Showing posts with label Raj Kaushal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raj Kaushal. Show all posts
I am not the same person I was 30 years ago-Mandira Bedi
8:59 AM
Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; July 4, 2025)
Mandira Bedi has been a familiar face for over three decades – as an actor, presenter and fitness advocate. But behind her public persona, she has long focused on something more personal and less visible: her mental health.
‘Sometimes it is easy to open up to a third person as there are no judgements’
Talking about how mental health has been an important part of her life, Mandira says, “The first time I went for therapy was 18 years ago. When I told my mom about it, she was aghast and didn’t understand the need because it has always been a taboo subject. It exists even now... very few people talk about it.”
She adds, “Friends and family are always there to listen, but sometimes a qualified person, who is unbiased and honest, is required to help you deal with the emotions. Sometimes it is easy to open up to a third person, as there are no judgments.”
‘There were a lot of times when I did not like myself’
Over the years, Mandira made mental health a priority. “Mental health has been something that I’ve not put on the back burner, but on the front burner. It’s important to me. There were many times I didn’t like myself. I was negative and very tough on myself. I discovered self-love only recently. And now that I have, I protect it. I wake up every morning with the intent to be happy. I protect my peace,” she shares.
‘It’s not like I don’t miss Raj, but I’ve processed it over a period of time’
After losing her husband Raj Kaushal in 2021, Mandira allowed herself the space and time to grieve. Only now does she speak openly about how therapy and emotional work helped her heal. She says, “I lost my husband four years ago, and I would not talk about it because I was not ready back then. Now, I can have a conversation and say that I had to feel to process that grief. There is no shortcut when it comes to grief, there’s no quick fix. It’s not like I don’t miss him, but I’ve processed it over a period of time.”
She remembers the early days of loss vividly. “I remember when it happened, I kept asking myself, how long am I going to feel like this? It’s like the tectonic plates under my feet have shifted. The first year was particularly hard. The first of everything... my birthday, his birthday, the first anniversary, Christmas, Diwali, New Year... they are shattering. Your heart breaks into a million pieces. But the second time gets a little bit easier because you’ve dealt with that first year.”
‘I’ve taught my kids to talk to a therapist whenever something feels off’
As a single parent to Vir and Tara, she’s made mental health a part of her children’s lives as well. “Vir needed therapy after Raj, and he needed to speak to somebody who was not his parent. I understood that. I got him the counselling that he needed. I’ve instilled in both my kids that whenever there’s something that you’re feeling, some sort of unrest, we have a therapist we call and we speak to.”
‘I had so much anger in me and used to lash out often’
Mandira’s reflections also touch on personal growth. “I had so much anger in me and used to lash out often. But when I had awareness of that, I worked on it. I’ve worked hard on myself and I’ve come a long way. It’s been a long journey and I’ve benefited so much from working on myself. I’m not the same person I was when I began in this industry 30 years ago – I’ve grown and changed in many ways.”
My husband was good cop; I was bad cop for our kids, but now I’m good and bad cop rolled into one-Mandira Bedi
8:01 AM
Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 12, 2024)
Mandira Bedi is a doting mother to her son Vir (12) and daughter Tara (8). She says that her experiences as a mom have been unique. On Mother's Day, today, the actress opens up about her parenting journey and the challenges she faces as a single mom.
She says, “I’ve had an interesting and eventful career, but of all the things I’ve done in life, I am most grateful for this journey of parenthood. I got to experience something unique; I am a biological parent and an adoptive parent, and few people are privileged to have that kind of a journey.”
‘Being a parent is something you learn on the job’
Mandira lost her husband, filmmaker Raj Kaushal, in 2021 after he suffered a cardiac arrest. Reflecting on how she handles the dual responsibility, she says, “It’s very hard, there are times when I just don’t know what to do. My husband was the good cop, and I was the bad cop for our kids, but now I’m the good and the bad cop rolled into one. Sometimes, it calls for sternness and at times for gentleness, and finding that balance is the journey of parenthood. At times, you don’t know what to do and which route to take, but you learn on the job. I’ve been navigating quite a fascinating journey with both my kids. Sometimes it is difficult and tiring, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
‘Parenthood has made me more grateful and patient’
Mandira says it is important to be your child’s parent as well as a friend. She shares, “My kids’ nature, temperaments and personalities are very different. Parenthood has made me more grateful and patient than I was. It is all about unlearning and relearning, and that’s what I have been doing. Today, you have to find the right balance between being a friend and a parent to your child. So, I’m learning on the job, just like every parent.”
‘I want Vir and Tara to grow up with strong values’
The actress, who is also known for her hosting skills, grew up in a very disciplined environment and wants the same for Vir and Tara.
“My kids should be in a good place mentally, emotionally and physically,” she says, adding, “I want them to grow up with strong values, be well-mannered and respectful. I want them to be truthful. They should be good human beings. I am very hardworking, and I want my kids to imbibe that quality of mine.”
Talking about her daughter, who she adopted in 2020, she says, “We brought her home when she was four, which was about nine months before my husband passed, and I’m just so grateful that she’s there with us and we’re now a family of three.”
‘I discovered self-love late in my life’
Mothers are known for their generous and giving ways, but ask her what she wants on Mother’s Day, and Mandira says, “I’ve learned about self-love recently in my life. I would say that it is something that I’ve discovered very late. When I need a break, I don’t ask my kids or wait for it, I just take my time out for a workout or read a book, which gives me joy. Doing my work is a part of self-love, too. I love being invited for talks, hosting events and acting.”
The way I coped with my grief and loss is extremely private to me-Mandira Bedi
8:21 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; March 18, 2023)
Over the years, Mandira Bedi has successfully donned many hats – including that of an actor, a cricket show host, a reality show participant, a fashion designer, a fitness enthusiast, and a motivational speaker. In 2021, she suddenly lost her life partner of 25 years – her husband, filmmaker Raj Kaushal – who passed away after suffering a heart attack.
However, she bravely and gracefully kept moving ahead and went on to become a pillar of strength for her children. In an exclusive interview with Bombay Times, she talks about parenting her two kids, Vir and Tara, what keeps her going and the kind of roles she is seeking. Excerpts:
‘I’M ALWAYS UP FOR A CHALLENGE’
In the last few years, Mandira has had her hands full — acting, being a social media influencer, focusing on her fitness and being a hands-on mother to her two children, 11-year-old son Vir and six-year-old daughter Tara.
“Whenever I’m not working, I am with my children. We have a great routine, I am with them all the time, I drop and pick them up from school and we go on holidays. But just like me, my kids are homebodies, too. I love my work. I am doing a new show for TV, I shoot for brands on social media, do workout videos and give motivational talks at events on fitness. It’s great to inspire people, but my kids are my happy place... that is what keeps me going. And even in the middle of all this, I find the time to exercise. It is a challenge, but I’m always up for a challenge.”
‘I HAD TO DO WHAT I HAVE TO, TO GIVE MY KIDS A LOVING AND HAPPY ENVIRONMENT’
Mandira has always been a private person and has rarely spoken about how she coped with the pain of losing her partner of 25 and kept going. She shares, “I have my children, and after Raj, I had to do what I had to do to give them a loving, normal and happy environment. I have had to get on with life. The way I coped with my grief and loss in the last few years is something that is extremely private to me. It is not something that I have shared or talked about with anyone. I believe that I have gone through the right channels and done it all in the best possible way, without any shortcuts. I do a lot of motivational talks and I talk about everything else, and yet, when it comes to me as a pointed question, I answer it just like the way I have answered you today.”
‘OTT HAS GIVEN ACTORS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE’
Mandira, who has worked in the OTT space since 2018, says, “The rise of OTT has been phenomenal. There’s work for everybody, and that is just incredible. Many actors who were not doing films are getting a new lease of life in the OTT world.”
‘24 WAS THE SHOW I BINGE-WATCHED WITH RAJ’
Mandira played Nikita Rai, based on the character Nina Myers in the action thriller 24, the Indian adaptation of the American series of the same name. The actress shares how she almost manifested her role.
“It was the first show that Raj and I binge-watched. I remember telling Raj that playing the character of Nina Myers would be like a dream come true. Many years later, when the show came to India, I got a call from Abhinay Deo’s (the director of 24) office. They wanted me for another role, and I said, ‘Are you serious! You are not calling me for the Nina Myers’ role?’ They said that they had already cast somebody. But eventually, I did play Nina Myers, and it was a dream come true!”
‘I KEPT GETTING OFFERED COP ROLES’
Mandira’s role in the thriller and her look in 24 was much appreciated. However, it did kind of typecast her. “Because of that role, people only saw me as a short-haired cop, and I kept getting offered similar roles. I have said no to every kind of film because of this. I was offered to play a cop in a Telugu and Tamil film. Then there was a show where I was offered to play a jailer. Due to my hair, the way I look and my fitness, makers think that I really fit the bill to play a cop. However, I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to do other interesting roles. I have been turning down a lot of roles, and I am being picky about what I choose.”
Losing somebody very close to you, your life partner, is a life changing experience-Mandira Bedi
8:34 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 23, 2023)
Actor-host Mandira Bedi has returned to work with a cricket-themed reality show. Bedi, who lost her husband, filmmaker Raj Kaushal in 2021, says she has spent the last two years focusing on finding strength. Now, she wants to find happiness from within and through the work she does.
“For me, 2023 looks very promising, starting with a reality show and some other incredible events lined up. I am also reading some scripts, and I hope to say yes to doing some work in fiction,” says Bedi.
Opening up about starting the year with a reality show, the 50-year-old says, “The reality show, stemming from our national passion, will feature both men and women. A show like this has not been made before. It’s different from the live telecast that I have, which is the reason I am excited and really looking forward to being a part of it.”
Her focus is not just on her professional life but also on gaining more strength and happiness in her personal sphere as well. “My life has changed. In the last two years, I have had no choice but to become stronger. I was a strong person, and I am a stronger person now,” she says, adding. “Losing somebody very close to you, your life partner, is a life-changing experience. You can either sink or swim after something like that, and I choose to swim. I have no choice. I have two young children, and I have a family to take care of.”
Bedi goes on, “Last year, I had a lot to deal with, and I had to be strong. This year, I am not going to focus on anything to become happier. I’m just going to try and find that happiness from within. That’s how I want to live my life, and I want to continue my journey.”
Before every take, Raj Kaushal would say energy instead of action-Sanjay Suri
8:02 AM
As Raj Kaushal’s sudden demise leaves family, friends shocked, Sanjay Suri and Dino Morea remember coming together for their maiden movie, Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi
MID-DAY (July 1, 2021)
His friends remember him as someone with a ready smile on his face. And his Sundays were dedicated to what he treasured the most — friends and family. Over the weekend, Raj Kaushal’s heart was full as wife Mandira Bedi and he played host to their near and dear ones. Three days later, the film and television industry woke up to the shocking news of the filmmaker’s demise, the incident reminding us of the fragility of life.
Kaushal had forayed into filmmaking with Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999). The campus drama not only ushered in a new sound of music with Musu Musu Hasi and Woh Pehli bBaar, but also launched a string of new faces, including Dino Morea, Sanjay Suri and Rinke Khanna. “I get so many messages about the film’s songs to date. Raj knew how to make it special,” says Morea, remembering how Kaushal was completely in charge of the project. “My most striking memory of the film is Raj’s smiling face. No matter what went on around him, he had a positive energy that rubbed off on everyone. Mandira was a big part of the film’s making. Seeing her distraught today broke my heart. He was young, and has been taken away from us too soon.”
Suri, who had spoken to Kaushal four days ago, is shocked. “When we spoke, he said, ‘Bhai, milte hai aur kuch karte hai.’ I planned to meet him after returning from my shoot [in Uttarakhand],” says Suri, who had gone on to team up with him on Shaadi Ka Laddoo (2004) and My Brother Nikhil (2005).
“Not many know this, but he was one of the best narrators I have ever met. You could give him a boring one-liner, but he would narrate it with such skill that you could visualise it completely. He was always bursting with ideas. He inculcated a lot of confidence in his actors. We were all new, but he gave us complete freedom between ‘action’ and ‘cut’. It was liberating to work with him.”
The actor is grateful to Kaushal for co-producing My Brother...Nikhil when few had faith in the same-sex love story. “Raj played a big part in my career and my life. I called him a yaaron ka yaar. He had magnetic energy to him. In fact, before every take, he would say energy instead of action, and the vibe on the set would be so positive.”
Actor Manish Chaudhari, who recently shot for Kaushal’s web debut Akkad Bakkad, has yet to come to terms with the loss. “We had finished shooting only three weeks ago. He was happy to have wrapped up 10 episodes in less than 30 days of shooting. He was kicked about his first OTT project, and was looking forward to directing the second season. Mandira and he had recently adopted Tara, and he would keep sharing stories about his kids on the set.”
Bollywood director Raj Kaushal dies of cardiac arrest
7:58 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (July 1, 2021)
Mumbai: Filmmaker Raj Kaushal passed away of a cardiac arrest around 4.30 am Wednesday. He was in his fifties. Kaushal was actress Mandira Bedi’s husband. The couple have two children, 10-year-old Vir and a daughter Tara whom they adopted in 2020. Kaushal began his career as copywriter and went on to produce and direct scores of advertising films. He also directed three movies namely Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, Shaadi Ka Laddoo, and Anthony Kaun Hai (2006). He produced ‘My Brother Nikhil’, a sensitive film on the subject of HIV-AIDS.
Kaushal’s sudden death evoked shock and sorrow in the entertainment industry. Actors Ashish Chowdhry, Apoorva Agnihotri, Rohit and Ronit Roy, Manasi Joshi Roy, Sameer Soni and Huma Qureshi arrived to console his wife and children. Meanwhile, Vicky Kaushal, Onir, Neha Dhupia, Arshad Warsi, Randeep Hooda, Boman Irani and Shekhar Ravjiani offered tributes on social media. Anupam Kher, Ronnie Screwvala and Sudhir Mishra also expressed sorrow.
Composer Vishal Dadlani tweeted, “The first person to trust me with making music for a film, @rajkaushal created so many careers with #PyaarMeinKabhiKabhi. Above that, he always stood with his friends.”
-------------------------------
BOMBAY TIMES (July 1, 2021)
Filmmaker Raj Kaushal, 49, who made his directorial debut in Bollywood with Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999), passed away yesterday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. He is survived by wife Mandira Bedi and children Vir (10) and Tara (4).
The couple had adopted their daughter last year. Raj, who had directed many ads and helmed Shaadi Ka Laddoo (2004) and Anthony Kaun Hai (2006), had recently finished wrapping up a web series. While a few friends and colleagues from the industry were present for the final rites, others expressed grief on social media.
Remembering Raj, Onir, whose first directorial venture, My Brother…Nikhil (2005) was co-produced by the filmmaker, said, “He will always be remembered as someone who was always smiling and made everyone feel like a buddy. I am shocked that he left us at this very young age. He extended support for my first film at a time when nobody was willing to, and I give him credit for helping me fulfil my dream of becoming a director.”
Talking about the filmmaker, friend Rohit Roy said, “There is no way one can come to terms with Raj’s passing. He was one of the happiest, positive and vibrant people around. He never had anything negative to say about anyone… nor did anyone have anything negative to say about him. He was the kind of friend anyone would want to have in their life. He stood by people through thick and thin. I will never forgive him for going away without saying goodbye.”
Sudhanshu Pandey, who has known Raj since 24 years, shot with him a couple of weeks ago. “Raj was like a brother to me. I cannot come to terms with the fact that he is no more. We shot for something two or three weeks back and we had a great time on the sets. I didn’t know that it would be the last time I would meet Raj. I couldn’t attend his last rites. But my wife was there. We connected over a video call because I wanted to see him one last time,” he said.
Why Mandira Bedi got an anxiety attack amid Coronavirus pandemic
8:39 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 25, 2020)
Like many others around the world, actor Mandira Bedi, too, is cooped up inside her home amid the Covid-19 crisis. She reveals that she had a brief anxiety attack a few days back because of all the negativity with regards to the present situation.
“I was in Australia for the women’s cricket World Cup and came in on March 9. I was in self-isolation and have been counting the days because the symptoms take 14 days to show. I have been so anxious, nervous and fearful that I actually did work myself up to get an asthma attack out of anxiety,” shares Bedi.
The 47-year-old urges people to stay positive during these times and advises them to stay away from rumours, citing how her attack was a result of that.
“The day I got my attack, I worked myself into a frenzy to get into that space. The night before the incident, the last thing I saw was a video of someone coughing and people not taking it seriously. It was so negative and depressing. The next morning I woke up at 5.30am in a total state of panic,” she says.
Bedi says she is now focusing on just being positive about the situation and wants people to not feel dejected. “I just want people to know that whatever they are going through is real but it is okay. The only thing to now do is to just be positive,” muses Bedi, while adding a tip or two about what one can do at home.
“Have a routine. Use your time to exercise. I am putting a lot of home workout videos because that is what is keeping me going. Besides, I am also home schooling my son (Vir),” adds the actor.
While socialising is out of question, Bedi says she and her husband, Raj Kaushal, have devised a unique way to keep in touch with friends. “What we do is we open a bottle of wine and then we video call our friends and we raise a toast together. Few days ago, I also celebrated my mother’s birthday on video,” she says.
I like how I am stereotyped today, I am getting to play strong and badass roles-Mandira Bedi
7:48 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 5, 2018)
Mandira Bedi became a household name in the ’90s, after playing the protagonist on national television’s first daily soap, Shanti. She followed it up by adding to the glam quotient in Indian cricket. Her stint as an anchor during the World Cup tournaments in 2003 and 2007, earned her the tag, ‘Cricket Girl’. However, more than Mandira’s insight into the game, it was her sartorial choices on the show, especially the noodle-strap blouses, that became a talking point.
Reminiscing those days, she says, “It felt great to be associated with cricket in such a big way. Those days, there was no room for women commentators in any sport. There were some rude comments and they did upset me, initially. However, with time, I realised that people were vocal about their views because they were passionate about the game. Having said that, what most people didn’t realise was that my job was to ask the layman’s questions; I was not an analyst or a commentator. Fortunately, it was a long tournament, so people had enough time to like me (smiles).”
Over the years, Mandira, who made her debut in Bollywood with the blockbuster hit, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), has also moved to the South.
The actress says, “This is probably the best year of my career. Interesting characters are coming my way now, which wasn’t the case after DDLJ (1995). Back then, I was offered similar roles — of sisters, bhabhis and second leads. That was bad stereotyping. I like how I am stereotyped today, I am getting to play strong and badass roles. It could be because of my short hair and appearance. I either get to play a cop or the antagonist. The way people perceive me now, works for me,” she elaborates.
The actress is also talked about for her fitness. Mandira, who has done pushups in sari and heels, says, “The fitness bug bit me in 2008. Today, I feel fitter than I felt in my 30s and 20s. It was an unplanned reinvention of sorts. All I want to say is, it’s never too late to take your health into your hands. I have been self-training for the past seven years. In fact, I keep a pair of running shoes in my car, which comes in handy whenever I am stuck in traffic.”
Mandira was also in news last year for her wish to adopt a girl. She and her husband Raj Kaushal posted a message on social media after they realised that they don’t meet the eligibility criteria to adopt an infant. However, she hasn’t given up yet. She says, “We have completed the paperwork and are now waiting for it to materialise. I feel a girl will complete our family. Also, girls look after their parents when they grow old.”
Madhuri Dixit is somebody I can watch Gunda with-Soumik Sen
7:52 AM
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; March 11, 2014)
Soumik Sen, 38, is sharp, eloquent and has a great sense of humour. Like a true emotional Bengali, he loves his music, food and Satyajit Ray. This journalist-turned-director is the writer, music director and director of Gulaab Gang and is a complete Madhuri Dixit bhakt. Over an hour-long conversation before the release of his film, he spoke to Bombay Times about his discerning mother, the non-vegetarian Madhuri Dixit versus the vegetarian Juhi Chawla and why he believes a woman can beat a man hands down on all counts. Excerpts:
How did you become a filmmaker?
I was born and brought up in Kolkata. After studying at St Xavier’s, I did my masters in Economics from Delhi School of Economics. I did a brief stint at the World Bank, after which I became a business journalist and produced a business show on television, where I was required to research, write and interview people for the programme. I disliked Delhi as a city and after five years of being a journalist, I took a transfer to Mumbai, as I wanted to write films. I met Raj Kaushal, who was a friend’s friend and told him that I wanted to write films. He gave me my first film to write Anthony Kaun Hai, which Raj himself directed. I then wrote the Kishore Kumar biopic and spoke to Ranbir Kapoor. This is before Barfi. And then Anurag came on board to direct it. In the meantime, I wrote Gulaab Gang and have directed it. My next film will be a biopic based on the life of PC Sorcar, which I have written and will be directing too.
Tell us about your family?
I am the only child and being a single child helped, as I got all the attention of my parents. My parents are both retired now, but my dad used to work for Eveready batteries. I grew up in a joint family in Calcutta. If you are a Bengali there, there are two things naturally ingrained in you, one is Tagore, the other, Ray. Which is why I feel Bengali filmmakers have an advantage. Ray is not a part of our syllabus, but he is a part of our bloodstream. We all aspire to be Ray even though we don’t have 1/100th of his talent. He is the greatest filmmaker this country will ever have. I was put into Hindustani musical training at the age of eight and into learning sarod at 14. I played cricket for my school and state. Sourav Ganguly was my senior and house vice-captain, though, I never got to play with him. I would be a voracious reader and had a school band and was also into Shakespearean theatre. Joining Delhi School of Economics was the worst thing in my life. I loved economics, but their approach was way too mathematical. It lacked the human content. I remember I used to doze off in class. I was horrible in D School. I just didn’t like the place and found it just too boring. Every Monday, we would have a unit test. I got 8 out of 80 in the first year in one of the subjects. But, I was clear at a very early age that I had to be economically self-sufficient. And that at no point in time should my parents get the feeling that I am not financially secure, and that I can secure them. But they should not ask how I am getting that money as far as it was legally earned. My dad stuck to one company all his life, so it took him time to adjust to the thought that I could give up my job as a journalist one fine day to just write. When I told my parents that I wanted to make a film, they looked down upon it as I was not planning to make a Bengali intellectual film, but a Bollywood commercial one. At that time, ‘Bombay chala gaya’ was looked down upon. Now it’s exactly the opposite, where if you are a Bengali who has made a film in Mumbai, they look at you as a big achiever, be it Shoojit Sircar, Anurag Basu or Sujoy Ghosh.
How did Gulaab Gang happen?
I actually wanted to do a ‘Western’ which is a big film experience on the big screen. Anurag Basu and Sanjay Leela Bhansali give their audiences that. Sholay would be the best Indian example of a Western. Every Western has a protagonist and antagonist. And the underdog will take down the really powerful guy. Also, Mirch Masala was a massive influence. I believe that men are not big enough to empower women. And actually, if women are financially independent, men become redundant in their lives. So we wanted to create a masala film, where men are almost irrelevant. I have always been a massive Madhuri fan. I presented the film to her completely avoiding eye contact with her. I had written this film keeping only Madhuri in mind and she said yes. If Madhuri had not said yes, this film would not have happened.
How different are Madhuri and Juhi to work with?
Madhuri is somebody I can watch the Gunda video with. Gunda is a cult classic starring Mithun Chakraborty and it is so bad that it is so good. It is a D-grade film, but Madhuri gets it and loves it. I introduced her to it while shooting. Juhi is far more prim and proper. She is fun, but in a formal way. Madhuri is much more spontaneous than Juhi. Juhi is a lot more studied, conscious and puts in a lot more thought. Madhuri is incredibly professional. She will be there for a 5 am shot at 4.45 am with her makeup on. We had no stunt doubles or body doubles for any of the shots. Madhuri is non-vegetarian, Juhi is vegetarian. I remember when my associate director came to meet me for the interview, I asked him only one question, ‘Are you vegetarian?’ He said no. I said, ‘You are in.’ But I am way too grateful to Juhi to allow me to break her mould.
Who are you most attached to?
My mother. She is a very strangely crazy person and I am a lot like her. She is extremely loving and gets into these fits of this tempestuous anger, has a giving heart and likes to keep everybody happy. She also has a very discerning eye for music, art and cinema and she is a no-nonsense person when it comes to her telling you what she likes or doesn’t like. Of course, she has the Tagore hangover which every Bengali has. While she likes my singing voice, she would like me to call her more often. Boys cannot have conversations with mothers like girls can. My wife talks to her more than I do. She was a master in Sanskrit, but devoted a lot of her life to my cultural and emotional upbringing. I know that she could have done more with her life, but she sacrificed it for me. And, of course, she is a great cook. She came here and I made her meet Madhuri who immediately touched her feet. My mom immediately said, ‘See her upbringing.’ The best thing I like about my mother is that she keeps me grounded. The first time my picture came out with Madhuri in the paper, she called me to say your hairline is receding. The other anchor in my life is my wife. The day I took my first shot of Gulaab Gang, I had three missed calls from her. I called her back hoping that she would ask me about the shot. But she said, ‘Do you have Ramesh’s new number?’ He is the guy who delivers gas. That is life and it is brilliant.
Are Bengali women dominating?
I like dominating women as they are more competent. Also, versus physical power, you give the woman the same training as a man and she will beat the shit out of him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)