An Exclusive Interview With Mahima Chaudhary

Baghban preview
Baghban Review
'Baghban' Gallery

Has your recently released flick ‘Baghban’ drawn inspiration from Rajesh Khanna’s ‘Avtaar’?
“They both are family dramas, so in that may they may be similar. But I don’t know if it’s inspired from Rajesh Khanna’s ‘Avtaar’. You’ll have to go and ask the person who wrote it. The story is about a couple who give all they have to their children who in turn don’t give all they have to their parents when they grow up.”

This is a family drama. What’s you relationship with your family in real life?
My sister, my mom and myself are essentially like friends. My mother had us when she was really young. And she’s grown along with us. We’ve matured more because we’ve been so close to her and she’s so child-like because she’s so close to us. So essentially all the three women of the house are very close.”

What about the men of the house?
My brother understands us very deeply. It’s just that he doesn’t sit and yak as much as we do. My dad is the quietest of the family. As a child I was very scared of him. If he ever called me by name – and not call me beta – I would think I’m in for trouble and I’d go to him crying before he even said anything. That’s the kind of fear I had of my dad. But he’s much more lenient than my mom. Even for pocket money, my dad was more giving; my mom was more tight; while playing games, dad used to cheat; mom played fair. While mom was a very strict disciplinarian, dad told me, “You need to cheat to win.” So, if I’m a little bit of a crook, it’s because of my dad.”

Were you the first choice for ‘Baghban’?
I really don’t know. I read an article where it said that this film was to be made years ago, where Mr. Dilip kumar was to play Mr. Bachchan’s role, Shah Rukh was to play Salman’s role, and my role was to be played by Juhi Chawla. But it didn’t get made then. It’s finally happened now and what really matters is the end result. I’m glad I got to be a part of this film.”

  We hear that you and Salman got very friendly on the sets of ‘Baghban’?
Not really. I have known Salman from the time I did my first film and I did my first world tour with him and Sunjay Dutt. Our relationship today is the same as what it was then. It’s not that I got friendlier now or that I was less friendly then.”

  So tell us something about the Salman, Mahima knows.
My first interaction with him was when I was on my first world tour. At that time I had a few hiccups in the industry and he came and gave me a little talk. I learnt. I got up and started walking again. That’s my first impression of Salman. He’s very courteous. When he’s around I feel more confident that I’ll be taken care of. He’s such a gentleman. It’s sad that people have a certain impression of him which he doesn’t take the trouble to clear out.”

  How was it working with Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan?
She’s gorgeous, and he’s a lot of fun. I remember the first day I was on the set with him, I just said,” God, you’re so much like Abhishek!” And he said, “That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Normally everyone says, “Abhishek, you are so much like your dad.” He’s so lively. He’s joking all the time, even with a person like Hemaji who is quite a serious person.”

  Today, the actresses who are making their comeback to celluloid – the likes of Hema Malini, Rati Agnihotri, Waheeda Rehman- are so much more glamorous than the current day actresses. What’s your opinion on the statement?
I think its great because it just shows what kind of life I have ahead of me. There’s no need to be insecure anymore. But on a more serious note, it’s good because now people are actually writing roles for the older rulers. They are still so powerful and they still have such a fervent desire to work. I don’t know where they get the energy from, but they are still so brilliant.”


S...IT