A THINKING MAN’S WOMAN

I have read some of your writings and I find your articulation of memories and thoughts and the imagery created by your words achingly brilliant... How would you describe your relationship to writing and poetry?

Thank you so much! Writing is an integral part of who I am – whether poems, scripts, stories, columns, or editorials - when I get too busy with shooting to have any time to write, I miss it profoundly. I especially love to read and write poetry – it really helps me sort out my feelings, it’s a great emotional outlet for me. Buying poetry books are my only addiction! In fact, if I didn’t have poetry in my life, I’d definitely need a psychiatrist. It’s therapeutic for me.

As a creative person what inspires you?

The ability to reach out and touch so many people I don’t know – whether through acting, writing, or working for a cause.

You’ve made a habit of playing the muse... I used to think this “muse” thingy is more of an artist romanticized projection. Moreover, the artist’s idea of his muse ends up stifling the real identity of the woman herself... your thoughts?

This is an important, if a-musing, thought! I think a certain degree of romanticizing is part and parcel of being a muse. But it needs to be a true partnership, with total mutual trust – the artist needs to be inspired by the muse for the essence of her being, it can’t be smoke and mirrors and just his/her imagination imposed. Similarly, the muse needs to give the artist that part of her self that inspires – be it her smile, her curiosity , or her little toe. I mean, as a muse I can’t say, my toe is not worthy of your art! I must trust the artist, and surrender. Just as the artist must surrender to the muse, and let his/her imagination fly.

OUR FILMS THEIR FILMS

Coming to films in specific, do you remember the first film you saw?

I can’t remember, but one film I continue to watch over and over, since my childhood, is Satyajit Ray’s Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne! To date, it’s the best children’s film I’ve ever seen.

Oh, we love that one too. Followed by Sonar Killa, of course. Isn’t it amazing how long films stay with us, subtly influencing our world views... Do you believe that cinema and people making films have some social obligations or responsibilities?

Not obligations as much as capacities or potential! Cinema has the obligation to be entertaining, but I strongly believe it has the power to change the world, by changing our vision. Most of the films I’ve done, here and abroad, not only have a strong aesthetic sensibility but also an inherent social-political consciousness. The saddest part of growing up in our generation is being surrounded by war and violent intolerance. I am totally opposed to war no matter what provocations or justifications may prevail. So, it’s not a coincidence that many of the films I’ve chosen to do, whether The War Within (USA) or Tango Charlie (India) or The World Unseen (South Africa) - have been anti-war in theme. Some may have worked better than others, but I believe in their subject with my whole being and always will. Today, I feel our freedom in so many spheres is shrinking by the hour. I believe in peace as much as I believe in freedom, and I feel cinema can propagate both. Film is by nature a brave and influential medium, and we should use it bravely! As it turns out, in all my upcoming releases here I play strikingly brave women who dare to challenge their worlds. All five films are of different genres, and my characters are totally distinct from each other, except that all five are fearless women who break the rules of their world to achieve what they must – and pay the price for it too.

THE ACTIVIST

There is this activist side to your personality...

I don’t know if I’d call myself an activist, but the NGOs I work with are an integral part of my life. I work with UNICEF as their Advocate for Child Protection – we are working quite intensively to develop a campaign against corporal punishment, which is a huge and heartbreaking problem in India. The recent deaths of Babli Ghosh in Bengal and Shanno Khan in Delhi are unforgivable. Even when I was in college in the U.S. I worked as a Survivor Advocate, a nominated support person for victims of physical and sexual abuse. My involvement with the cause of stopping child abuse is a long one, and I often connect it to my film and theatre work as well.

THE SEDUCTRESS

When did you first realise that you are beautiful?

I like the way I look, but I don’t consider myself beautiful. Don’t get me wrong. I am very sure of myself as a person, but that has nothing to do with the way I look.

How would you explain your sex appeal?

I’ve never given this much thought, inisolation. But I don’t think one’s physicality can be separated from one’s whole persona – if someone enjoys looking at me, it’s a whole being they are drawn to I imagine, not just my face or body.

Five things that every man should know about a woman...

We love being pampered by your extra time rather than your money. All it takes to make a woman feel like a queen is a bit of imagination – and, yes, a lot of attention! We are sensitive, yes, but we can’t read your minds. If some thing's on it that’s really important to you, be it a lipstick you hate the taste of, a birthday wish, or a sexual fantasy, wont you tell us, pretty please? We know you guys have pretty set check-lists for the qualities you’d like in your women, but there’s really no telling what turns us on! Anything from fluency in useless trivia, to a nervous stammer, to being able to wiggle your ear can be sexy to us. No kidding. So relax and just be yourself! Do catch yourself the next time you say, “I said sorry, didn’t I?” Saying sorry isn’t enough unless it comes straight from your heart. And we can always tell the difference! And, yes. One last thing. When a woman says no, it means NO!(I don’t mean to be preachy, but the figures for sexual assault all over the world are scary as hell.)
 

The complete story...in the February 2010 issue of FHM India. Grab a copy!