In an exclusive and unrestrained interview featuring the iconic superstar Raveena Tandon, she delves into her most intimate and personal memories. Fearlessly addressing the issue, she exposes the practices of women editors in the 90s who, under the guise of feminism, frequently propagated a biased narrative and employed derogatory nicknames for actors. This enlightening and revelatory discussion unfolded during an interaction with senior journalist Bharathi S Pradhan, providing a unique insight into Raveena's past experiences and her unwavering perspective on the industry's dynamics during her era.
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00:00 No one in this industry can probably stand up and say, "Oh, Raveena got me removed out of this film."
00:04 Ram Gopal Verma clearly told me, you know, that every time I shut my eyes, I can only see you do
00:09 "Kahi disco mein jaye" and "Akhiyon se goli maare."
00:12 Why do I have been called so many things? Amazonian and Thunder Thai.
00:16 Thunder Thai is cute though. Tee-Tee.
00:18 Tee-Tee.
00:19 Thunder Thais and Miss Arrogant and Miss I don't know what or Miss High and Mighty.
00:24 Tabu is also fantastic. She's never been political.
00:27 Yeah, I cannot say the same about the others.
00:29 No, I've never done kissing scenes. His lips, I remember, just brushed my lips.
00:33 It was a mistake. It was not even required in that.
00:36 And I went up to my room and I threw up.
00:38 Hi, Raveena. I've known your dad forever.
00:45 I knew him when he was making films like "Khel Khel Mein" and stuff like that.
00:51 So, you know, I've known you, you have been, I mean, like a kid around the place.
00:56 I've known you for so long. It's so wonderful to be able to sit and chat with you now.
01:00 I have so many memories of you coming to papa's house and me sitting in that garden,
01:04 little garden outside on the chairs and you and papa would be talking and interviewing
01:08 and I would be coming in there. I have such a clear visual of that.
01:12 But I think that's what it's all about. You know, it's somehow I feel from the outside perspective,
01:20 people don't see our industry as one big industry and one big family because now generations
01:28 have grown together and been in this, you know, profession of art, like I say, and cinema.
01:36 So it's, it's, I think it's, it's just fantastic.
01:40 It's lovely. Yes. And I'm so glad you're doing this. Thank you so much.
01:43 Always.
01:44 Looking forward to talking to Ravi Tandon's daughter.
01:47 I'm so happy you said that.
01:50 With your dad being such a famous film director, I mean, he made iconic films like Kanho Ni,
01:57 Khel Khel Mein, many films, Ek Mein Aur Ek Tu, So Mein Khuddar.
02:03 So was it always in your mind that, you know, I'm going to grow up and be part of this industry?
02:10 Well, you've known me since then. I was this little roly poly thing floating around the house.
02:16 But no, I don't think films is ever in my mind ever.
02:21 I never grew up saying I want to become an actor or neither did my parents ever think
02:25 well she'll grow up and get into the movies.
02:28 My brother was always very keen and he knew he was going to get into the movies,
02:32 but unfortunately it didn't work out for him the way he wanted.
02:36 So it was very unexpected when people started calling dad and telling him that, you know,
02:40 we want to sign Raveena, we want to sign Raveena.
02:43 And I started getting ad films and I started working with Prahlad and from there onwards,
02:48 I started getting a lot of film offers.
02:51 So in fact, there was a time when I think Maheshji just launched Pooja and a lot of people
02:57 would ask my dad, why don't you launch Raveena?
02:59 And he would like look at me and say, but I don't think even she wants to become an actress.
03:05 And in fact, there were a lot of movies that I said no to before.
03:08 Then I finally started thinking that maybe this is my destiny because it's people's struggle
03:13 and struggle so hard to get into this life.
03:15 And then you get me on a platter.
03:16 And here it's all coming to me, even how much ever I'm saying no to it.
03:21 It is supposed to be destiny.
03:23 And it was crazy the way I got Pathar Ke Phool also.
03:27 Vivek Vaswani didn't know who I was and he approached me.
03:31 I was having pizza with my friends and he said, you know, my director thinks that you
03:36 are his character and can we know your name?
03:41 And so I looked at him and I said, you don't recognize me?
03:43 He said, no.
03:44 I said, I'm Rajiv Tandon's sister.
03:46 So Vivek knew my brother that time.
03:48 He said, oh my God, you're Ravi ji's daughter.
03:50 I said, yeah.
03:51 So then they approached and Sippy Saab approached and that simultaneously at that time, Bunty,
04:00 who was a friend of mine and a co-model, he was with me on an ad.
04:05 We were shooting together and he called Salman and said, you have to meet this girl, Raveena.
04:08 And I think she's the next big thing and you're looking for a new girl.
04:12 So Salman came to see separately my work.
04:16 So it was all maybe destiny.
04:17 It just played out in such a way that, you know, and there was no way because I had already
04:22 said no to what, five films before Pathar Ke Phool.
04:24 You don't want to tell me which one?
04:26 I'll tell you.
04:27 I had said no to Jungle.
04:28 I had said no to Heer Ranja.
04:29 I had said no to one film with Lucky Ali.
04:33 What was it called?
04:34 Bonnie or something.
04:35 I don't know.
04:36 I had said no to two more films.
04:39 Pela Ji's film.
04:41 Pela Ji still tells me.
04:42 I had come to you first, poor Pela Ji.
04:45 But Pela Ji's films.
04:48 And I had said no to Prem Kaidi.
04:53 I had said no to, I had actually said no to Phool aur Kaante as well.
05:00 So these were about five, six films I had said no to.
05:03 All these films were offered to me.
05:04 They were already being said no because I didn't know whether I want to do movies or
05:08 no.
05:09 So that's why your dad launched Your Brother But Not You.
05:12 Because I never wanted to do movies.
05:14 That was never the aim.
05:15 I just wondered because your dad was not the kind to differentiate.
05:18 Exactly at all.
05:19 He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike, to drive my jeep, you know, to change
05:23 tyres, to do everything.
05:25 He never ever differentiated between us.
05:27 But I was never interested.
05:29 So then I started realizing that like, this is destiny.
05:32 This is meant for me.
05:33 Even Prahlad Kakkar, when I was working with him, even he would say, listen, you're meant
05:36 to be in front of the camera, not behind the camera.
05:39 So I guess it was just meant to be.
05:42 So when you did sign a film, was there anything your dad told you?
05:46 See Papa was always there to advise me what is right and what is wrong.
05:50 And nonetheless, even I wouldn't have liked him to launch me ever because I do feel that
05:54 jo bhi bachha karta hai, maa bap ko toh achha lagta hi hai.
05:58 So parakh ek heera ki kab pata chalti hai jab usko shine karte, polish karte aur bharwala
06:04 kharitta hai.
06:05 Right.
06:06 You know, so it's literally that you have to see how much there is for the producer to
06:11 invest that kind of how much value you have.
06:14 Producer invests that kind of, you know, money and his time and the whole production is behind
06:20 you.
06:21 The whole unit is investing their love, their effort, their emotions in you.
06:24 So that's very important for, you know, for me, it was to stand on my own feet.
06:30 And he was always there to guide me what was right, what was wrong.
06:34 But ultimately, I think a lot of decisions were mine.
06:37 I was always pretty headstrong.
06:38 So in fact, there were times when I didn't listen to him, which I wish I had.
06:44 But then that's the way it is.
06:47 So you know, you became this girl with a fantastic record who became a star overnight.
06:52 And you've always had the best of songs.
06:55 Yes.
06:56 Right from your first film, Kabhi Linki, Kabhi Karte, right from there to, you know, Tip Tip
07:03 and to Tip Tip.
07:05 And you had of course, your Sher Ki Ladki, Sher Ki Ladki and you know, all of them so
07:11 many I mean, all those songs in Mora and then Tu Cheez Badi, that of course was sick.
07:16 And even now, I mean, like, for example, even that Alia song, Kar Gai Chul, Matak Matak
07:21 Jaise Raveena Tandon, then Arpan Baba's come up with a new song, Raveena Tandon, Bantan
07:26 Tak, Kitte Chaliye.
07:28 So all these things, you know, is I think it's great.
07:31 And it's really the love of everyone that's kept me alive all through these years.
07:35 Because I feel songs are something that go on and on forever.
07:40 People might forget a great performance of yours, but a song will always be remembered
07:44 somehow.
07:45 So I've been, I think that Papa was very lucky with his music.
07:49 And I think even I've been pretty lucky.
07:52 That's right.
07:53 Getting great songs.
07:54 Yeah.
07:55 So when you see one of your iconic songs like or rather chartbuster like Tip Tip Bare, when
08:01 you see that in a film like Suryavanshi, do you cringe?
08:05 No, I don't cringe.
08:07 I think it was great because see, I do believe to a certain extent, one should be sporting
08:12 it up and say, okay, fine, these remixes are great.
08:15 Yeah, bad remakes, you'll say, hi, it could have been better.
08:18 But they tried.
08:19 Nobody wants to intentionally make something that is bad, right?
08:23 It can just happen.
08:25 People might just not like it.
08:27 Nobody intentionally does that.
08:28 So I think it is fantastic because the song is being listened to by the newer generation
08:35 with a newer beat.
08:36 It gets a newer life.
08:39 And I mean, it's a win win situation because ultimately I end up owning those songs all
08:44 over again.
08:45 So for me, it's a shot in the arm.
08:48 So I think it's great.
08:50 So tell me, when you were doing all these films and they were all those Govinda films,
08:55 etc.
08:56 Did you ever feel that chal rahe hai, chal rahe hai, but you were a very glamorous girl
09:01 who did lots of songs and dances, but you were not taken seriously as an actress for
09:06 a long time until films like Daman and stuff came.
09:09 But that is so true.
09:10 Is that right?
09:11 Of course, that is true.
09:12 I mean, I just, you know, put the finger on it, absolutely.
09:15 Because what happens is, I think, especially in the 90s era, and there were very few films
09:21 that were being made, which were very, you know, which gave equal opportunities to the
09:26 female actor or they were centrally, you know, author backed for them.
09:33 So for me, it was a struggle, yes, to get out of that mold of only super hit songs and
09:39 she's too glamorous or too beautiful, I don't think she can perform or look like anything
09:45 else besides a glamorous person.
09:46 So that was the image.
09:48 It was quite a battle for me to sign a film like Shool also, because Ram Gopal Verma clearly
09:52 told me, you know, that every time I shut my eyes, I can only see you do kahi disco
09:56 mein jaaye, and akhiye se goli maare.
09:58 He's saying I cannot see you in another image.
10:00 And then that's the breakthrough that I got in Shool, where I played a role like Manjari
10:04 bhabhi, who was a Bihari housewife.
10:07 And that gave me the scope to start breaking through that mold that had that was forming.
10:11 It was very easy to get stereotyped in those days.
10:14 So now I think what we, you know, girls, we actresses got to do in the 90s, what we got
10:23 to do in probably our 20th film or our 22nd film or 25th film is what the youngsters today
10:29 are doing in their fifth or sixth film.
10:31 They're just like breaking the mold and jumping into such great performances.
10:35 Which is just fantastic, I think.
10:37 Yeah.
10:38 So is that something you're looking forward for Rasha?
10:40 Because she's I'm so surprised that she's already making a debut.
10:45 Well, you know, I think as far as she's concerned, like I said, I think everyone has to carve
10:51 their own niche and everyone has to, you know, make a mold for themselves.
10:55 And I think she will go ahead and probably do that the way she wants it to be.
10:59 But again, like my dad was to me, I will be always there to tell her right and wrong.
11:04 Whether she listens to it or not.
11:07 Yeah.
11:08 So luckily, she's not she's not as gullible and naive probably that I was.
11:15 I think she'll do everything well.
11:19 She'll do it.
11:21 Were you always the kind of person you are?
11:24 Because I have never seen you as just a pretty face.
11:26 You may have been just a pretty face on screen.
11:29 But as a person, I've always thought of you as somebody who's got sensuality and substance.
11:36 Wow, that's a great combination.
11:38 Actually, the two S's.
11:39 I think that's fantastic.
11:40 Well, I've always kind of said that you don't have to be overtly sexual to prove your sensuality.
11:47 Sensuality can come even if you're wearing you're completely, you know, covered probably
11:51 even with a full blanket.
11:53 And it's what you emote is what matters.
11:57 So it's it's and as far as substance goes, I think I take that as a compliment.
12:03 Thank you so much.
12:04 But a woman always in control of the situation, I would think, because even when your dad
12:09 passed last year, I found you were the woman who was, you know, kind of very much in control
12:16 of everything.
12:17 You may have been grieving inside, but you so much in control.
12:21 You're always in control of your life of a situation.
12:24 That's what I've always seen with you.
12:26 Well, I think at moments like that, I think you have to be strong for everyone around
12:32 you as well.
12:33 And it's it's.
12:38 I do try to make sense of every chaotic madness that I'm surrounded with at times and try
12:44 to reason things out always.
12:47 But that is the that is the thing I see a positive in everything that's even probably
12:52 negative.
12:53 I think maybe I've learned the art of making everything negative that happens to me into
12:57 a positive.
12:59 And I think that is something that even relationships that went wrong.
13:02 Totally, totally.
13:03 Of course, I think there's a positive in everything.
13:06 Today, when people ask me that, would you have like to go back to your younger self
13:10 and say that would you have like to change anything in your life the way it would be?
13:14 I said, you know, I believe and I say that even now, I believe that life and everyone's
13:22 life to a certain degree has a certain path that destiny has to follow.
13:30 There are yes repercussions and there are, you know, situations arising from every action
13:35 that you take, but ultimately leads you to where you are.
13:40 So today at the point that I am in my life, I couldn't have asked for more.
13:44 I couldn't have been more content.
13:46 So if I think that if I were to go back and change anything, make, you know, B into C
13:52 or C into D and D into Z, I wouldn't be here sitting around probably, you know, I think
13:58 there's a parallel life that everyone would probably be leading.
14:02 I wouldn't have reached this point because that was a path that my destiny had to follow
14:07 and bring me here.
14:08 And that's where it's brought me.
14:10 So I wouldn't change anything for anything.
14:13 Did you ever feel because you know, in the kind of films that you were doing, that you
14:18 and Karishma had this absolute, Karishma Kapoor were totally competitive because you're doing
14:24 the same kind of film, same kind of dance, the same kind of go in the kind of films.
14:28 I've always believed in healthy competition.
14:31 And I do believe that there should be healthy competition because that always brings out
14:34 the best in you.
14:36 But I have never been a cutthroat kind of person.
14:38 Till date, no one in this industry probably can stand up and say, oh, Raveena got me removed
14:43 out of this film or Raveena refused to work with a newcomer, Raveena refused to work with
14:47 a newcomer director.
14:48 I always tell people that I was a newcomer one day.
14:51 So people had not worked with me.
14:53 I wouldn't be where I am today.
14:55 So everyone deserves a chance.
14:56 So I have never done that kind of politics or groupism or, you know,
15:04 But has that been done to you?
15:06 Of course, blatantly.
15:08 So one film you can tell me that you lost?
15:10 So many films.
15:12 I was supposed to do Sajan Chala Sasural.
15:16 I was supposed to do with David and Chichi and David and Chichi told me later that, oh,
15:21 you are the one whom we wanted to do.
15:27 I had signed, I had even signed Vijaypath actually.
15:30 I lost Vijaypath.
15:31 And there were two, three more.
15:36 So yes, there has been that kind of politics.
15:42 But I mean, that way Tabu is also fantastic.
15:44 She's never been political ever.
15:47 She's always been very calm.
15:48 But yeah, I cannot say the same about the others.
15:51 You know, I remember Chintu, that's Rishi Kapoor, showing me a picture of his wedding.
15:57 You were a little girl at his wedding.
16:00 I still have that picture.
16:02 He showed me that picture.
16:03 He said, see this album, see this album and showed me this picture.
16:06 I was standing there at his wedding.
16:08 And I was sulking.
16:09 Oh, you were sulking?
16:10 Why?
16:11 Because he got married.
16:12 I had the biggest crush on him.
16:13 And he used to, every time he used to go abroad, he used to get me like a doll or this and
16:17 that.
16:18 My first walkie talkie doll were very big at that time.
16:19 He had got for me.
16:21 And I was sulking throughout his wedding.
16:23 But the only consolation was that he got married to Neetu ji.
16:26 So that was the best thing because I love them as a couple.
16:29 I thought I used to adore both of them.
16:31 And they were your dad's favourite couple.
16:34 Yes, that's right.
16:36 And so did you grow up calling people like Chintu uncle?
16:40 Yes, I did, actually.
16:43 And then we finally did a film together.
16:44 He and me used to laugh because I was forced to call him Chintu ji.
16:48 He's like, but I don't mind.
16:49 I'm like, no, it's OK now.
16:51 I don't want other people to.
16:53 When it comes to films like Daman and getting a national award for them and then you got,
16:59 you know, you've got a Padma Shri this year in 2023.
17:02 You've also been named as one of the, you know, that women's group that they have called
17:07 W20 under the umbrella of G20.
17:11 Which is an offshoot of W20.
17:13 What exactly does that mean?
17:15 Well, W20 is was the women's wing dealing with a lot of topics under the umbrella of
17:25 G20.
17:27 So we mostly had topics on women empowerment, on raising the bar, economic status, climate
17:33 crisis, sustainability, women on the forefront, women's safety, women's security.
17:40 I can go on with the list.
17:41 So this was something that you were...
17:42 It was a part of discussion.
17:43 I was a part of the discussion and, you know, a part of policymaking of how we can take
17:50 women towards the forefront, take these thoughts and convert them into action instead of just
17:56 sitting and having conversations.
17:57 So you're supposed to be a favorite of the Modi government.
17:59 Is that right?
18:00 Oh, you're telling me?
18:01 Really?
18:02 Thank you.
18:03 That's what they say.
18:04 Who says that?
18:05 A lot of people.
18:06 Because you got a Padma Shri and you were part of the G20, W20.
18:12 So people say that.
18:14 And you got Daman when you were, you know.
18:16 Yes, yes.
18:17 That again was a BJP government at that time.
18:20 Well, there's so many awards that I won during the Congress government that I think I should
18:24 start counting those as well.
18:25 But politics doesn't interest you?
18:27 No, it does not.
18:28 There is never going to be a Daman Ravindra Tandon is going to enter the...
18:32 Well, I've been offered a seat from, I mean, the Congress party.
18:36 I have great friends in the Congress party as well.
18:39 They'd offered me Chichi's seat in Dhirar Thane also at that time.
18:43 But unfortunately, I'm just not ready for politics.
18:46 So yeah, it was not something that has come to my mind.
18:51 So whether it's been the Congress or it's been the TMC or it's been, you know, the BJP,
18:58 I have not really...
18:59 Responded?
19:00 No, it's not responded.
19:01 Of course I respond.
19:02 I'm a courteous, decent person.
19:03 Well, and you responded positively.
19:04 But yeah, I've not been enticed yet by, you know, wanting to get into politics and touchwood
19:15 work is looking good.
19:16 So I'm enjoying doing that at the moment.
19:18 You are also an activist when it comes to animals, isn't it?
19:23 Absolutely.
19:24 So, unfortunately, I lock horns with all the above parties in different areas.
19:29 So like you saying, if I'm someone's favorite, I don't know how, because I've been on the
19:32 forefront locking horns with everyone about, you know, the forest and the environment and
19:40 overdevelopment.
19:41 And so I'm always on their bad books.
19:46 So that, you know, she's the one who will go and say.
19:50 But what is it about you and animals?
19:52 Because you seem to be a real animal lover.
19:54 Well, I've always worked for three things.
19:56 I think it has always been the girl child, women empowerment and yes, then animals, because
20:01 I do believe that in this, in this world today, these are the most abused species and actually
20:11 comes in that category.
20:13 Whenever there's war, it's always the worst hit are the children and the women.
20:18 This last year, statistically has been the worst year in decades for violence against
20:25 women and security.
20:26 We are war torn, we're being taken over by fanaticism.
20:31 So it's been a bad year completely for security and safety towards women.
20:38 So there's something that's really close to my heart as well.
20:40 And yes, again, when there is war, when there's strife, when there is again, climate crisis
20:48 is something that really worries me, because then we probably didn't have the right to
20:52 bring our children onto this planet if we cannot leave behind a decent planet and leave
20:56 them behind what only to face natural disasters, you know, so what are we looking at?
21:01 So these these things, yeah, probably worry me as a responsible citizen.
21:05 That's it.
21:06 You also adopted two children, two girls when even before you were married, isn't it?
21:13 Yeah.
21:14 So how supportive with your parents when you decided that?
21:17 You were very young when you did that.
21:21 I was pretty young.
21:23 I was 20.
21:24 I think I turned 21 because then that was a legal guardian signing age.
21:29 And that's when I took them in.
21:33 And what's it been like?
21:35 Because you even got them married.
21:36 Yeah, of course.
21:37 Yeah.
21:38 I mean, I didn't take it for two years.
21:39 And after two years, I know I mean, once they grew up, you continued being the parent.
21:45 It's a lifetime commitment.
21:46 And there are relationships and there are bonds and there's love and there's emotion.
21:51 And there's everything that's involved.
21:52 So yes, there is definitely a bond that we all share.
21:58 They are the older siblings to my younger ones.
22:00 So that's the way it is.
22:02 There is a little bit of a deviation here I wanted to ask you.
22:07 One of your daughters, adopted daughters got married to a Catholic and they had a church
22:11 wedding.
22:12 Yes, yes.
22:13 You're okay about interfaith marriages?
22:15 Of course, why not?
22:16 We are human beings towards the end of it.
22:19 Yes.
22:20 I mean, absolutely.
22:21 But I wanted to hear it from you.
22:22 Yeah, why not?
22:23 Of course.
22:24 In fact, my entire actually both sides of the family, mostly my mom's side of the family,
22:28 we've got, I think everybody, we are all totally like interfaith.
22:32 In fact, it was such a beautiful interfaith wedding to come to now since you're talking
22:38 about it.
22:39 We did her chuda ceremony.
22:41 She wore her chudas on her gown.
22:43 And when she I gave her away, I walked her again.
22:47 That was another breaking of the father's vow.
22:49 I walked her down the aisle.
22:52 And then the Mangal Sutra was tied after the vows were taken.
22:58 So it was and Sindoor was put in the church.
23:01 So it was an absolute correct mix of how it should be.
23:06 So and that's something that gladdens your heart.
23:10 I take pride in that.
23:12 And I take pride that this is our country that allows us this kind of freedom.
23:16 That's right.
23:17 Yeah, that's right.
23:18 How was Anil when you know, when you met and he knew you had adopted two girls and you
23:23 already had two children actually.
23:25 I always knew about it and he always thought it was something that was fantastic because
23:30 all through those growing up years in our early marriage, I think he was advising the
23:34 girls about their bank, work, their investment, everything.
23:38 They would just be calling him directly constantly and when they started working and stuff.
23:42 So yeah, I think that he's also being papa to them.
23:46 Absolutely.
23:47 Absolutely.
23:48 Yeah.
23:49 You had a very romantic meeting, isn't it?
23:51 Because you met on Valentine's Day.
23:52 Yeah, it's so cliched.
23:55 You met on Valentine's Day.
23:58 How can it get more romantic than that?
24:00 The first time you ever saw him, met him?
24:04 Yeah, and he was out with his friends on a singles night and we were out on a doing singles
24:09 Valentine thing.
24:11 And I mean, something about him just struck me completely.
24:15 And I remember asking Manish, who was the guy sitting over there?
24:17 Manish Malhotra.
24:18 Yeah, Manish Malhotra.
24:19 And Manish said, how come you don't know him?
24:20 I said, we're in the same industry.
24:22 I said, no, I don't.
24:24 And how crazy because he had distributed Pathar Ke Phool.
24:27 Can you imagine he distributed my first film?
24:32 And he said he remembers still that I had seen you at the premiere and I was there at
24:35 the premiere.
24:36 I said, how did I not ever meet you?
24:39 I said, you wasted time.
24:41 Yeah, because after that, it just moved very fast.
24:45 Once you got to know him.
24:46 No, actually not.
24:47 No, no, actually not.
24:50 Then we eventually actually met two years later.
24:53 That was the first time I only saw him.
24:55 Okay.
24:56 Yeah, but nothing really happened.
24:57 I just saw him for five hours.
24:58 Manish said the guy was very cute.
25:00 Who is he?
25:01 He said, oh, he's dating someone in London and stuff.
25:03 So he was dating someone at that time.
25:05 He was already divorced.
25:08 I was out of a broken, whatever, relationship.
25:12 But he was already dating someone.
25:14 So then we met two years after that.
25:17 Yeah.
25:18 And that too, we met for another film, Stumped.
25:20 So that was in which I was making.
25:23 And that's when we got talking to each other.
25:25 Otherwise, the first time I saw him or ever met him in my life was there.
25:29 But nothing happened then.
25:30 But once you got together for Stumped and you started talking, I think then it moved
25:34 very fast.
25:35 Yeah, then it was in complete fast forward because we met and we started talking.
25:39 I think it was 4th of August of 4th of August 2003.
25:46 And 2004, February, we were married.
25:49 So it was just like two months of dating and we were engaged.
25:55 So I actually actually went, I mean, met him for the first time, actually met him, met
25:59 him was 4th of August 2003.
26:04 You know, you mentioned that Anil had a divorce behind him and you had a broken relationship
26:09 behind you, which everybody knows was Akshay Kumar.
26:12 But is this something that both of you sat and got it out of your way?
26:18 You discussed your respective past and did you?
26:21 I think everyone learns from every kind of relationship.
26:26 I mean, I think every person that you meet in your life and every person that you interact
26:31 with in your life, always there's always that vibrations that you absorb.
26:36 There's always a lot that you learn, you imbibe and you move on.
26:40 And you know, henceforth, there's so many people who come into your life.
26:43 So not that we really discussed anything.
26:47 We both knew of each other by then.
26:49 So there was never really, oh, you tell me exactly, oh, you tell me.
26:52 And Anil is a man of very few words.
26:54 So he does not, he does not and he prefers not to discuss things that are probably very
27:03 personal to him and his past.
27:05 And I didn't want to poke.
27:07 No, neither do I.
27:08 I mean, we've never had that, oh, you tell me exactly how this happened.
27:11 You tell me.
27:12 Not in so many words.
27:13 But then when you start, you know, when you're talking, it just comes out.
27:17 No, we don't discuss that much.
27:19 In fact, we both very confident of each other's, you know, how would I say, faith in each other
27:27 and probably the trust that we share, that we know.
27:30 You once mentioned that you broke off with your last, your person you were engaged to
27:36 because of because fidelity matters a lot to you.
27:40 Is fidelity still a, actually my question is this, that is, does fidelity continue to
27:47 be a deal breaker for you?
27:49 I'm telling you, every relationship, according to me, is based on faith, love and honesty
27:55 and trust.
27:56 So these are very important things in any relationship for me.
28:01 Not be it boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, you know, it has to be between your
28:06 friends.
28:07 It has to be between a brother.
28:08 It has to be between your family and me.
28:10 You have to be an honest person.
28:12 Tomorrow, if you're not an honest person, then I mean, I don't think I would even be
28:16 friends with you or I would not be confiding in you because if you're not an honest person,
28:21 then I'm definitely not going to confide in you.
28:24 You'll be telling the whole world.
28:26 So trust and faith is really important in any relationship, even with your children.
28:32 So you do put a lot of emphasis on fidelity in your marriage.
28:37 Both for yourself and for others.
28:40 No, no, I'm not sitting and dancing the tandoor on his head every morning.
28:45 It's not like that.
28:47 Yeah.
28:48 Okay.
28:49 Everybody talks about you having the perfect life, perfect marriage.
28:52 How difficult has it been and, you know, how much has Anil contributed to this perfect
28:58 marriage because you have such a wonderful touch.
29:02 It's always between two people.
29:04 It's never one sided.
29:06 A marriage is always between two people.
29:09 The understanding, the love, the faith, the trust, the comfort is always between what
29:14 is there between two people.
29:15 When I met Anil, I always, I mean, it was almost as if he and me had been brought up
29:19 in the same house.
29:20 We had the same set of morals, same set of values.
29:23 We both really respected the fact that, you know, honesty is something and communication
29:29 is something that we should always have between us.
29:31 And that's how we've even brought up our children.
29:34 Yes, you did mention that even when it comes to a past relationship, you haven't hidden
29:39 it from your children.
29:40 Your children know about it.
29:41 Yeah.
29:42 Because it's not...
29:43 My life's an open book for them.
29:45 If not today, tomorrow they'll read about it somewhere.
29:47 They might read something worse because you know how the 90s press was.
29:53 I mean, it was yellow journalism at its peak.
29:57 So they had no scruples, they had no morals, they had no integrity.
30:01 Seriously.
30:02 So tell me, is Russia prepared for that?
30:05 Is it something you talk about?
30:06 Well, luckily today you have the social media where you can put out your case right in front
30:10 of your fans right there.
30:12 Your statement matters.
30:13 Today there's, you know, there are different mediums, different platforms where you can
30:18 be on one on one with your fans or your friends or whoever, where you can put out what you
30:23 have.
30:24 Earlier we were at the mercy of editors whose camp they were in or whom they were buttering
30:30 up or which hero was buttering them up or heroine was buttering them up.
30:32 They would only write about them.
30:34 So, and their side of the story and not even waiting to find out what the truth was.
30:40 So it was it was it was that and what they thought, how they wanted to bring someone
30:45 down, they would.
30:46 You were just at their mercy.
30:47 So even if they had to print an apology, it would be like one minute line right at the
30:51 bottom of some obscure page which nobody would even read.
30:54 And they'll say, oh, but we did print an apology.
30:56 No wonder edit, what can we do?
30:57 I'm surprised you're saying this because you were somebody who was always very friendly
31:02 with everybody in the media.
31:05 Everybody liked you in the media.
31:06 Why?
31:07 No, no, no, no, no, not really.
31:08 Oh, I've had the worst articles written about you.
31:11 So it's not.
31:12 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
31:13 Yeah.
31:14 And I mean, you could always see in some of those women editors today play the feminist
31:19 card and play the, you know, I'm so liberated kind of card in, you know, I'm so high society.
31:27 And the fact being that they slut shamed, they body shamed, they called you names, there
31:33 was pet names, you know, given to everyone and the most scandalous the story, the worst
31:40 that they would write.
31:41 What was the pet name you had?
31:42 Oh, I don't know.
31:43 I've been called so many things, Amazonian and Thunder Thighs, Thunder Thighs was cute
31:47 though, TT, TT, Thunder Thighs and Miss Arrogant and Miss I don't know what or Miss High and
31:54 Mighty.
31:55 Okay.
31:56 Yeah, a lot of names.
31:57 A lot, a lot, a lot.
31:58 It was a lot of fun.
31:59 Okay.
32:00 So you've known Ajay Devgn since your college days, you went to the same college?
32:06 Actually not, not so.
32:07 Yes, we did go to the same college.
32:09 Our parents worked together for the longest time.
32:13 His sister and me were in class together.
32:15 But Ajay was with Bobby and all these, he was senior to us in college.
32:18 So I didn't really know him that well.
32:20 But his sister and I knew each other.
32:22 And now, in fact, Rasha and his sister's son, they're working together.
32:29 So yeah, so yes, I know them since then, probably.
32:34 How much is financial independence important for you?
32:38 Because I've known you always the financially independent girl.
32:41 I think since I turned 16, I don't think I've ever taken any money from my dad ever.
32:48 And I even and there's the same with Anil, I can proudly say that, you know, I've never
32:52 ever asked him, oh, I need this money, though I honestly, as far as investments goes, always
32:58 been dad who's taken care earlier.
33:01 And because I'd be working all the time.
33:02 And I didn't want to bother myself with all that.
33:05 And then later on, of course, Anil has always helped me in, you know, handling my finances.
33:11 But to be honest, I think it's very, very important.
33:15 And I say this for everybody.
33:17 I'm not just saying it for myself.
33:18 I'm saying this even for the girls who are out there who are working, that it's so, so
33:23 important to be financially independent, and to be able to stand on your own feet.
33:31 So it's, it's, it's something that I believe in very strongly, and I advocate very strongly.
33:37 So even if you know, I've got people working for me and my staff and for their children
33:41 and everything, and I keep telling them that, padhao, likhao and make them independent,
33:46 that tomorrow, God forbid, you're not there, I'm not there to take care of a situation,
33:52 our kids should be able to go out there in this world and handle themselves.
33:57 So you were and you're happy that you've always, God's been with you and you've always been
34:01 financially independent.
34:02 Yeah, always.
34:03 Yeah.
34:04 Is it something you also want Raksha to be?
34:08 Of course she will be.
34:09 And Ranbir.
34:10 Of course, both of them will be.
34:11 Okay.
34:12 And Raksha is continuing her education along with so today this works for her, doesn't
34:17 work for her.
34:18 It's her passion.
34:19 It's her love.
34:20 It's her dedication.
34:21 It's her passion for her.
34:22 She loves it.
34:23 But tomorrow, God forbid, if something doesn't work out for her, she's independent enough
34:27 to stand on her own feet and probably go even get a job somewhere.
34:31 You know, I was googling to see because I don't remember you ever doing a kissing scene
34:35 in your career.
34:36 No, I haven't.
34:38 And I, you know, the nets keep saying things like Kamla Hassan's hot kiss with Raveena
34:43 Tandon and Upe Indore's hot kiss with Raveena Tandon.
34:48 Somebody else.
34:49 Did you google it?
34:50 I was like, what the hell?
34:51 Because I don't remember.
34:52 There wasn't.
34:53 So there you go.
34:54 So, you know, I'm so surprised that they have these headlines.
34:58 These are clickbait things.
34:59 Clickbaits.
35:00 And I because I was researching on you before our conversation.
35:02 No, I've never done kissing scenes.
35:04 You've never done it.
35:05 In fact, if I remember right, you had that in your, you had a no kiss contract.
35:10 Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally.
35:11 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
35:12 You had.
35:13 Yeah.
35:14 No, those days there were no contracts or anything.
35:15 So to speak.
35:16 But to not understand.
35:17 But yeah, I never had any.
35:19 I never did.
35:20 I was not comfortable.
35:21 But today's generation, everybody's doing it.
35:25 So Rasha would have different.
35:26 Again, it depends on her if she's comfortable doing a scene with someone, why not?
35:31 But if she's not comfortable, nobody should have the power to force her to do anything
35:36 that she doesn't want to do.
35:37 Right.
35:38 Or what she's not comfortable.
35:39 So these little restrictions of I won't kiss on screen, etc. were self imposed restrictions?
35:45 Totally.
35:46 I'm not comfortable.
35:47 I remember I was doing a scene, it was like a little rough handling kind of a scene with
35:51 a male actor.
35:55 And and by mistake, his lips, I remember just brushed my lips.
36:00 It was a mistake.
36:01 It was not even required in that.
36:02 Like in that whole frenzy, it was a mistake.
36:05 And I went up to my room and I threw up.
36:07 Because I was so not comfortable.
36:12 The shot got over and I went up and I had nausea.
36:14 I felt nausea.
36:16 So I was never comfortable.
36:18 I couldn't bear it.
36:19 So like, yuck, no, please brush your teeth, wash your mouth like 100 times.
36:20 So if I was not comfortable doing something, I wouldn't.
36:21 Yeah, right.
36:22 Yeah.
36:23 Okay, so this was this.
36:24 I'm not wrong in saying that you were a bit.
36:25 Obviously I'm not going to name him.
36:26 Once can.
36:27 The poor villain.
36:28 He was doing a villain's role, poor chap.
36:29 He was so apologetic.
36:30 I said, it's okay.
36:31 It's a mistake.
36:32 Isn't it wonderful that on the one hand, you're doing a scene with a male actor and
36:33 on the other hand, you're doing a scene with a female actor.
36:34 And I think that's a really good thing.
36:35 I think that's a really good thing.
36:36 I think that's a really good thing.
36:37 I think that's a really good thing.
37:01 I think that's a really good thing.
37:22 It was totally contrary because in KGF, I would go there and Prashant would say, ma'am,
37:27 level it up a notch higher, a notch higher.
37:29 You take my performance and I would go then when I'd come back on the Aranya sets and
37:33 Vinay would be like, just play it very real.
37:36 I'd be like, okay, I played very real.
37:39 That's the south and north sensibilities, I guess.
37:41 No, but you know what, I was worried about that.
37:46 It has nothing to do with the north south.
37:48 Each director has his own style.
37:51 But what happens is, see, it's ultimately in the director's hands.
37:54 He's the boss.
37:56 Because in his mind, he has the entire film and every actor's performance, you know, playing
38:03 out in front of his eyes.
38:04 But I haven't seen how the rest of everyone has performed in the other scenes.
38:09 So I don't know at what level and what drama is he building up.
38:13 You understand?
38:14 So that's why they say my dad always taught me that the director, the captain of the ship,
38:19 you leave it completely on him.
38:20 He's the boss.
38:22 It's his vision that you are doing.
38:23 You are doing your job as an actor.
38:26 He will mold you to do what will go with the flow of the film.
38:30 And that's when I feel it's so important for even young actors, that's the advice that
38:34 I would give, that leave yourself in the hands of a director.
38:38 Because he knows where he's steering his ship into.
38:41 So that is what is very, very important.
38:44 So did KGF too, because it was such a huge hit.
38:48 So even playing that small but important part in it, did that really help you in really
38:53 making a comeback?
38:54 I don't know about the comeback, because I'd already done Mathru in the Middle.
38:58 I'd already done, you know, still doing things.
39:00 It was not a comeback.
39:01 I was just waiting for a good role.
39:03 I think those days of comeback is over.
39:06 Nowadays, actors take the time to do that one good role or, you know, quality work more
39:10 than quantity.
39:11 Maybe you come off a time where we all did more quantity work, you know, right from the
39:16 80s to the 90s, you've seen, you've seen the 2000s, everyone did more quantity, more than
39:20 quality.
39:21 Now it's all about quality.
39:22 So it's today's time is more about...
39:24 Did that really help you, KGF too?
39:27 As in people recognized you as, listen, this is not just that mast mast girl, she can act
39:32 also.
39:33 I think that I'd already broken with Daman and Shool and, you know, Ghulam-e-Mustafa and
39:37 Aks and all those films.
39:39 I think I'd already broken that mould out of.
39:41 That's why I think these guys have the confidence that I'll be able to carry out a role like
39:45 that.
39:46 Otherwise, I don't think such a powerful role because it was mainly, you know, the three
39:51 main characters in the film, so to speak.
39:53 So it wouldn't have been probably then offered to me either if must must they expected me
39:59 to go and do there.
40:01 I think it's a wonderful phase that you're in, isn't it?
40:05 I am enjoying this phase of mine, like I said, because it's not about quantity, it's all
40:08 about quality.
40:10 And you have signed so many other films also now.
40:12 Yes, I'm signing a couple of films.
40:14 And are you doing any more web series after Aranya?
40:17 I am.
40:18 I've just finished one for Hotstar, which is again a very, very interesting series.
40:23 And then there is, yes, of course, Aranya 2, which we're going to be shooting again soon.
40:28 The season continues, the series continues.
40:31 There are a couple of films that I've signed that are very interesting.
40:34 One is called Patna Shukla.
40:36 It's Arbaaz Khan's production company.
40:38 Then there is another one that is called Welcome, which is Feroze.
40:43 That's again an out and out comedy, which I'll enjoy doing.
40:45 And with all my boys again, Sunil, Akshay and Sanju all together.
40:51 So you will do a film with Akshay if you're offered a film with Akshay?
40:55 I think I signed Welcome, right?
40:58 So it's it's it's it's going to be a great, you know, again, it's comedy like how we used
41:05 to be enjoying doing.
41:06 I'm looking forward to working with Chichi again, though, because I'm dying to do another
41:09 mad comedy with Chichi.
41:10 But is he doing any films?
41:13 I have not really asked him, but I'm going to call him and say, Chichi, now long time
41:17 everyone's bouncing back.
41:19 Let's all do this good comedy together.
41:22 So yeah, so that'll be that'll be fun as well.
41:26 That's really nice.
41:27 Is there anything that your dad guided you, which you in turn are guiding Rasha?
41:33 I think it's all a process of upbringing.
41:36 It's it's I think it's just not that one thing that you tell or there's a second.
41:41 Oh, I'll only say one thing to my child.
41:43 I think in every day, there's that certain upbringing that you start sounding like your
41:47 parents and you say, yeah, this is exactly how it went.
41:51 So I think it's that every day, you know, learning that, okay, today, this was going
41:56 to happen or this has happened.
41:58 Now you learn from this this way.
42:00 So yeah, that does happen between us pretty often.
42:03 So ultimately, what is the what is the tip that you would give for a successful marriage?
42:11 I think that would be in four short words, honesty, companionship, faith, trust.
42:22 And that's what above all communication.
42:24 Okay, so five, five, five key points.
42:29 Okay.
42:30 Your mom is a Sindhi, isn't it?
42:31 Yes.
42:32 And MacMohan was your uncle?
42:34 Yes.
42:35 Okay.
42:36 So you have always known the Sindhi and the Punjabi way of life?
42:41 Yeah, actually.
42:42 Yeah.
42:43 But it's it's been a mixed.
42:46 Yeah, it's just always been that.
42:48 But like I said, my mom's side is a entirely full of a full interfaith side.
42:54 So you used to a whole lot of cultures.
42:56 Yeah, exposed to every kind of culture.
42:58 Okay.
42:59 Okay.
43:00 So that's what makes you so wholesome?
43:01 I think that's what makes our country so wholesome.
43:03 I think we all like that.
43:06 Lovely.
43:07 Thank you so much.
43:08 Thank you.
43:09 Thank you.
43:10 Always.
43:11 Great.
43:12 Thank you.
43:12 Thank you.
43:17 you