Celeb Chat

The revamped Pooja Bhatt!
How do you look back on your phase as the symbol of a century-end turmoil?
Well, I’m no longer a hopeless romantic. I am a hopeful romantic. People respond to me on a different levels now. They come to me with their boyfriend troubles, or whatever. I realized people respected my opinion in spite of all that’s written about me in the magazines. That makes me feel very reassured, welcomed. The way people respond to me makes me feel more comfortable with myself. I feel if young girls and even their mothers from all over India respond so genuinely to me, then I guess I must be doing something right.

And do you try to help these people?
Yes. If someone asks me for advice about how to live life, then I have only one thing to say, you have to go for what you really want. Beyond a point, you can’t go on living someone else’s life.
I wonder how all these people approach you since you’re hardly accessible these days.

I’m not talking about people calling me up. I mean the accidental encounters like in a book shop or at a restaurant. They just come up to me and chat. They ask my opinion on something or the other, maybe a film or a personal problem.

Do you have girls discussing boyfriend problems with you?
Yes (laughs). I also have boys consulting me on girlfriend probems. If all fails I can always take up a career in counselling. I’m a closet mother. I have this huge motherly instinct inside me.

That we saw in Zakhm.
(Laughs) I’m amazed by how people react to me. Did I expect more recognition for my role in Zakhm? No I got more praise for that role than I ever expected.

But you didn’t even get nominated for any of the popular awards!
I did get nominated for SCREEN. Anyway, my film won the national award, and that means a lot to me. It’s my second national award after Tamanna in two and a half years. True, I didn’t get the national award for best actress. But this must be the first time someone has been nominated in both the producer and actress category simultaneously. If not the Guinness Book, this qualifies for the Limca Book of Records, don’t you think? Put in a word for me.

Do you have any plans as a film producer?
Well I was busy with my serial on Star Plus, Dhundh until March. I’m thinking of producing a film by the end of the year. I have two subjects in mind, though I needn’t be a part of the cast in either. I’ve got to figure out the economics of the subjects.

Are you good with money?
I manage. But as an inexperienced entrepreneur, I’m cheated often enough. I don’t think this has anything to do with my being a woman, though. Dhundh has been managed completely on my own. It’s my own baby. Neither Mukesh nor Mahesh Bhatt have anything to do with it. The production was so much more hassle free without the seniors’ intervention. My unit took my work extremely seriously, because I did so, too. Unlike my previous productions, there was a lot more detail to personally look into this time.

What are the two films you’re planning to make?
One’s a fun film, actually. The other, based on a true incident deals with the youth.

Zakhm will always remain the most special film of your career. People like Lataji and Jaya Bachchan feel there’s a lot of untapped talent in there.
Why doesn’t someone come forward to tap my talent, then? Right now production is my top priority. It’s as much my inheritance as Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt’s.

What about marriage and motherhood?
Yes, it’s on the cards. In another two years, I guess. Right now, I just want to create good films.

I want to be the godfather of your first child.
You’re on. But you don’t know what you’re getting yourself in to.

Subhash K Jha