Playing a Tamilian mom to a teenager in 2 States was a cakewalk for Revathi who has been in the industry for over 34 years. She took 15 minutes to give her nod for this film but Anjali will always be her landmark movie as it transformed her, she tells Deebashree Mohanty
I feel loved and wanted. There was a time I thought I would never fit into the Hindi film industry but today I am overwhelmed. I am happy that people recognise me and appreciate the work I am doing,” 47-year-old Revathi who plays the Tamilian mother to Alia Bhatt in 2 States, says.
She may have appeared in only 15 Hindi films in her short stint in Bollywood but Revathi’s movies have always carried a strong message and fared decently at the box office. “You see, I am not the glamorous actress with a size zero figure and slim, tall legs. My acting has been the talkpoint of my career so far. During my initial days in Bollywood, I felt very out of place. But Mani Ratnam (director of Anjali) taught me the importance of doing bilingual cinema. He told me that doing one type of role in one type of cinema is not enough. To be successful, one needs to be versatile,” the South ki superstar recalls.
Most of her films are woman centric and give out a strong social message, but Revathi tells you that before Anjali happened in 1990, she was not inclined towards such roles. “I had little idea about cerebral palsy before signing up for this film. I visited some children in a few wards in Chennai for research and was taken aback by their condition. The movie changed me as a person. It taught me how one should be ready to face all kinds of troubles in life. I started taking life, my career, my friends and family very seriously from then onwards. Shammali was a child prodigy and I became too attached to her,” Revathi says.
Prior to Anjali, the southern star was involved in a lot of political drama and some commercial blockbusters where she was the only lead mostly in South Indian films. But as a mother in this film, Revathi became a household name in the country although it was not easy to get her on board for this film. “It’s funny, but at first, I was not convinced about the role and the film. I thought it was too early for me to play a mother’s role in Bollywood. But Mani Ratnam insisted that this could be the ideal film for me. I signed the contract at one in the morning,” she recalls.
But 2 States happened over a cup of filter coffee. Director Abhishek Varman was looking for a veteran South filmstar who could carry off the role of Alia’s mother with ease and Revathi’s name was the first to pop up.
Unlike Ratnam, the 23-year old director took only 15 minutes to convince Revathi that this role would be cakewalk for her. She agreed but had some conditions, one being that the movie be wrapped up in 20 days!
“I have four films that I need to wrap up by the end of this year. Then there are a few NGO projects that need my attention too. There are also some political commitments. It’s a packed schedule this year but I couldn’t refuse such a brilliant script. I am glad I took this 20-day challenge and everything fell in place,” the actor says.
Playing a south Indian mom to a teenage daughter was the easy part according to her but accepting an inter-cultural marriage was difficult. “That is because, personally I am very scared of such alliances. I have no problems accepting the bahu or her family but before tying the knot, the ladki and ladka need to be 200% sure that they will stay with each other. That is more important.
“Once they are sure of their relationship, parents don’t have a problem. Nowadays, young couples are adamant and make quick decisions. If they have decided to marry, they don’t want to wait. That’s a problem,” she feels.
Talking about Alia, her onscreen daughter, brings a smile to her face. Revathi and Bhatt spent a lot of time together on the sets and are still in touch. “She is vibrant yet understanding. Alia is a talent to watch out for,” Revathi insists.
But why does she do this disappearing act from B-town every so oftenIJ “Honestly, I still don’t feel at home here. I don’t think the Hindi film industry has any decent roles for middle-aged women like me.
“There is ample scope for good looking 18-year-olds and also for 60 plus women who play side roles. The day directors make meaningful cinema where middle-aged women can make a difference, I will happily be there,” the actor says.
Revathi’s previous hits were all remakes of south Indian films — Muskurahat was a remake of Kilukkam, a Malayali film, love was a remake of a Telugu film. And Raat was a bilingual movie. So, it just happened that Revathi did those roles in Hindi. But ask “Am more comfortable with south Indian cinema,” she concludes.