"I am worried that Indu should not keep producing films which are even more vulgar than even Grand Masti now"

Today is the living legend Aruna Irani’s 74^th birthday. We wish her by reproducing this interview taken six years ago of ARUNA IRANI by JYOTHI VENKATESH that her desire now is to keep on acting till the last day of her life.

How did you feel when you were awarded the LifeTime Achievement award recently?

I had tears in my eyes because I was indeed happy and thrilled that Ramesh Sippy and Raveena Tandon handed over to me the Life Time Achievement award in front of my colleagues and peers from the industry. I was glad that though I am not the typical heroine, I was bestowed with the honor. I have won the award from every other organisation, except perhaps the National Award which has been eluding me till date. Why just the national awards, even the Padmashri and Padma Vibushan have been eluding me till date, but I have no complaints at all, because I am loved by the audiences. 

Why are you just producing and not directing serials?

I have absolutely no time for direction. As it is, I am committed to act in the TV show Sanskar Darohar Ka. As a director, it is very essential to remain awake right from 6 am to 2 am  but I get tired very fast since I am now 69. I feel I should not do injustice to my health at this stage or else all of a sudden one fine morning, I will be gone! 

How indispensable is an actor on TV?

It is the channels, which decide on the actors. Today whether you like it or not, the channels want actors who are in their 30’s to play the father or the mother. To make them look older, we make it a point to make them wear spectacles and apply whiteners. An actor is not at all indispensable as far as a TV show is concerned. Even if an actor decides to walk out of a show as is the wont now, what is the big deal? Didn’t a show like Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi run in spite of the fact that you had seen different Mihirs at different points of time? 

You have played almost every kind of role on TV as well as films. What is your dream role now?

I have always liked doing different kinds of roles. Though I would love to lay my hands on a negative character, I am keener on playing a positive character, because as a vamp, all that you have to do is to give the right ‘evil’ look to the camera. I feel that it is tougher to do a comedy role. The itch that an actress has is something which cannot be wiped away with any lotion.

 What is the difference between acting in films and TV serials?

It has been almost 60 years since I started acting. It is beautiful to be an actress. With every film and TV serial, I grow not only as an actress but also as a human being. Acting, whether for films or television is the same. It is only the camera, which is smaller in the case of television. However, I feel that a TV star gets more popular than a film star these days because while the TV stars get a daily loyal audience which is glued to the television for free, films tend to flop and the popularity of the film stars also often tend to wane.    

You have not played an out and out negative role in either films or TV after Beta. Why?

The last time I remember I had played an out and out negative character was in Beta directed by my brother Indra Kumar. After that no one has offered me an out and out negative role in either films or serials till Dheerajji took over the serial Maayka and offered to cast me in the role of Durga Mausi in it, though another actress was doing the role. I readily accepted the offer because I feel it is challenging to portray a negative role on television. The fact remains that the audiences have started liking negative characters on television these days. 

How easy or tough is it to portray the vamp?

Ï have almost forgotten what it is to play a vamp because everyone is casting me as a seedhi saadhi woman. Though I found it tough initially when I started shooting for Maayka to portray negative emotions, I found myself in the groove after shooting for the serial for quite some time. 

You have not acted with Ekta Kapoor after Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. Why?

I was not too happy with the way my role was shaping in Ekta’s Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and I was glad that my track was over. However Ekta and I parted ways amicably and I will certainly be glad to work in any other serial which Ekta is making provided I get a suitable role.

Why are you not acting in any film now?

Where are they making the kinds of films in which I will find myself comfortable playing the kind of roles that I feel I can play? Even my brother Indu has not cast me after Beta, because he knows that I will not suit the kind of films that he is making like Grand Masti. He did not even show me the trailer of the film, because he was scared. I have not seen the film though I am told that it has grossed around 70 cr in the first week. I am now worried that as a shrewd businessman producer, Indu should not be tempted to keep on making films, which are going to be even more vulgar than Grand Masti. I do not feel inclined because people with whom I could gel while working are no longer there. Recently Priyadarshan offered to cast me in his Maalamaal 3 but I did not want to ditch the producers of my TV serial and allot my dates to the film and hence declined the offer.

Who is your inspiration?

It is undoubtedly Devsaab. Whenever I used to feel ‘down and out ‘and extremely tired, I used to derive inspiration from him and bounce on my feet. I have come a long way from the time I was being paid Rs 150 per day for a film for working for twelve hours at a stretch as a child till today when I get what I feel that I deserve. My desire now is to keep on acting till the last day of my life.