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“Though it has been almost 66 years since I started acting, I’d still say that it is beautiful to be an actress”, says Aruna Irani

It is the 75th birthday of Aruna Irani today.

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Aruna Irani

It is the 75th birthday of Aruna Irani today. In this intimate interview culled from his earlier interviews, ARUNA IRANI tells Jyothi Venkatesh that it is sad but true that an actor is not at all indispensable as far as a TV show is concerned.

Excerpts:

How do you feel when you look back at your career?

I just cannot believe that I have completed sixty six years of my career in films ever since I faced the camera for Ganga Jamuna for the first time when I was just a nine year old kid. It feels great to know that I am still wanted though times have changed and new trends have replaced the old ones.

aruna-irani-child-actor

Aruna Irani as a child artist

When are you planning to launch your own film too as a director?

I am yet to get the right script. My conviction is also important. I cannot make a superficial film just because everyone else is making one. I plan to launch an emotional film. Depending upon the subject, the film may be a male oriented or female oriented though I definitely concede that women are far more emotional than women.

Did you read Mehmood’s biography written by Hanif Zaveri in which Mehmood has gone on record that you had married him?

I have not read the book. I do not intend to. However let me go on record that I never married Mehmood though he was more than just a good friend to me. He gave me a break when Mumtaz stopped doing comedy and Shubha Khote got married. It was Mehmood who had launched me as a leading lady with Bombay To Goa opposite Amitabh Bachchan. It has been my main regret in life that I did not bother to ask Mehmood when he was alive to prove that I was married to him or else deny the rumors at that point of time.

How was the experience of working with Amitabh Bachchan in Bombay To Goa as his heroine?

I got the lead role opposite Amitabh Bachchan when he was just a newcomer called Amitabh Bachchan and not the superstar Amitabh Bachchanji that he became later in his career. The truth is that both I and Amitabh were newcomers who were shivering in our pants at that point of time. If he was a superstar then, I am sure he wouldn’t have agreed to work with a rank newcomer like me.

Why do you cast Sangeeta Ghosh in every serial of yours?

What is wrong if I cast Sangeeta in every TV serial of mine? She figures in my latest- Rabba Ishq Na Howe too which is slated to air on Zee TV shortly. Sangu is my savior. She stepped in when Jivida walked out of my earlier series due to some personal reasons. Sangu is a good human being and a fantastic actress who is also a thorough professional. What’s more she suits the script too. Both Sangu and I are horrible Leos born on August 18

Do you like being associated with films or TV serials?

If you do good work, you will be recognized and rewarded, whether you are working in TV serials or feature films. I think I am at home as far as both films and TV serials are concerned, because I feel that I have a lot of passion within me even at the age of 75.

How indispensable is an actor on TV?

It is the channels, which decide on the actors. Today whether you like it or not, the channels want actors who are in their 30’s to play the father. To make them look older, we have no other alternative but to make it a point to make them wear spectacles and apply a lot of whiteners. It is sad but true that an actor is not at all indispensable as far as a TV show is concerned. Even if an actor decides to walk out of a show as is the wont now, what is the big deal? Didn’t a show like Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi run in spite of the fact that you had seen different Mihirs at different points of time?

You have played almost every kind of role on TV as well as films. What is your dream role now?

I have always liked doing different kinds of roles. Though I would love to lay my hands on a negative character, I am keen on playing a positive character, because as a vamp, all that you have to do is to give the right look to the camera. I feel that it is tougher to do a comedy role. The itch that an actress has is something which cannot be wiped away with any lotion.

What is the difference between acting in films and TV serials?

It has been almost 66 years since Ganga Jamuna started acting. It is beautiful to be an actress. With every film and TV serial, I grow not only as an actress but also as a human being. Acting, whether for films or television, is the same. It is only the camera, which is smaller in the case of television. However, I feel that TV stars get a daily loyal audience which is glued to the television for free, films tend to flop and the popularity of the film stars tends to wane. In any case, a  TV star gets more popularity than a film star these days.

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