In a brutally honest and delightfully witty throwback interview, Dimple Kapadia opened up about her selective approach to acting, self-image, and why she isn’t in a rush to chase stardom.
Every director wants to work with you. But you are not enthused?
(Breaks into peals of laughter). Where are all these drooling directors? Please bring them to me. Achcha kaam aayega to karenge na? Why not? I’m not shying away from acting. I’ve no definition for achcha kaam. Mujhe bas achcha lagna chahiye. There has to be some substance in my roles. I don’t want to do inane roles.
You have done plenty of inane roles in the past.
Yes, I have. But by and large, I avoid them. Sometimes you have to do things that you don’t want to do. I’m not a bad chooser. If there have been bad roles, there have also been good ones So beautifully.
What exactly are you looking for?
Right now? A little peace and quiet. At the end of this interview. Nobody chewing my brain cells like you’re doing.
I was talking about your roles.
A-ha, I knew it all along. But I’ve no answer to that. I’ve lots of time on hand. But I need to find the right kind of roles. I need to be inspired to work.
And pushed?
Yeah, directors have to drag me out. Han bolne ke liye to ek saal lagaa deti hoon. To bechara kaun intezaar kare? I keep going han-na-han-na. Sometimes it’s finally na.
So what are you going to do next on screen?
Kitne sawaal karta hai! I have no answer to that. I’ve no idea what I’m going to do tomorrow. Right now there’s nothing beyond Leela. But I’d love to work with Gulzar Bhai again. He’s God. But with him, you’ve to beg to work with him. I had to plead with him to give me Lekin.
Your face is mysterious enough to play Madame Bovary.
It isn’t at all a mysterious face. It’s a very open face. Everything shows on it.
Do you think you’re beautiful?
I think I’m the most beautiful woman in the world (lapses into peals of chuckles). The day I make a statement like that seriously, you can rest assured Dimple has finally lost it.
Everyone thinks so, why don’t you believe it?
Because what you believe about yourself matters more than what others believe about you.
What do you believe about yourself?
Why should I tell you? That’s for my private consideration.
Your thoughts are yours, but your face is public property.
How can you say that? Okay, here goes. I think mine is an attractive face. Pataa nahin, kuch tedhi si chin hai, thoda bulbous nose hain. I think I should get plastic surgery done on it. One side of my jaw is rammed in as though it ran into a bus. All of that makes me very beautiful.
You’re low on self-esteem.
I’m honest. Give me one reason why should I be so low on self-esteem.
Maybe because you let opportunities to become a major star pass you by.
What makes you think I’m not a major star? You think I should have been much more major? What opportunities did I pass by? I’ve always been happy and content with life. How much do you run before you become a marathon woman? I look back and I feel happy. Everyone has her own definition of a full life. People like you had certain expectations from me. That isn’t my problem.
Have you looked for permanence in your life?
(Thoughtfully) I suppose one does look for permanence knowing very well it isn’t possible. Life just moves on. That’s the beauty of it.
Do you miss being married?
Strangely enough, not at all.
Not even now when both your daughters have their own lives?
So when were they ever sitting in my lap? Aate-jaate rehte hain. They’re there whenever I need them.
You’ve devoted more than half your life to bringing them up?
What do you make me out to be? Don’t paint the wrong pictures of me. Nothing of the sort. I’m certainly not one of those filmy mothers living my life for my kids. I just lived life the way it came to me. Aisa kuch nahin hai, Bhaiyya. Everyone, including my daughters, is born with their own destiny.
I believe your son-in-law adores you?
Excuse me, my son-in-law has a name, in case you’ve forgotten. I dote on him. If he adores me, that’s good. It should be like that.
