The actress who is doing a play, regional cinema and taking up the cause of women’s defence through martial arts believes in doing things her way
Former lovers Neetu Chandra and Randeep Hooda are still good friends. Having put her past behind, she shares what kind of men interest her, he passion for plays, regional cinema and women’s safety through martial arts.
What is your relationship with Randeep Hooda?
I have always been open about my relationship with Randeep but I don’t want to talk about it now. I think I have already said a lot.
I like rough and tough guys. That when I walk with him, people should look at him and say who is that guy with Neetu Chandra. He has to be confident, educated and compatible.
Define love?
The kind of love that we experienced in our younger days does no longer exist now. It was fun reading love letters written in blood. I would feel scared to open the letters and would take so much time just opening them during my school days. Now love has become frivolous with emails and messages on cell phones. It has lost its charm.
Share about ‘Umrao Jaan’, the play?
I was trying to do something different. I wanted to do this play. I have five films on hand but the play seemed interesting. Stars like Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal are all doing plays and are yet honored and respected. So what if I am doing a play now. The thought of audience has changed now. They no longer say that she is an actress so she should stick to films. I am trying different mediums of acting.
‘Umrao Jaan’ was a ‘fankara’ (a ‘shayar’) not a dancer and we have perceived the play in a different way. It is unlike the films we have seen. I have seen both Rekha’s and Aishwarya Rai’s ‘Umrao Jaan’ and they both have performed well as they are divas of the industry. Comparing me to them is very wrong as they are great actresses. The play is about a woman’s freedom and the love story is not important.
I was not nervous when performing in front of the live audience because the theatre becomes dark and you cannot see them. I was very happy doing it as so many people I knew came to see my play. Now we are going on a world tour and I will be performing in 20 countries.
What are your other projects?
I am doing different things as an actress. I am doing a play and I have done a Greek English film ‘Block 12’, which will be shown at the Goa International Film Festival. It’s a satire on system and a romantic comedy. I play an Indian girl and Indian Goddess. Director Anurag Kashyap recommended my name to them and director Kyriacos Tofarides, I call him KT got in touch with me. It’s an international film and I liked the story.
Every industry has its own negative and positive points but people over there are much disciplined. They have a bound script; they start their shoot on time.
What about regional cinema?
I also have a Bhojpuri film, ‘Deswa’, which is directed by my brother Nitin Chandra. It’s a political thriller about three guys and their struggle. It has gone to eight international film festivals and has been appreciated. I did the film because it’s my mother tongue and wanted to do a revolution by doing such kind of Bhojpuri cinema. Bhojpuri films are not spoken about because they are soft porn films. No one wants to see them. This is my brother’s creation and I have just helped him.
I wanted to put Bhojpuri cinema on the global map. Actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Imitaz Ali have supported such films. I thing if we make such films, it will make a change for Biharis.
I have also done a Tamil film, which released recently. My name is being nominated for the National Award. I am more of a global actress now. I am doing different kinds of cinema and plays. You will find very few actresses doing so much. I have put in a lot of hard work to do what I am doing. I don’t know if it is important to have an image. I can mould myself everywhere. You may call it drawback or struggle but I feel satisfied.
Share about your keenness for martial arts?
Sports, I am pursuing it. I think it’s important for a woman to pursue martial arts. I have also started a petition that martial arts should be introduced in schools. I know a girl cannot fight three men strongly but she will be smart, alert and will not fear any one. She will be independent and have confidence. She can protect herself to some extent. I have got around 1000 people who have signed the petition. I want more and more people to come forward so that I can go and present it to the Prime Minister myself. I am working for the cause of women and I want more women to support me on this.
Lipika Varma
