Kajol, perhaps one of our most versatile actors, continues to shake a leg and woo the audience with her smooth charm. By Asmita Sarkar

Talented, funny, witty and take-me-as-you-please, actor Kajol broke stereotypes of  the ideal heroine and at a time of the biggie male star, pushed her way in as the she-hero.  She continues to mould herself to the times and will be seen as a breakneck, fun-loving supermom in her latest film. Much seasoned and sorted, we begin with the hot topic on the agenda, the wave of #MeToo disclosures in the industry. 

What about the #MeToo movement that’s gathering pace in Bollywood?

People should stand up and talk about it, no two ways about it. However, sexual harassment  is not restricted to our film industry. The entire world needs it and women from every field need it. The whole point of the movement is to take away the shame and embarrassment of this fact that has happened with you. Take it away from the women and tell them it’s not their fault. It’s not something that you have done that led this to happen with you. The only way to prevent harassment is by telling our younger people. I say people because I don’t want to be gender specific, it happens to both. I’d say it’s important for them to understand that they have to draw the line in the sand and say so far and no further. You stand up for yourself whether on a public platform or not but stand up for yourself.

What attracts you to emotionally charged scripts?

I don’t know if it’s emotionally charged so much as it is a good script. Emotionally charged or not, or thriller or whatever, I’m attracted to good scripts that are tightly bound. I’m a reader, so a script for me is like a really really good book that you can’t put down, literally. One that you can read till 4 am. So, that’s my criteria for doing a film or not doing a film.

What is your favourite genre in books?

I like reading all kinds of books but I do not pore through pages with a purposeful  aim to educate myself or anything. I read a lot of fiction, especially fantasy. I love Harry Potter and I though my fans may not expect me too, I also read Mills and Boons.

Motherhood is a complicated subject in our country because of the gender roles associated with it. Does Helicopter Eela break the stereotype?

I don’t think it breaks the stereotype but explains it better. We hope that the audience will come out probably understanding their parents better. And hopefully parents will understand their children better, with more compassion and may be like each other more. The whole point is that nobody is wrong in this entire discussion. Everybody is right in their places and they are doing what they think is right. It’s just that sometimes the other person doesn’t understand why you are doing what you are doing. That’s really what we are trying to explain. 

Do you think gender roles are being redefined in mainstream Bollywood now?

They’re being given equal importance, not being redefined. We are talking about stories of women from their point of view rather than only from the male point of view. That’s important for the conversation we’re having across the world. It’s important to understand that we are all okay the way we are as long as we are all given the same importance.

Do you think that the treatment of women on the set today is different from when you started out?

It’s easier to work now. Working conditions are better than they were earlier. It’s more comfortable. We have vanity vans,  AC studios and bound scripts. The way of working has become more organised with a proper system. 

When a home production is being made, how invested are you in it?

I have to say that Ajay is a fabulous producer, whether it was Raju Chacha or Helicopter Eela. He’s given us the leeway to do whatever we wanted creatively speaking, without any restrictions. He’s been fabulous with the publicity but yes I am working harder because it’s his film.

Your children are under the scanner all the time, so what do you do to shield them?

I haven’t done all that much but I don’t take them for every event. We do try to keep security with us as much as possible.  The most important thing is that they have grown up now and can handle the Press a little better. It was an issue when Nysa was younger. It was troubling her. She would get very conscious and  dread what would happen. Both of them have grown up and can handle it better now.

Did you draw any inspiration from the original script?

I haven’t seen the original.

Photo: Pankaj Kumar