Talktime | Raveena Tandon
The mast mast girl was in Delhi to wrap up the final sequence of Onir’s latest venture Shab, a movie that has created a lot of buzz. ‘I am sure everyone will relate to Shab,’ Tandon tells Deebashree Mohanty in a free-wheeling chat
You were in Delhi to wrap up your upcoming film Shab. How did you brave dilli ki sardiIJ
Oh! I love it actually. It’s such a relief to get out of Mumbai on some or the other pretext. I have always had a soft corner for the Capital and am glad that nothing much has changed here. Delhi winters also give me an excuse to take out shawls, boots, caps and knitted mufflers. I love the dressing up for winters part too!
You play a socialite and fashion diva in Shab. Tell us more.
It’s a refreshing take on love and relationships and I am sure everyone will relate to it in some or the other way. Onir has the penchant of doing things which appear so real and he has hit the nail on the target with Shab too. The movie is a love triangle and about how this emotion controls everything. It’s a breezy film. Onir wanted Sanjay Suri and me to do this film long time back but we somehow never did. I was busy with my second daughter and Sanjay had other projects to finish. Thankfully, it all fell into place this year and here we are almost done with Onir’s latest offering.
Is it different from other Onir movies which carried a social messageIJ
Yes it is different in that sense. But the way he has dealt with this situation is exactly his way of going about things. Fans of his style of work could draw many similarities in a good way.
Onir and Suri are good friends, does that work on your favourIJ
It works both ways. For Shab, I had no intimation about when the acting workshops would begin and the schedule till the last moment. I guess you are slightly taken for granted. But there are many plusses too. They know I have children to look after so my dates and timings were very flexible. I was not pressurised to finish something within a stipulated time. That is a big boon. In this industry, you lack people who understand your needs and are willing to give in. But both Onir and Suri were very co-operative.
How do you generally manage home with workIJ
I am choosy about projects. I do not accept films that require me to travel for more than a week at a stretch. I work around a schedule — need to get back to my children by 6 pm. And, I am very strict about these self-imposed guidelines. I am lucky that people who approach me for roles respect my routine and are willing to adjust.
How is Bombay Velvet shaping upIJ
It is a very interesting concept and I had a role to play in it but I am yet to hear from them regarding my dates. I guess it’s not happening then!
TV or Bollywood, what do you preferIJ
Both mediums are growing at a rapid pace and all for the better. I had an awesome time with Simply Batein on Sony Pal and I am hoping there will be a Season 2 of the show. I am glad that I am able to contribute to the industry. It’s like my second home.