Actor Urmila Matondkar is enjoying an unexpected wave of love from a new generation of movie buffs. Following the success of the Hollywood psychological thriller Obsession, social media users have been drawing parallels with her acclaimed performances in Kaun (1999) and Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), sparking a fresh appreciation for the actor’s work.

The renewed buzz has left Matondkar overwhelmed: “Over the last few days, so many people have tagged me on social media. It’s just beautiful, honestly. It’s lovely to be acknowledged, even if it is 20 years later.” The actor believes those films and characters were ahead of their time.

“It’s amazing to see a younger generation, many of whom weren’t even born when these films released, connecting with them today. It has completely blown my mind,” she adds.

Having recently wrapped a web series, Matondkar admits the recognition feels especially rewarding as the films didn’t receive the industry response she had hoped for at the time: “I think it’s a big slap on the critics of the ’90s, with so many youngsters now remembering my performance.”

There was a sense of occasion and belonging as Urmila Matondkar arrived at Shivaji Park in a pink nauvari sari on Maharashtra Day yesterday. Walking through Dadar’s familiar lanes and into a space steeped in history, she carried with her not just the aesthetics of tradition, but its spirit. During the exclusive shoot with Bombay Times, the actress reflected on her journey, her Marathi roots, and the pride, resilience and self-respect that shape her idea of being Maharashtrian.

With her roots in Sindhudurg, Urmila spoke of identity and belonging, reflecting on what being Maharashtrian means to her.

She said, “It means dignity and a great sense of self-respect. I take immense pride in my roots, culture, Marathi literature and language. I could conduct an opera on Maharashtra. I received my education in Marathi — something very few people can say today. I was introduced to Marathi literature very early in life. I come from the coastal side, Konkan, and then there are the Sahyadris on the other side, along with beautiful rivers — that’s the diversity of Maharashtra, rich with flora and fauna.”

Delving deeper into the state’s legacy, Urmila adds, “What’s truly remarkable about Maharashtra is how it stands tall on the strength of its social and educational reforms. We must not forget Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Phule — the foundational architects of social justice and equality in the state. Likewise, many progressive milestones like the first school for girls in India began here, thanks to Savitribai Phule. And above all, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, for all the battles he fought. Beyond this, there’s our rich legacy of art, theatre and literature — even the film industry. Dadasaheb Phalke could never have imagined that the seeds he sowed would grow so magnificently. The greatness of Maharashtra lies in how it stands firm in its values while continuing to welcome every community with open arms.”

Addressing the challenges that the Marathi film industry is facing today, the actress says, “It’s all about supporting your culture and staying rooted. Marathi cinema goes through its own ups and downs, but it consistently delivers some exceptional films. I recently watched Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam and really liked it. I make it a point to watch Marathi films in theatres, and I urge my fellow Maharashtrians to do the same and support the industry. My all-time favourite Marathi film is Shyamchi Aai. And of course, all of V Shantaram’s films have been remarkable — his vision, especially in the way he shot songs, has had a profound influence on many Hindi filmmakers.”

Turning the lens to her own journey in cinema, she speaks candidly about finding her footing in the film industry. “The best thing about the Hindi film industry is that it is cosmopolitan, just like Mumbai. However, being a Maharashtrian wasn’t easy for me in the industry because I was told that my Hindi has Marathi intonations. I really had to work hard towards it, but who am I to complain because even Lata Mangeshkar was told that! I believe it’s a part of our journey.”

Food: Puran Poli

Place: Sindhudurg

Song: Vedat Marathe Veer Daudale Saat

Vada Pav or Misal Pav: Misal Pav

Favourite Marathi word: Thamba, thamba, thamba! Whenever I get flustered listening to someone, I say that

Asha Bhosle offers her blessings to then up and coming cricketer Mali Richards, the son of West Indies cricketing great Sir Viv Richards, at the CCI in 2005. PIC/Santosh Harhare, mid-day archives

Saying no was out of the question when Saali Mohabbat came Anurag Kashyap’s way. After all, the Radhika Apte and Divyenndu-starrer was among the first few productions of designer Manish Malhotra, who is among his close friends. Couple that with the taut script of director Tisca Chopra’s howdunnit, and Kashyap was sold on the idea of featuring in a cameo.

“What drew me to Saali Mohabbat was, first and foremost, the script. I’ve also had a wonderful experience working with Tisca earlier on the short film Chhuri [2017]. So, the opportunity to collaborate again was an immediate yes,” he says. Then there was, of course, Malhotra.

“I’ve admired Manish since my first film Satya [1998], where he styled Urmila [Matondkar]. I have turned to him without hesitation whenever I’ve been unsure about what to wear for a major event. When he told me he was launching his production house and that Saali Mohabbat would be among his first films, there was no question of saying no.”

Kashyap, who enjoys his time in front of the camera as much as behind it, says sharing screen space with Divyenndu, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Sharat Saxena was a delight. But he has one minor grouse with the Zee5 movie.

“Unfortunately, I did not get to work with Radhika this time,” rues Kashyap, who directed her in Sacred Games and a short film in Lust Stories (2020).

Rangeela has just hit the screens once again, 30 years after its release, in a restored version. In a candid conversation with us, Urmila Matondkar looks back at the film that has become a cult classic. “Rangeela represents, in the biggest and best ways, a flight of fantasy that takes you to an alternate reality — a world that is glamorous, beautiful, yet so very real. Characters like Mili (Urmila) and Munna (Aamir Khan) are so real, you feel you could literally see them walking down the street. It’s also a story of an underdog making it big. That’s why it remains timeless and iconic,” says Urmila.

The film’s release marked a turning point in Urmila’s career. “Rangeela changed things overnight for me — becoming a star and receiving tremendous public adulation. I always say the film showcases the navarasas that are at the core of Indian performing arts. It’s a huge gamut of emotions that people and the audience witness through the characters. The beauty of the film is that it was shot on a pretty minimalistic budget, with no foreign locales, just Mumbai and a bit of Goa. It encapsulates the beauty of life itself magnificently. Playing the character came easily to me because it resonated with me.”

The actress says that besides its impact on pop culture, the movie also influenced the remuneration offered to actresses. “After the release of the film, not just mine, overall actresses’ remuneration shifted majorly. But I cannot compare — I don’t know what Aamir was paid, but both Aamir (Khan) and Jackie (Shroff) were huge stars when I did the movie. I was a huge fan of them myself.”

It also brought along opportunities that helped Urmila step into characters that weren’t stereotypical. She further adds, “What I am extremely proud of is that I didn’t use that stardom to throw my weight around or to hike my price unnecessarily. I used it to seek films that were waiting to be made. I took risks with different kinds of characters and became part of movies like Pinjar, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Judaai. Rangeela gave me the chance to do those kinds of projects.”

Despite the film’s impact, she has watched it far less than people might imagine. “I really haven’t seen Rangeela as many times as people might think. I am not megalomaniacal (laughs), and I don’t get happy seeing myself on screen. The name of the movie – Rangeela – brings a smile to my face, and I hope it has the same effect on others who remember it after so many years.”

The dance sequences in Rangeela were among the talking points of the film. Urmila remembers, “Choreography in Rangeela was path-breaking, with the great Saroj Khan doing Tanha Tanha and Hai Rama, and then Ahmed Khan, a newcomer, doing brilliant work as well. In fact, Saroj Khan told me I should get credit as a choreographer as there were quite a few sequences where there wasn’t any choreographer really. There is a white saree sequence in the song Pyaar Ye Jaane Kaisa Hai, and other such pieces with no choreographer, where I was asked to do whatever comes to my mind.”

Urmila Matondkar running on the beach in an oversized white ganji. Or dancing on the streets of Mumbai with abandon, as others join in. Some images of Rangeela (1995) remain iconic even today, 30 years after its release. “It’s thrilling because it shows that people never forget such timeless movies,” says Matondkar of the film that has been restored by Ultra Media and is re-releasing today.

Centred on Matondkar’s Mili, the Aamir Khan and Jackie Shroff-starrer told the story of a girl-next-door pursuing her acting ambitions and love. In a way, Mili redefined the Bollywood heroine — while the styling influenced fashion trends across the country, Ram Gopal Varma’s directorial venture gave us a heroine who celebrated her sensuality.

“I certainly didn’t think of it from that perspective when I did Rangeela,” reflects the actor. “There was a lot of relatability as she was from a middle-class family. Manish Malhotra and Ram Gopal Varma created Mili’s look. The entire team contributes to a film’s success, and it’s one of the career-best works of these people.”

Another element that made waves was the unusual choreography to AR Rahman’s chartbusters — be it dancing by the beach in Tanha Tanha, or Mumbai streets becoming Matondkar’s stage in Rangeela Re. Legend has it that the leading lady stepped in for choreographer Saroj Khan on more than one occasion and designed some steps herself.

Mention this to the actor, and she shares, “When I met Saroj ji after Rangeela’s release, she told me that I should have also been credited as a choreographer. I was so embarrassed. [Such a compliment] coming from a master like her was something to be proud of. There were some pieces like the opening of Hai Rama and Pyaar Yeh Jaane Kaisa Hai, and a few steps here and there that I had done. I have done that in other movies as well.”

Rangeela marked the beginning of a successful collaboration between Matondkar and Varma. Why haven’t we seen them team up after Varma’s production Ek Hasina Thi (2004)? She says, “There is really no reason. He had great collaborations with most of his actors like Amitabh Bachchan ji or Manoj Bajpayee. He worked more with them. I was [cast], depending on whether the movie required me or not.”

Actor Urmila Matondkar, who announced her return to acting in 2022 with the OTT series Tiwari, is finally set to make her comeback early next year. Dismissing reports that the project has been shelved, producer Utpal Acharya confirmed that the revenge-thriller is in the final stages of post-production.

“Tiwari was shot in a start-to-end schedule in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and reports suggesting delays are untrue. There were no creative differences with director Saurabh Varma. The series is currently in post-production, and we’re targeting a February 2026 release,” Utpal clarifies.

The show revolves around Kalki, a woman wrongfully imprisoned for 14 years who sets out to hunt down the person who framed her.

Utpal also reveals that the team has “almost finalized the OTT platform” but is waiting for an official announcement. “Initially, we had seven episodes of 50 minutes each, but the platform has restructured them into 14 episodes of 25 minutes each. Since it’s a revenge thriller, abrupt cuts weren’t possible, which caused some delay in post,” he explains. Tiwari will also reunite Urmila with her Satya co-star J D Chakravarthy after 27 years, alongside actors Gauahar Khan and Rajesh Sharma in pivotal roles.

Praising Urmila’s professionalism, he adds, “She was extremely dedicated, if her call time was 6 am, she’d be ready with hair and makeup by 5.30 am. She’s really excited about the release.”

Urmila Matondkar has always embraced tradition with a personal touch. With Diwali coming up, she talks about what the festival means to her.

“Diwali is my official let-go time of the year. I indulge completely in Diwali snacks, including chivda, laddoos and especially anarsa — my all-time favourite! Diwali is really all about lights — they bring joy and energy into every corner of your life. Spiritually, Diwali is a time to light yourself up from within. Like they say in Buddhism — ‘Appo Deepo Bhava’ — be a light unto yourself. It’s about letting go of darkness and moving forward into wisdom and clarity. It’s a time to bow down to the universe for everything it has showered upon us,” she says.

Urmila says, “I follow all the rituals, and our Laxmi Puja in the evening is detailed and beautifully decorative. But one thing I’ve never been able to do is play cards with money during Diwali. It’s not a part of our Maharashtrian tradition.”

Remembering celebrating Diwali on a film set, the actress shared, “The most memorable one was on the set of Dillagi, with Sunny and Bobby Deol. The vibe was festive, the food was amazing, and we just had so much fun.”

Urmila loves going all out with her ethnic wear during the festival season. “I’m an absolute fan of ethnic wear. If you’ve seen my songs — Chamma Chamma, Sabki Baaratein Aayi — I’ve danced in the heaviest lehengas and jewellery without ever compromising on energy. That’s my ode to Indian tradition. In the film Khoobsurat, I portrayed various bridal looks — from Bengali to South Indian. I went all out. I truly believe Indian jewellery is among the finest in the world. Generally, my style is minimalistic, but during Diwali I love going fully traditional. Saris, lehengas and temple jewellery — the works.”

Sharing her fondest childhood memories of Diwali, the Rangeela actress says, “Back in the day, the weather during Diwali used to be cold. We’d be woken up at the crack of dawn, scrubbed with ubtan and oil, and given a bitter fruit (Chirata) that we had to break with our heel — a symbolic way to cast off bad vibes and negativity. After that, we’d light diyas, do the puja, and then eat Diwali faral with the whole family. Crackers were exciting too, but only the gentle ones — fuljhadis and anars. The only downside? Diwali homework! We always left it till the last day, crying and rushing to get it done just in time for school.”

The animal lover that she is, Urmila hates noisy crackers and escapes from the city so that her dogs can enjoy a noise-free Diwali.

She says, “My dogs are my family. And sadly, firecrackers drive them into panic mode. In recent years, I’ve started going to my farmhouse during the festival — it’s quieter, and my dogs are calmer there. I celebrate Diwali in my own way — peacefully, traditionally and surrounded by love. Honestly, that’s what the festival is about.”

Grand birthday celebrations are admittedly not Shabana Azmi’s style. But when it’s your milestone birthday, your family and friends will certainly make it an affair to remember.

mid-day has learnt that producer and close family friend Boney Kapoor is hosting a big bash to mark Azmi’s 75th birthday on September 18. On the guest list are the veteran actor’s family — Javed Akhtar, Zoya and Farhan Akhtar, Baba and Tanvi Azmi — as well as her friends Vidya Balan, Urmila Matondkar, Richa Chadha, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Anil Kapoor, Karan Johar, and more.

Many don’t know that Boney and Azmi go back a long way. The two collaborated on his first production, Hum Paanch (1980).

A source shares, “They struck up a friendship then, and over the years, have become almost family. So, when the discussion about celebrating Shabana’s birthday came up, Boney said he would host it. The bash will be held at his Pali Hill address on September 18, and will see Azmi’s friends from films and theatre in attendance.”

Before that, her group of friends — which calls itself Dher Saara Pyaar and comprises Tanvi, Balan, Matondkar, Chatterjee, Chadha, Divya Dutta, Dia Mirza, and Konkona Sen Sharma — has a girls’ day chalked out.

The source says, “On September 17, they will have a spa day, pampering themselves. Their celebration already started over the weekend as Sandhya Mridul launched her book of poems, Untamed. That was followed by dinner.”

The group is excited to meet Azmi’s other girl gang, Carpe Diem — with whom the actor recently took a trip to Iceland — at the birthday bash (Zindagi na milegi dobara, Shabana style, Aug 21).

Thirty years after its release, Ram Gopal Varma’s iconic Rangeela still enchants the audience with its blend of sweetness, sensuality and cinematic magic. The film has been restored in 4K and will be rereleased in India theatrically on October 10. We caught up with RGV to discuss his celebrated film, featuring Mili (Urmila Matondkar), Munna (Aamir Khan) and Raj Kamal (Jackie Shroff). Excerpts:

Around that time, Aamir’s films hadn’t worked. Urmila’s films also didn’t work. I am from the South, so no one really knew what to expect from this film. In fact, even the music was a new form. Rangeela’s songs didn’t sound like the hit film songs of that time. Whenever something new comes, people tend to get disoriented, but by the time the release came close, the music caught on.

Huge credit to writers Neeraj Vora and Sanjay Chhel. What really makes a film last is how unforgettable its characters are, because no matter how much time goes by, human emotions remain the same. With Munna (Aamir Khan), Mili (Urmila Matondkar) and Kamal (Jackie Shroff) still etched in our minds, the passage of time doesn’t matter anymore. The story of Rangeela will find appeal today or 30 years before it was made.

Cinematically, I would say my inspiration was the 1960s Hollywood musical, The Sound Of Music. Although it’s not the same story, Rangeela is also a love story where there’s no conflict at all. There is no antagonist either. Everyone is nice – Mili, Munna and Kamal. There’s not a single bad person, but the situation creates the conflict. I love the aspect that Rangeela is a sad kind of a story where your heart goes out to Aamir, but at the same time, you can’t really hate the other person either.

When you’re working together for a long time, and especially when a film becomes so successful, you tend to make the next film with the same actor.

Urmila can give versatile expressions, which I realized after seeing her in the song Hai Rama. That’s the reason I cast her in such a wide variety of films – a horror film like Bhoot, the gangster film Satya and a caper like Daud. I made Rangeela because of her. Why I wanted to make Rangeela was because I felt inspired seeing a song of hers in my Telugu film (Drohi with Nagarjuna). The origin of Rangeela stemmed from my desire to showcase Urmila’s sensuality and her beauty. She had never worn such revealing clothes in the films she had done before that, but I told her, if you feel beautiful about your body, you shouldn’t be conscious. That bindaas attitude, the fact that she’s not aware of herself, and the fact that she’s not intending to create an effect on somebody else created a wild, animal-like, exotic feeling in the audience. The most memorable aspect of Rangeela was to look at Urmila through the camera.

When I heard the songs of Roja, I was blown away. The kind of new sound, packaging and production that Rahman created was something no one had ever heard. It was inspiring for me to capture that visually. When the music is generic, everyone from the choreographer to the actor comes up with a predictable output, but because it was so unpredictable that no one had a choice but to reinvent themselves.

Urmila Matondkar made fitness fashionable much before Bollywood lapped up the gym culture. Her chiselled body and glam quotient, especially in Rangeela, and her dance moves in songs like Kambakth Ishq and Chamma Chamma were a game changer in the ’90s. When it came to her performances, the director with whom she delivered some of the highs of her career was Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) with films like Rangeela. Bhoot, Jungle, Kaun? and Satya. With Satya (1998) back in the cinemas, Urmila reunited with the talented cast and crew of the film recently, including RGV, who for the longest time considered Urmila his muse. Over the years, rumours of a fallout between the two have been a topic of chatter within industry circles. In an exclusive conversation with us, Urmila addressed the speculations for the first time and recalled her memories of Satya.

Talking about how she had to drop the glam girl image and remodel herself as a girl-next-door for the film, Urmila says, “When Satya happened, I was probably the only known face in the movie. Rest were talented newcomers. RGV was counting on me to pull it off. Rangeela made me a huge star and Satya made me unlearn that. When you have spent many years trying to become somebody and have to shed that status overnight to become a nobody, that was me in Satya. My character Vidya in the film has no identity of her own, she is literally relevant because she happens to be Satya’s neighbour. To step back into a girl next door avatar was a huge challenge. I remember using my mother’s old saris which she was on the verge of giving up and draping them because I felt it was perfect for the role. I am glad I could use my star status in a film that went on to become one of our finest.”

Appreciating RGV’s contribution to cinema, Urmila adds, “Ramu ji is undoubtedly one of our finest filmmakers. Look at his body of work and the kind of talent he got into the film industry. Not just actors, but cinematographers, technicians, writers and music directors. At the screening of Satya’s re-release, Sriram Raghavan, Madhu Mantena and Anurag Kashyap were there for him as they all had started out with him. He is an institution in cinema. I am proud of the work I have done with Ram Gopal Varma. If the right opportunity comes along, I would love to collaborate with Manoj Bajpayee and Ramu ji again.”

Dismissing rumours about their fallout, Urmila revealed, “There is no such thing as we stopped working. There was no fallout between RGV and me. I even did special songs in his movies like Company and Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. The 90’s media was obsessed with everything about me except for my acting capability. Today, people openly talk about nepotism. Back in the day, too, there were actors around me who came from film families. Many couldn’t handle the fact that this nobody coming from a middle-class Marathi background was simply doing her work and shining. I made it on my own without anyone’s backing. I will say this proudly, that I am a people made star. My work has always spoken for itself.”

Urmila’s biggest grouse is her portrayal by the media in the 90’s. “My body of work included films like Kaun?, Bhoot, Ek Hasina Thi, Pinjar, Rangeela, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara… but I was still slotted as an item girl or a sex siren. Rangeela is also about a simple girl, who dreams big. The sexy image you see of her is her screen image or a character’s fantasy. I am glad the media today has a deeper understanding and a different perspective on women,” she says.

Speaking of the process of working with RGV, Urmila says, “It’s not that I was in every movie that Ramuji made. I am sure he didn’t think that he would put me in every movie either. He is a director who gives you great freedom to explore and that is a lot of work. He expects the actor to do a lot of work. He puts you in a dark room and tries his voice to guide you through that room, but it is you, who has to find your way out. It is you who must take that character to the finality. This work process is great and not so great part of him. It grows you tremendously as an actor, but those who cannot find their own way will not be able to make it.”

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In a post on X, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma talked about Satya and wrote, “Some of my later films might have been successful but I do not believe that any of them had the same honesty and integrity which is in SATYA.”

He added, “When Francis Coppola was asked by an interviewer about a film he made after GODFATHER, whether it would be as good, I could see him squirming because I could see that it didn’t occur to him. No one asked me about any film I was about to make post SATYA whether it will be as good, but what’s worse is that I didn’t ask myself… whatever little of my life is left, I want to spend it sincerely and create something as worthy as SATYA.” Addressing Urmila, he added, "“Satya went so beyond the rangeela glamorous quotient you were already known for. It is you alone in Satya who made the film much more than just a gangster drama to give it a deeper soul. It’s no small feat to stand out in such a man’s world, but you did it unbelievably effortlessly.”

Urmila Matondkar’s fans might be in for some disappointing news. The actor has apparently filed for divorce after eight years of marriage with businessman-model Mohsin Akhtar Mir. A source from a Mumbai court, on the condition of anonymity, shared that the 50-year-old actor, who got married in 2016 to the Kashmiri entrepreneur, has filed for divorce.

The source said, “After careful consideration, Urmila has decided to call it quits on her marriage with Mohsin. She has already filed for divorce in court. While the reason behind the separation is still not known, the divorce isn’t happening on mutual terms.”

Matondkar and Mir (40) got married in 2016 in an intimate ceremony at her Mumbai residence. It was a close-knit ceremony with fashion designer Manish Malhotra as one of the few in attendance from the film industry. Her nuptials came into the limelight as the two have a 10-year age gap.

The actor entered politics in 2019 as a part of the Indian National Congress and then in 2020, she joined the Shiv Sena. On screen, Matondkar was last seen in a song Bewafa Beauty in the 2018 film Blackmail. Post that, she was also seen on TV as a judge for a kids dance reality show. Mir is into Kashmiri embroidery and kaarigari and is associated with Malhotra’s fashion label.

We reached out to Matondkar, but received no response till the time of going to press.

Urmila Matondkar was last seen on the big screen doing a special number Bewafa Beauty in the Irrfan-starrer Blackmail in 2018. Later, in 2022, the Rangeela actress was seen as a judge on DID Super Moms Season 3. In a chat with us, Urmila talks about how she is still passionate about acting and can’t wait to be back on the big screen.

Urmila, who is still remembered for her films like Satya, Rangeela, Bhoot, Kaun and Ek Hasina Thi, tells us, “I think a lot of people believe that I am not acting anymore because of my political and social work, but that’s not true. Whatever else I do is one part of my life, but I can never stop acting. I am at my best when I am either acting or dancing. So, I want to tell filmmakers and content creators – let’s get down to lights, camera, action!”

The actress, who has completed shooting for a web show, says that while she enjoys her other passions, her true calling remains facing the camera.

“I really think it is time! I can feel the calling to get back to the big screen or on OTT. I want to be sure about the projects that I choose, as it should be worth my time. I also feel that everything in life is about timing. There is a right time for everybody and everything. Even back in the day, when other actors were doing 10-15 movies, I was choosy about the films I picked. I ended up doing only three-four movies at a time.”

Urmila Matondkar loves indulging into Mumbai’s popular snack wada pav. In a special shoot with Bombay Times celebrating World Wada Pav Day (August 23), the actress went hopping from one stall to another gorging on the snack.

In a fun chat we asked the actress which of the following ingredients of wada pav reminded her of Bollywood actors and she set the rapid fire round on fire! She told us, “I will say that the spicy batata bhaji reminds me of Kareena Kapoor Khan and the crispy besan coating of the wada reminds me of Sara Ali Khan.”

About the chutneys that go with wada pav, the actress added, “The sukha red hot chutney I believe reminds me of not one person but a couple - Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal, together as a jodi! And the teekha hari mirch you take a bite of with every wada pav bite is Deepika Padukone.”

Ask her who does she think of looking at the soft-soft pav and she is quick to add, “Salman Khan, because he might come across hard from outside but he is way too soft from inside.”

Of late a lot of reels have been going viral where the Mumbai snack is gaining popularity in Delhi.

Urmila who’s followed such reels says, “Wada Pav is way healthier for Delhiites than a lot of unhealthy food that they eat there. I have seen some horrible reels of fake paneer being made there. Well, my advice to them will be to indulge in our snack instead and my most important food tip to them will be to ask the vendor to add dry red chutney, green chutney and have every bite with a bite of a deep-fried green chili.”

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Shabana Azmi, Dia Mirza, Urmila Matondkar and Tanvi Azmi visited new parents Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha at their Mumbai residence on Monday to meet the duo’s daughter. The couple welcomed their first child on July 16.

Sharing photos from the evening, Richa wrote, “An evening drenched in rain and love, with piping hot khaalas/maasik and sabudana wadas. I think the tea was too cold for @tanveazmi apologies! How lucky is this little girl to be blessed and touched by the most loving and the very best! How happy is Guddu Pandit! How pampered is the mom!”

She added, “Thank the heavens for bonds like these! A big thanks to Dia, for sorting me out… I mean A to Z pregnancy wise! Forever indebted and grateful! Love you all!!! (sic).”

Shabana Azmi too shared some photos from her visit and wrote, “With the khala/masis of the new mum and baby (sic).”

As Urmila Matondkar’s Kaun? (1999) completes 25 years this year, the actor would like the film to have a re-release so people can enjoy it on the big screen, instead of their phones. Feeling nostalgic, she says, “It was a bunch of crazy people coming together, and I must have been the craziest of them all.”

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the film also starred Manoj Bajpayee and Sushant Singh. She was offered the film after establishing herself as the “Rangeela girl” in 1995. So, as an actor who had created an image for herself with “glitz and glamour” roles, taking up a horror film was a “major risk for both me and the makers”.

She adds, “Since Manoj and Sushant were comparatively newcomers, they didn’t really have as much to lose like I did.”

The psychological thriller was experimental, admits the 50-year-old: “We hardly had films in one closed space, actors in the same attire and in restricted frames.”

While the film had a mediocre run, Matondkar’s performance set a benchmark in the horror-thriller space in India. However, unlike today where film scripts are fixed in advance, the actor says, “There was no bound script. The film was being written on set and the makers would see how things unravelled as we performed.” She went on to act in several other horror/thriller movies like Deewangee (2002), Bhoot (2003), and Ek Hasina Thi (2004), among others.

This means she also had a lot of creative freedom on set to add nuances and make changes to her character at the last minute. “During one scene, I thought, ‘What if I don’t use the knife and just let my eyes do the acting before the dagger comes into the frame?’ When the camera rolled, my spot boy dropped everything he was holding and that’s when I realized I had nailed it,” the actor signed off.

You’d think that Urmila Matondkar is neck-deep in prep for her debut web series, 'Tiwari;. But the actor is game for more. She will front the Marathi film, 'Ti Me Navhech', which will see her opposite Shreyas Talpade. To be helmed by theatre actor-director-writer Paritosh Painter, the movie will mark the actor-politician’s return to Marathi cinema eight years after 'Ajoba' (2014).

The premise of Ti Me Navhech had been on Painter’s mind for a few years. “The film is based on a Hindi play, titled Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, which Paritosh was to direct, but it didn’t materialize. When an opportunity to work with Urmila and Shreyas came his way, Paritosh went back to the idea. He thought it was best to make it as a movie. Both actors loved the concept,” says a source.

Beginning as a story about complex relationships, the film graduates to a thriller as there is more to the characters than meets the eye. The project will roll in February 2023 in London.

For producer Rajesh Kumar Mohanty, Ti Me Navhech is among the seven films that he has envisioned for 2023. The producer believes that big-ticket ventures will give a boost to Marathi cinema that has been hit hard by the pandemic. It is with this intention that he is backing Mahesh Manjrekar-helmed Niravadhi, Prasad Khandekar’s Ekda Yeun Tar Bagha, and April Fool, among others. He says that signing on top Marathi actors will widen the audience.

“Urmila’s presence enhances the movie’s appeal. Regional films are doing well. Next year, we want to release seven movies with a gap of one-and-a-half months in between. This is a way of reviving not only Marathi cinema, but also theatres. We are enhancing the production values by shooting them in London and Dubai.”

We’ve all danced to her hit numbers and tried to emulate her steps, but no one can do it like Urmila Matondkar. Her fans may have missed seeing her on the big screen, but the actor insists that mentally, she “never left the set.” Now, she is back where she belongs as she joins the judges’ panel for DID Super Moms with Remo D’Souza and Bhagyashree. Ahead of the show’s premiere, Matondkar, 48, talks about the joy of dancing and how the reality show is an important step to empower women.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

No artiste feels that they have ever left the set. I didn’t think about things like comebacks [when I was away from the camera]. The initial feeling of getting involved with a dance show and watching people dance is exciting. More importantly, the show is about women. I feel Indian women are constantly left behind in the larger perspective of family. Ever since they are born, they are busy being a good daughter, sister, wife, or mother. In the process, they forget their own desires and dreams. So, this was a chance for them to put [their talent] out there. I am all for women standing for women. If I can be part of their journey, I won’t let the chance go at all.

Dancing is about using your body and expressions to convey something without speaking. I had never learnt dancing, yet I am known as a dancing star. My first co-star [Ravi Behl, Narsimha] was supposed to be a dancing sensation. When I was asked if I had learnt dancing, I had said no. Yet, from my very first film, I was known for my dancing skills. At the end of the day, the greatest dancers are those who connect with people on various levels. [As a judge, I am looking for] what the contestants are trying to say through their dance, and see how the public reacts to it.

We have [encountered] women who learnt dancing through social media. One of the contestants, a mother to three, danced like a dream and even did headstands. When we asked her how she learnt it, she revealed that she would shut the door and practice in her room. But one day she fell, and that’s when her husband and kids got to know about it. So, the arrival of social media has taken the [hobby] to another level. There is so much information and [access] available out there that you can learn on your own.

No, because I give more than 100 per cent to everything I do. I am always in the moment fully. When that moment is gone, I don’t miss it or try to recreate it. Growth is a part of life, and it needs to be multifaceted. I have used [these past years] to do things like travelling, reading, yoga, and politics. Not to forget, I also got married, and was busy enjoying that [new chapter]. There is so much in the world to do. Movies have been the most gratifying part of my life.

If you look at my body of work, I doubt there is a genre or role I have not yet explored. Unless there is something that [goes beyond what I’ve done], it doesn’t make sense for me to do [shows] for the heck of it. I have never done things to stay visible. Having said that, an OTT [project] is around the corner. Mark my words, when I come back, [it will be something great].

Her contemporaries may be doing films and exploring the world of OTT, but Urmila Matondkar is in no hurry. She will take up a project only if it's very exciting for her, she says. In the meantime, she is gearing up to be a judge on the reality show DID Super Moms. In a chat, the actress speaks about her acting plans, political journey and six years of marriage to Mohsin Akhtar Mir. Excerpts:

I have always disliked words like 'return'. Having said that, yes, I have been missing, for the simple reason that anything that I have done or I would want to do has to be interesting. I want to be extremely excited about it. Otherwise, there is no point, there never was, and there never will be. As time passes, your patience level with many things is not the same, so you want it to be worth it!

We have seen dance shows with kids and younger people. But this one is a celebration of womanhood and I loved the concept. I was one of the first judges on a dance show (Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in 2007). At that time, it was a one-of-its-kind show, and now this one too, stands out. Indian women top the chart when it comes to multitasking, but when it comes to themselves, that's last on their priority list. With this show, they will embark on a different journey. It will celebrate that courage, willpower and dream to do something that they always wanted to.

Look at any household, rarely is the focus on a woman's role. I am not talking about the big cities. Of course, in big cities, women are fighting their own battles to make a place for themselves; they need to prove themselves again and again. I know it because I am fighting it even today in another field. 

It's been fascinating and I have chosen the word very carefully. When you say fascinating, it's a lot of adjectives together. Not just nice, good and great, but interesting and intriguing as well, and difficult, too. I'm not one who would want to highlight my issues or struggles; I never have and don't intend to. I'm one of those who likes to fight it out in their own way.

Even today, there is a huge battle that a woman has to fight, and God forbid, if you happen to be decent-looking or if you happen to be an actor, it's tough! There are so many stereotypes in people's minds that at the beginning of your journey, they give you zero marks and then they are busy slandering you, calling you a pretty face and even referring to the 'sexy' tag.

It has been fascinating because it has been exciting and also kind of challenging to break each of those stereotypes and make a mark. When I started a few years ago, I had exactly four weeks to do that and then there were the elections. But the response that I got from the media and the public was very positive and encouraging. I know my job and have gone about it with extreme dignity, grace and self-respect. Never have I used words or done things that have brought down my image or brought anybody else down, and yet I have managed to make my point loud and clear. Even now, I see men getting extremely uncomfortable at the thought of me getting to the forefront. As I said, it's a long battle that one has to be ready for.

Of course. I got into politics to do my bit of social good and I have been busy with that. I have travelled across the state and my work continues.

Absolutely not. The one thing that I can say is that whenever I come on an OTT show, which will be very soon, I will make a splash. I will make sure that it's something that's never been seen before. Yes, it's a fantastic time for actors, and I'm very happy to see some of their work, like Tabu in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Shefali Shah in Delhi Crime. These were such fine performances. It doesn't have to be me, it can be any other woman; it's about applauding good work and cheering for them.

I don't think like that. My personality has never been one-sided; it's multifaceted. That's why people were taken aback when I got into politics. They didn't expect me to know so much, have socio-political and historical knowledge. I come from an academically-oriented background, I was a good student and have always loved reading.

Suddenly one has realised that there is not much time, so let's use that time to be positive and nice to each other. Human beings have this misconception that we run the world, but that's not the case. We are so far away from nature and the little things of life. I hope we now embrace all that life has to offer.

One should enjoy every phase of life, and I have done that with all my heart and mind. Luckily, Mohsin and I like the same things; we love travelling, the outdoors, cooking and our pets. He has been very supportive of everything I have done. I am extremely blessed as a person. As a daughter, I have had a great life, my family took such good care of me, they treated me like a diamond. And now I have married a man who has physically, mentally and emotionally stood by me, and with politics, that has not been easy.