she says, going on to enquire if the person on the other end of the line is using earphones or speaking directly into the handset. Sounding disappointed when told it’s the latter, Juhi says she’s trying to stay away from mobile phones as much as possible.

Meanwhile, with the family priests unable to come in, Jay and Juhi have started conducting the morning pooja themselves, beginning the day with prayers. “It’s calming; perhaps this is God’s way of bringing us closer together,” muses the actress, who has also started doing riyaaz again. “I was a dedicated student to begin with, but as life got busier, I gave up music. My teacher prodded me to start again and I have started taking online classes.”

She’s tuning out negative news so it doesn’t add to her anxiety, and is reveling in the positives instead. “It’s not so hot in Mumbai anymore. Normally, by this time, you couldn’t do without the air-conditioner. The skies are so clear that I can see the lights all the way to Cuffe Parade from my Malabar Hill apartment,” she exults, adding that she is having methi seeds, soaked overnight, every morning to pamper her tresses. Is it working? “If I come out of this lockdown with thick, lustrous hair, you’d know,” she chuckles.

Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 31, 2020)

“I have brought my son back home with me to Mumbai, but my daughter is a little stubborn (laughs). It makes me feel secure she’s staying with her grandparents in Uganda. However, I wish we could all be together now,” says Juhi Chawla, with her signature warmth. Her children, Jhanvi and Arjun, were at their boarding school in the UK at the time of the Coronavirus outbreak but she decided to fly them down.

She confides that a while ago, she was overwhelmed by a sudden rush of nerves. “A few nights ago, I had a panic attack. My mind was racing ahead and I was worrying what if we’re unable to battle this pandemic. I woke up and told myself to stop thinking,” she says. But Chawla is now happy, picking up a skill not many know about. She says, “I was learning to sing but gave up a few months ago as I couldn’t focus. My teacher messaged and I felt this is the best time to resume training since I’m grounded at home. I’m taking lessons online.”

The Ishq (1997) actor adds, “Apart from that, I’ve been reading and watching films. My son and I’ve taken to watering our garden. And my mother-in-law has given us the duty to do the puja in the house.” She believes the lockdown is “grounding” everyone. “Whenever I stay home, I always experience a fear of missing out and so, I want to keep running around. But this time, staying at home feels like a detox. The best thing to do is to look around yourself and feel grateful,” says Chawla.

Emphasising how each person should help those in need, she says, “The simplest thing that we can do right now is show kindness and consideration. There’s a 96-year-old woman living all by herself in Mahim. Her children are abroad and they aren’t able to send her money. Since there’s a lockdown, I can’t send food across to her every other day but I’m trying to help her as much as I can.”

Chawla co-owns Kolkata Knight Riders, part of the Indian Premiere League. Talking about the IPL’s suspension she shares, “The lockdown is till April 14. Then the government will take a call on what to do next. We don’t know what’s going to happen but we do realise safety of people is more important than anything else. We’ve to wait and watch and let things unfold.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 22, 2020)

After a trip to Florence, Italy, last month, Juhi Chawla and her family flew to Austria, earlier this month, as her daughter, wanted to spend her spring break skiing. Right before they decided, Chawla asked her family if they should be travelling as many cases of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) were reported around the world. “But everyone insisted, so we landed in Zurich, Switzerland, on March 12,” she shares.

“After reaching Austria and skiing for a day, we learnt that Austria will be shutting the resorts by March 16 as they found a few people infected in the country. Meanwhile, some of Jay’s (Jay Mehta, Juhi’s husband) other friends joined us, so we decided to stay for two days and then leave. But the next day, while we were on the mountain, we heard that the resort would close that very day and if we don’t leave, we would be stuck there. So, we packed and left for Zurich as we couldn’t get any flights to London (UK),” says the actor.

They stayed the night in Zurich, flew to London the next day and hoped to stay there for a while. But a day later, they heard that India would be closing its borders too, so they had to either leave the UK in two days or stay there till March 31, when the situation would be reviewed.

Chawla says, “Once again, we were panicking as I am the only Indian national and the rest of my family has OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cards. I have never seen this kind of scenario, where whichever country we left was shutting its borders. The last seven-eight days of my life have been crazy. We were just running from one place to the next. In the UK, we applied for visas to be fast tracked and the officials were kind and helpful. There were other family members and friends, too, who needed to get back to India. On the flight, we filled a form giving out details of the places we had travelled to in the past month. At the Mumbai airport, officials checked every form and as we had been to Europe, stamped us - Home Quarantine!”

They were later whisked off to a doctor, who explained to a group of similarly stamped people, how to conduct themselves at home over the next fortnight. Chawla is thankful they managed to return to India on time as things are serious back home.

Praising the government’s efforts to tackle this outbreak, she says, “What was clear was that our government is trying hard to help everyone and protect us as far as possible. Huge respect for all the officials on duty.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 22, 2020)

Hindi cinema’s veteran makeup artiste Pandhari Juker passed away on Monday at the age of 88. In his long career, he worked with many actors including Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Madhuri Dixit Nene, and Juhi Chawla.

Juhi, who worked with Juker very early on in her career for a film called Kaafila (1990), fondly remembers Pandhari Dada, his work ethics, and his skills. She feels that he was the “master of all makeup artistes, a jolly, easy going person who was always hustling between studios to do makeup for other artistes”. “I was lucky to work with him so early in my career, though I didn’t know then that we would end up doing so many films together,” says Juhi, adding, “I have seen so many makeup artistes of the industry learn from him. He would do your makeup in minutes and never used brushes or too many palettes. Instead he used his fingers. His touch was so soft. He was a storyteller, and would share anecdotes of his experiences of working with Meena Kumari and Madhubala and how makeup was done for black and white films with brown and blue eye-shadow and purple lips to make it look a certain way.”

While Juhi enjoyed having him as her makeup artiste for films, she recalls compliments from him. She shares, “Pandhari Dada would make me look pretty and once he complimented me saying, ‘you already have such a pretty face, you don’t need makeup’. Dada would tell us that one day he’s going to retire and settle down at his Karjat farmhouse. We used to laugh at him because we knew he was never going on a break and sure enough, he continued working. I remember presenting him with a Lifetime Achievement Award at an awards function. He was loved and respected by one and all in the industry. I will miss him. It feels like a big part of my life has gone by, with certain lovely people I worked with, going away,” she concludes.

Sangeeta Yadav (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 8, 2019)

With over three decades in Bollywood, actor Juhi Chawla has worked in the best of both worlds — out-and-out commercial Bollywood movies and offbeat films. But what brought a huge transformation to her life and career was marriage and motherhood.

“There was a time when I used to do big-budget films with a huge troupe dancing in the background... some were commercial Bollywood or romance films. Then I got married and had kids and I stopped getting those kind of roles. What was offered to me was 3 Deewarein, Jhankaar Beats (both in 2003), My Brother Nikhil (2005) and many others that were very offbeat and not the typical Bollywood masala movies,” says Juhi.

When the actor started doing small-budget movies, she wasn’t “very comfortable”, but later she says she found the change “very refreshing”.

“Suddenly, I started doing small-budget films. The 30-40 dancers that I used to dance with disappeared. The actors were different, the sets looked more real, the unit would be smaller and you’d get to know everybody you worked with. Sometimes I’d even help them setup too,” says the Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga actor.

She adds how her makeup didn’t take “an hour-and-a-half or more”. She says, “I used to take just 20 minutes to dressup. Even the way they’d require me to act was different from the dialogue-baazi I did in my previous films. It was like a breath of fresh air.”

After becoming a mother to Jhanvi (18) and Arjun (16), the actor made a conscious decision to be very particular about her work. Juhi says, “As my kids were also little, I was doing fewer films in a year. So, there was a slowdown, but the films kept coming.”

During that time, Juhi also started experimenting with Punjabi films, such as Des Ho Yaa Pardes (2004) and Waris Shah (2007). As of now, she is happy “work keeps coming” and that keeps her going.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 16, 2018)

Thirteen is a lucky number for Juhi Chawla. It was on November 13 that she entered the world. This year, she brought in her birthday with family, some under-privileged kids among whom she distributed sweets, and a flood of memories. She recalled the first big bash she’d hosted a year after Mansoor Khan’s directorial debut had turned Aamir Khan and her into the QSQT cuties. By then the former Miss India who’d waltzed into Wonderland without a definite plan, had realised that this was where she wanted to work. She invited her film family to her party at a Juhu five-star and was thrilled when the who’s who of the frat turned up, including Amir, Mansoor and his producer-dad Nasir Hussain.

Aamir’s name came up in many birthday scripts later. A few years later, when Juhi was bringing in her birthday quietly in her new Versova home, he drove up, bearing a gift, a bar of Cadbury chocolate. “That’s it?” Juhi asked and he laughed, “That’s it!”

Another birthday came along when the duo was filming a sequence for Ishq where Aamir chases Juhi into a warehouse. During lunch break, a cake was brought out and the birthday girl, all dressed up and smiling, cut it to a chorus of “Happy Birthday”. Then, with a mischievous glint, Aamir reached out for a chunk of cake and slapped it on Juhi’s perfectly made-up face. For a minute she stood there stupefied, then, as her pranking co-star took to his heels, she flew after him. “He was quick but I chased him all around Film City with Indu ji (director Indra Kumar) cheering me on, urging me not to give up. I finally caught Aamir and got my revenge by plastering his face with cake,” she reveals.

Ishq was a couple of years in the making and by her next birthday, the two buddies were no longer on speaking terms. “We were filming in the same studio but this time when the cake was brought out, Aamir was not around. Uske bina mazaa nahin aa raha tha, so I went looking for him. He was in his vanity van, closeted in a meeting with Amol Palekar. I was scared to disturb them so after a while I went back and cut the cake without him,” she recounts. It would be a few years before the problem was resolved with Juhi taking the initiative and making a call. “That’s when I realised that he too had been wanting to make-up but believing I was mad with him, didn’t approach me. The issue was trivial, and it felt good to be back to being friends,” Juhi smiles.

Another Khan, who along with wife, Gauri, has always been around on her special day, sometimes joining her husband Jay Mehta and the family for a birthday dinner, is Shah Rukh. Any gifts? Juhi points out that they are just a formality that friends can do without. “But Shah Rukh did get me a tiny gold cross from Spain,” she murmurs. Her most precious gift undoubtedly was a handmade card on an A4-size sheet, on which her kids, Jhanvi and Arjun, had listed out all of mamma’s instructions, from “Don’t eat junk” to “No more TV, it’s time to study!”, accompanied by funny doodles and blurbs. “This was when they were younger and more excited about the occasion,” she laughs good-naturedly, adding that she stuck their card on her bathroom mirror where it remained for the next few years till the ink faded. “It’s the first thing I’d see every morning.” Another sparkling memory is associated with Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar which released on November 13, 2012. “It was Diwali, my birthday and I had a film opening on the day. That made it special!” she exults.

She remembers other birthdays on the sets, one which she brought in with Rishi Kapoor and a five-kg cake while shooting a song with P L Raj. “This year too, on my birthday, Chintu ji messaged from the US. We were to start a delightful, heartwarming film in Delhi in October. But then he wasn’t feeling well and had to fly out to the US for treatment. I told him to get well soon and come home so we could start our film.”

Side still: Aamir Lhan in Ishq; Juhi, Rishi in Bol Radha Bol

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 6, 2018)

Juhi Chawla, who was in Pakistan last week on a five-day trip to meet members of her extended family, has come back with myriad stories. “I went to meet my aunt, cousins and their children in Karachi. On the last day of my trip, I went to my niece’s store to buy chikankari kurtis. I also met some showbiz people as my cousin, Satish Anand, is a film distributor and TV producer,” the actress informs.

Juhi’s biggest takeaway though was at a multiplex, when her cousins took her to watch the Pakistani film, Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2. “Co-incidentally, the story was about a Pakistani boy falling in love with an Indian girl. I was amazed at how well they make their movies,” she says, adding that she especially enjoyed the Indian film references — in a sangeet scene, the hero dresses like a woman, imitating Madhuri Dixit’s purple sari from Hum Aapke Hai Koun’s “Didi Tera Devar Deewana,” and hat-tips Shah Rukh Khan’s “Ammi jaan Kehti Thi” punchline from Raees.

Juhi is tickled funny at the memory of seeing familiar faces during her trip. “It just didn’t feel like a different country. I would keep saying ‘Namaste’ to everyone and they would greet me back with ‘Salam Alaikum’,” she smiles, happy to report that Pakistan is keeping up with the times.

“Karachi is changing dramatically and mostly for the better. When I was there four years ago, people were wary of venturing out at night as the streets would be deserted because of the high crime rate and many would travel with security guards. Now, the place is buzzing with energy. My cousin even took me to Boat Club once.”

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; March 8, 2018)

Juhi Chawla, who is still remembered as the girl-next-door from films such as Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, feels it’s a myth that the number of women-centric movies have increased. “The bulk of films are still either romcoms or hero-based,” she points out. Here, the actress, talks about what has changed for women in cinema, and what remains the same...

Since the time you worked till now, do you see any changes as far as women in cinema are concerned?
When I was working in the ’90s, there hardly used to be three or four ladies on the sets that included me, my hair dresser, my mom or an aunt, and maybe one other woman. Today, almost 40 to 50 per cent of the crew on sets comprise women. These are young people working in production, art, creative, in short, every other department. In that sense, the doors have opened and opportunities have increased.

What about the role of heroines on screen?
How has it changed, you tell me? If you are talking about films like Piku or Queen, there have been strong female-oriented films earlier, too. You are forgetting Shabana Azmi who became what she is because of the roles and films she did. Tabu did films that revolved around women. Mita ji (Vasisht) became known for Manthan. We are forgetting films like Mrityudand and Astitva. Even today, I feel the bulk of the films are romcoms or hero-based. Time and again, films with strong female protagonists come, but I have not seen the number going up. The last film, I think, was Mom. I haven’t seen it, but I believe it was women-centric. In fact, the pressures on actresses to look perfect is more now, they have to wear skimpy dresses and look glamourous all the time, thanks to social media. We had it more relaxed.

Go on...
As far as women-centric films are concerned, I know this has been said before, but unless the audience goes to see them, they will not be made. Going to a nice theatre is expensive and audience wants to see big budget, glamourous films — they want entertainment. I think, like in London, there should be special theatres for alternative films or female-centric movies, because right now, such movies are either big hits, which is good, or they are pulled out of theatres within three days, if they don’t do well. They don’t get a chance to grow.

Talking about women-centric films, your Gulaab Gang is completing four years...
Yes, I still remember when director Soumik Sen met me with the script, and said he has got something fantastic for me. When I read the entire script, I told him, ‘Are you joking? Why would I do a role like this where I am beaten at the end as I was playing the villain?’ So, they tried to justify why she was the way she was but that ruined the whole thing. So, we went back to the original and I did my part the way Soumik read it —strangely menacing and icy cool. I tried to do that and when I saw the final result, I was happy.

Do you feel women are more empowered now?
I don’t agree with this whole thing about empowering women. They are born empowered! Somebody has said that women are one half of the population and responsible for the other half. You can’t beat that. Somewhere we are thinking that only career women are doing something. But running a home is equally important, if not more. Bringing love and warmth to the home, which is often overlooked, is paramount to a happy family. I salute all those women. Also, working and running a home is a herculean task and my jaw drops when I see women doing that.

Dhaval Roy (DNA; November 22, 2017)

First it was the ban on plastic bags less than 50 microns after the 2005 deluge that had actress and entrepreneur Juhi Chawla thrilled. Now, she says that the news has got better with the Maharashtra government reportedly planning to impose a ban on packaged water bottles in Mantralaya, other government offices, hotels, and finally restaurants by March 2018. “Every time you throw plastic away, it sits down in the ocean and goes down into the landfill. It’s sad what we are doing to the environment,” the actress says emphatically, welcoming the news.

GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
On her part, whenever Juhi goes for meetings, events, or stays at a hotel, she asks for boiled, filtered water in jars or stored in glass bottles. “When we were growing up, restaurants and hotels always served from jars or glass bottles and we drank that. Only in the last few years has the trend of plastic bottles started. People have been blinded and uninformed about how harmful they are. Now that it has become an environmental issue, they are being banned and I hope people realise that this will also be better for their own health,” she says.

IT ALL BEGAN AT HOME
Just like charity, the go-green drive for Juhi also began at home, and out went plastic bags and containers from her kitchen, making her abode 95 per cent plastic-free. “My children Arjun and Janhavi were the first ones I experimented on by changing their lunch boxes and water bottles. Of course, they protested at first because it was so uncool but I said, nothing doing,” she smiles. Till three years ago, her husband Jay (Mehta) would stock bottled water either from Himalayan water or water from Mulshi Springs for guests. “I said what nonsense is going on and we needed to stop it. So now, our whole household has clean water from the filter,” Juhi says. “Even when something new comes into the house, we make sure it’s not plastic,” she says.

Other than containers in her kitchen, Juhi has also replaced her toothbrush with a bamboo one, which is 100 per cent biodegradable. “The other thing I’m strict about is thermocol plates and cups that are highly damaging to the environment and completely avoidable. For my birthday on November 13, I had food served to the lesser-privileged people in paper plates without plastic coating and in donas (leaf cups). I prefer those and palm leaf or banana leaf plates,” she says.

GREEN AT WORK, TOO
Juhi is doing her best to keep things eco-frienldy at work, too. This year, for the IPL matches of her team with Shah Rukh Khan, Kolkata Knight Riders, they changed the plastic sticks of flags with thin paper, which will be refined further next year. They will also carry the work with their franchises Cape Town Knight Riders in the T20 Global League in South Africa and Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean League. “Though, we are still struggling with water packets and bottles; one lakh are sold per match,” Juhi points out, “I have constantly been reminding the team to cajole the sponsors for environmentally-friendly in-stadium branding.”

The Gulaab Gang actress adds that she takes it for granted that she has support from her business partner and former co-star Shah Rukh. “Poor fellow doesn’t even know what eco-friendly programmes I have been undertaking,” she giggles, “Because we are somebody, people listen to and comply with what we have to say about keeping things greener. In time, you will hear that Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and SRK’s Red Chilies’ shoots will be more eco-friendly,” she says.

FOR THE FUTURE GENS
Juhi admits that it was because of her children that she got so conscious about the environment, and soon realised that she wanted to do it for every child. “It’s our generation that has made a mess of the planet and our children don’t deserve this. They probably won’t be able to handle the mess we have made,” says the actress who thinks it’s her duty to make people aware about the cause.”

On a lighter note she concludes, “My poor kids hear so much from me when they use plastic that they go, ‘Oh, there goes mom again’ but this work is dedicated them and all the children on the planet.”

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 16, 2017)

On Monday, November 13, a photograph of birthday girl Juhi Chawla being crowned Miss India by Rekha made the rounds on the social media. The actress laughs, recalling how brazen she was thinking that she could participate in the beauty contest too after watching the other girls fill the application forms. She filled one too, boosted by the fact that she’d won a college pageant, noting the look of surprise on her father’s face when she went to him for his consent as she was still underage.

Juhi sailed through the interview round with Femina editor Vimla Patel and took a friend along with her to Shanmukhananda Hall for the finals. She borrowed a dress from another friend, Aarti, who did her make-up, and sashayed down the stage with the other finalists. Juhi still has no idea where her answer to the query “What’s common between the people of Mumbai and Kaysons saris?” came from, but her reply, “They come in all colours” got her the crown.

A month later, she flew to the US, even more nervous, to compete for the Miss Universe crown, with beauties from 80-odd countries. It took a few days to settle down before she found like-minded friends and was swept into rehearsals and photo-shoots. “After seeing Miss Venezuela who was drop-dead gorgeous, I gave up all hopes of taking this crown home. But I was a little disappointed when during the national costume round, I was not among the first and second runners-up. I thought my ghagra and imitation jewelry were pretty. Suddenly, I heard my name being announced, “Miss India, Juhi Chawla,” and knew I had won that round!” she exults, even more delighted that the obvious choice, Miss Venezuela, didn’t bag the title which went to Miss Sweden, who was not overly conscious of her looks.

A few years down the line, she had started shooting for Mukul Anand’s Sultanat, when she was surprised by a call fron Nasir saab’s (filmmaker Nasir Hussain) office. She remembers him sitting in a white-and-green room behind a huge desk with a boy in shorts hanging around. Nervous in the presence of the producer-director who was a big name, Juhi laughed and smiled a lot as was her habit. She was called for a screen test for which she would go to his Bandra home to be coached by Nasir saab’s nephew Aamir Khan.

They learnt their lines together and on the day of the screen test turned up at Nasir saab’s garden with two other aspirants to play out scenes from his Yaadon Ki Baaraat, one of which was Zeenat Aman being angry with Vijay Arora after discovering that her ‘rich’ beau was a waiter in a restaurant. There was no news for a couple of months, and then, one day, Juhi was called to the office and left with an exclusive contract and a three-film deal, one of the films being Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak opposite Aamir. She was ecstatic till ace photographer-publicist J P Singhal pointed out that it was not a wise move to commit herself to one filmmaker. “But I went ahead with QSQT, opposite a new actor, and a new director, Mansoor Khan, who had once directed me in an ad in my student days. The film stayed rock steady in its second week and went on to become a surprise hit,” the QSCutie recounts almost three decades later.

The actress is lending her voice to a TV show dedicated to pilgrim landmarks across the country
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 10, 2017)

Juhi Chawla is set to lend her voice to a travelogue on TV that will take viewers to popular religious destinations across the country. It will show rituals being performed, have devotees explain why they are drawn to these pilgrim centres and the mythology associated with the temples. The show is called Sharanam - Safar Vishwas Ka.

Confirming the news, the actress says, “Earlier this year, I was on a vacation with my family in London when my manager called to tell me about this show which is all about faith and the positive energy that brings people to these places. I was fascinated by the concept and told her I wanted to be a part of it. I felt it would be a great learning experience and I would be richer from it.” She laughs, adding, “ I’m even getting paid for it.”

Juhi reveals that there’s a Shiva temple close to her Malabar Hill residence and it’s almost like a ritual for her to go there on her children’s (Jhanvi and Arjun) birthday and other significant occasions. It’s a way of thanking God for the joys and asking for the strength to combat trouble.

“Also, whenever I’m in Kolkata, I make it a point to visit Kalighat and offer my prayers to Ma. I’m usually there during the IPL season and on tenterhooks so I visit the temple morning and evening before and after matches. I’ve also been to Vaishno Devi in Jammu, Puri’s famous Jagannath Temple and the Somnath Mandir in Saurashtra, as also Tirupati, Dwarka and Shirdi on family trips,” she reels off.

Recalling a not so pleasant experience Juhi narrates that during the shoot of a South Indian film, as a newcomer she went to Tirupati with her hairdresser and makeup man. “I stood in the paid queue for three-four hours and when my turn came, the usher rudely pushed me away. I was so angry and swore I’d never go back but I have, twice after making a name in films,” she smiles.

As a child Juhi lived in Cuffe Parade and since both her parents worked, there was no set routine to go to a temple every day or even every week. If they felt like it or when her parents had time, they would visit a mandir near Colaba market. “I had a pet dog, Penny, and once she had to undergo a surgery. The vet told us frankly that he didn’t know if she would make it through. I was heartbroken and went running to the temple but it was shut. I still stood there, prayed and sobbed my heart out. An hour later, I went back to the clinic and was told Penny was fine and could be taken home. The memory has stayed with me,” she shares.

Always honest, the actress admits that she’s not a couch potato and only watches TV occasionally, when her inlaws are around. Sometimes husband, Jay Mehta, switches it on. “If I’m at home, there’s always so much to do. But the kids enjoy watching the sports channels and Jay always tunes into the news while my in-laws watch the music shows and serials. I run away from serials because coming from a film background, I know how storylines are manipulated to please the audience. I prefer reality and talent shows,” she signs off.

Juhi Chawla on her first item song in a South film, after a long break
Upala KBR (DNA; June 10, 2016)


On doing an item song
So any piece of work that I take up now is something that I feel excited about. I feel that its worthy of my time, I will be presented in the right way, then I go ahead and do it. Once I do my work, I do it with all my heart and soul. Hence no film for me is big or small, nothing is more important or less important!

Why now?
My reaction to the offer initially was what would I be doing in an item song? I have never done an item song, as it’s not quite my forte. But then they explained why they wanted me to do it. This film is set in the 80’s-90’s and it showcases a programme of a Hindi movie star at that time in the jail to celebrate an annual day function! So I am there as a movie star playing myself.

About the song..
It is a very prettily shot Indian number in the film. The lyrics are inspiring. They are about encouragement, having faith, and it’s about life as well! It also tells you that there is no reason to be scared. The tune is wonderful, the lyrics are very simple and nice and some of the lines are in Hindi as well. I’m sure it’s going to become a super hit song. I am a Hindi film artist and so when I am coming to work in a Kannada film, it kind of made better sense to also put some of it in Hindi. This was Ramesh Arvindji’s 100th film, which is also one of the reasons I agreed to take up the project. The song was shot at a studio in Bangalore. I danced after a long time! They didn’t tell me I was dancing but gave me a reference where I’d look cool and strum a guitar, which I thought was quite easy and then when I got there they started giving me steps to dance on! After two shots I was like, ‘God feel rusty’ but then i got into it and I had such a lovely time

The look
The two looks are just a cinematic liberty. They had this wonderful funky Indian look in mind where it had something to do with the colours of the peacock and its feathers and its grace and beauty as well. So the dancers and myself were dressed in turquoise, after which it went into reds and gold.I must say I was quite pleased with both the looks.

Family reaction
My husband and children are yet to see my look from the song, but whoever has seen them has been pleasantly surprised and really liked it! I too really liked it. In fact I thought that the entire look and the presentation looks magical!