Dimple Kapadia
She still can’t believe that Bobby went on to create history but Kapadia is happy that she has been around to see how cinema has evolved. Sceptical about roles that she picks, the actress was not convinced about What the Fish to begin with. She is a very hard working person to whom acting comes naturally but Kapadia can’t manage promotions, she tells Deebashree Mohanty
‘I have seen the good, bad and ugly of celebrityhood’
What plans for this Christmas and New YearIJ
I am not big on planning. I like to go with the flow. Christmas and New Year, like other festivities, are about bonding with the family. So, brunches and sit-down dinners with family and relatives are must. We are all busy bodies who have no time even to have a proper meal a day. During vacations, we tend to make up for all that. Akshay and Twinkle bring a lot of cheer to the gatherings.
Is there a particular gift you would want from Santa ClausIJ WhyIJ
I have seen the good, bad and ugly of celebrityhood since I was 16. At 30, I had a well set family and my daughters were all doing well for themselves. Now, at 56, I feel complete as a woman. I have done a good variety of roles and have roamed all parts of the world which I wanted to visit. My wish to Santa is that I should die happily. I would not want to suffer till I am 80 and then breathe my last.
You have received a lot of accolades for your role in What the Fish. How does that make you feelIJ
I am very thrilled. To begin with, I was not convinced that people will like me in that old-angry avatar. I was not very comfortable during the initial weeks of the shooting but all kudos to the production team. They made me feel at home. The director assured me that I haven’t committed a blunder by accepting this film. I am not too good at making decisions so this last minute nervousness is nothing new to me. I have always been scpetical about roles and projects that I have taken up.
What is it that you look for in a roleIJ
I am a very old-fashioned actor who relies very heavily on narration. Even today, when directors approach with roles in their films, they come armed with the entire script. Narration makes it easy for me to fathom the contours of the role. I am also quite finicky about the length of the role and the consequence it will have in the film. I have never been a spontaneous actor who could do just about anything. That irritating habit still doesn’t let me take up silly roles. I don’t measure roles with the pay packet but money does matter. I am not expecting to be paid as much as the lead actor of this generation but I will not allow myself to be underpaid at any cost.
Your take about the present breed of actors.
They are a happy lot. It is heartening to see that even when the competition is so intense, actors are not fighting over petty issues. There are misunderstandings but they get solved. I am upset that we are yet to find a veteran in this new crop of stars. They are here today, gone tomorrow. No one has it in them to make it to history books like a Raj Kapoor or an Amitabh Bachchan.
Your thoughts about Akshay as an actor...
He is brilliant in whatever he does. Akshay is one of the most hardworking people I have ever met. I’ve seen his struggling days and how he has put them behind to make the most of his opportunities. He is a clever judge of projects.
Christmas around the corner, is there a special memoryIJ
last year, we installed a 50ft tall tree within the premises of our home and the general perception was that we had a huge party at home. Friends called to enquire why they had not been included as guests. There was no party. It was the usual family dinner. But how does one explain that to anyoneIJ May be, this time, I shall organise a get together for real!