Q. Cold Case is only your second Malayalam film. Considering you are from Kerala, what kept you away?
It was not a conscious decision to stay away or anything, but opportunities just never came up, and I didn’t push either. I wish I had done a hell of a lot more in the south. Maybe people were under the impression, “Oh she’s a VJ” or “She’s only doing Hindi stuff or theatre” or whatever. Hopefully, things will change now that I’ve worked with two fab directors.
Q. Did you feel any pressure because this film is in your mother tongue?
Most definitely. Once I got the dialogues, my cousin and aunt, who are fluent in Malayalam voice recorded them for me. This helped me understand and get the pronunciation right because my character uses a lot of words that aren’t everyday Malayalam. I think they were planning on getting someone else to dub for my character but I am very glad that Tanu (Balak, director) eventually let me do it.
Q. Your character in the film is a clairvoyant. Do you believe in the supernatural?
Yes, completely. I am quite fascinated by the occult. I believe in card readings and spirits. In college, we’d experimented with the Ouija Board and because it worked, was quite frightening. There are certain places where you can feel a presence, like when I was in Vietnam with my husband — the attic in that house would always give me chills.
Q. It’s been 20 years since the release of Dil Chahta Hai where you played possibly one of your most famous characters, Priya — Sameer’s (Saif Ali Khan’s) suspicious girlfriend. What is your memory of shooting that film?
There’s that famous scene where Priya slaps Sameer. That slap was real. Farhan (Akhtar, director) said, ‘Go ahead and slap him’. I asked him if he wanted me to slap Saif for real and he said he did. I think we did three takes. Years later, I met Sharmila Tagore and introduced myself as the person who slapped her son in DCH. She said ‘I hope it was a tight one’ and we had a good laugh.
Q. What’s happening on the music front?
I have a rock album that’s ready. It’s called the History of Rock and Roll. The sound is very ’90s British Rock, these are songs that you can sing along to. I’ve written all the songs; it’s a labour of love. There’s also another single that I’ve done with Papon which is in English and Assamese.
Q. You turned 50 last year. It’s a significant milestone. Does it feel any different?
My 13-year-old daughter tells me that she has ‘the most kiddish mother’. Apparently, I don’t act my age! Age, really, is just a number for me and I don’t feel 50 at all; except for a few aches and pains. I’m still the clown of the class.
read the full story about I’m still the clown of the class: Suchitra Pillai
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