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Juhi Chawla prioritises films and family

Juhi Chawla recounts her life in an exclusive interview for CineBlitz

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How did Juhi keep herself occupied? Did she reach out to people for work? Did enough films come to her? She admits, “Films come, but few and far between.” Was it satisfying, the work that came?  She ponders for a moment, and says, “Definitely there’s a sifting process. There are some which aren’t worth considering at all. I’ve worked in really little films and in big projects. Chalk & Duster was a new producer, a relatively seasoned director, but not a known name. And we managed to make a good film. I was lucky to get Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga(ELKDTAL), a Vinod Chopra production. But I feel very awkward picking up the phone and saying I want to work.”

Today’s content-rich cinema has created opportunities for ensemble casts of all ages. For characters, and for directors wanting to tell different stories. “ Yeah,” Juhi agrees. “Today may be more films like that are getting made and such films are doing better now. Before this, it was a struggle for anybody to put together a project, not have a star, and go to a studio to make the film. They were still not backing them. It’s only just happened now when some films have done well. I feel we have started something new now. I want to ask why nobody is writing more films like that. But you know, everybody can’t write these films’ scripts like that. They get done from the heart. They fall into their space organically. I don’t think any of them set out saying we’ll make something that will turn out like this. That can’t happen. Yeh dil se banti hai. Even an ELKDTAL was created from someone’s heart. And I doubt another film like this is going to get made anytime soon. It’s been made with a lot of understanding, but not because it’ll open the doors to these kind of films or anything. They were trying to express themselves in a certain manner, and tell a story.”

What was Juhi’s experience of and take-back from Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga? “It was a very well-crafted script. The film was made with heart and conviction, and cleverly, set in a way that people will find it a familiar backdrop and yet, tells a different story. Apparently, at the Censor Board screening, they got a standing ovation, saying that good cinema like this should be made. And my role was fantastic. Vinodji (Chopra) said that when they were writing this role, they had only me in mind. That’s what an actor lives for na.”

Family life is a choice one makes. But sometimes, did Juhi wish for more films? “I’m not eager on quantity. But I’d love some amazing quality work to come. And have it win. I had two other projects, but they’ve been held up. One was a delightful little film with Chintuji (Rishi Kapoor). We started shooting and then he was not well, so he went away.” Her voice becomes small. “When he comes back, they’ll rework the dates. Hopefully, he’ll get back fast. It was a really sweet film, set in New Delhi. There was another offer from Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, a lovely project. And that too has been delayed a little.”

But these delays were possibly giving Juhi time to fit something else in. She squeals, “Some days I’m overwhelmed with trying to do too many things because it gets tiring. But I want nice work and I want time with my family. That’s my top priority. Everything else fits in.”

Did Juhi feel three decades old in the industry? She peals, “The first two days in any new production, I still feel like a newcomer. But I’m the senior on the sets with twenty-somethings around me. And I’m the person the youngsters are calling Juhi Ma’am. I don’t feel like a Juhi Ma’am.”

What was the next film Juhi had said a yes to? “There is an offer from the south, a bilingual. And one from Sanjay Dutt’s nephew – Zaheedaji’s son, for an action thriller, an interesting concept. They’re scripting. The project has still to come together.”

How did Juhi occupy herself when not doing films? She says, “Sometimes I think I’ll go crazy because I’m involved in a lot of things. I go to the office. I’m on the board of directors for my husband’s company. And there are Gurukul meetings. Our family trust has been running a Gurukul for the past 80 years in Porbandar. About 2000 girls study there. Now our generation has to take over the running of that. So I’m involved in that. I have the plastic and the radiation work that I do. I have my music. I do yoga. And I have family obligations and social events. Then the running of the house, listening to scripts…so much. But I grow so much more and better in so many dimensions, by doing different things. It makes me a better person.”

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