‘Let me find a man first’

But what do you do for fun?
I watch television. Lots of it. I like watching ads. I don’t watch soaps since you need to follow them religiously. I love the music-based reality shows.

Are you going to be on one of these shows?
Not as yet.  Your forthcoming film Laaga Chunari Mein Daag also seems to be quite a performance-oriented role. Don’t you think you have been choosing too many tough roles?
(Laughs) I agree to do a film because I love the character. To me, acting means the opportunity to play different characters, live different lives, experiment with new looks and relish new conflicts. I can’t help it if the difficult or the tough roles appeal to me.

But aren’t you crying a little too much in your films?
(Laughs) There’s a standard joke between my make-up artist and me. Just before I begin shooting for a new film, I tell him to keep six bottles of glycerinee at hand so that I’m prepared to cry at a moment’s notice. I don’t know why I get so many crying scenes to perform. Maybe it has something to do with my choice of films since I like emotional films. But that’s ok. Over the years, I’ve learnt to be good at crying.  

How would you describe Laaga Chunari Mein Daag?
It’s a complete Hindi picture. It’s about women’s empowerment but it’s told in a nice feel-good manner. The film tells you about the expectations and pressures the eldest child of the family has to face, especially if she’s a girl. In a way, the film traces the journey of a girl into her womanhood. My director Pradeep Sarkar’s eye for detailing and framing is simply outstanding. He’s like a teddy bear on the sets and made shooting for the film so much fun. Laaga…. has given me the opportunity to sport three different looks. My make-up artiste, Vidya Dhar, and costume designer, Sabyasachi Mukherjee have done an amazing job. All three looks are distinct and help to enhance my character’s growth.  

I remember in your initial years in Bollywood, you were sharply criticised for your sense of style. Now you have two of the biggest couturiers—Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi Mukherjee—fighting over you? Comment.
(Laughs) I absolutely adore Manish. He was there when I gave my first shot for Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat . He’ll always be special for me. Sabya, on the other hand, is a great friend and an important part of my life since Black. I really like his sarees and since we have a Bengali connection, we work well. The best part about Sabya is that there is no ego clash with him. He’s the greatest designer of his generation but when I give him my suggestions, he understands that I’m commenting not on his sense of fashion but my character. Manish, of course, is a genius in film styling. Both of them work extremely well for me.  

Laaga… has been bogged down by a lot of controversies. What really happened in Benaras?
We were shooting at the ghats. Apparently, some professor from the region got upset about it even though we had taken the permission from the state government. A huge crowd gathered where we were shooting. It became difficult for Konkona (Sen Sharma) and me to even walk towards our van. The guards came ahead to escort us when things went out of hand and a scuffle broke out between the security and the crowd. Next thing I knew it was said that Rani Mukerji’s security guards had misbehaved. They weren’t my personal guards. Still I apologised but couldn’t stop the media from making a huge issue over a non-issue.  

What can we expect from Saawariya?
Well, it’s a special film for a special friend. I did the film for Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I was very touched when he told me that after Black he could not think of working without me. Then he told me about Saawariya and asked me to be a part of it. I can never dream of refusing him so I agreed instantly. It’s been a fabulous experience to see Ranbir and Sonam in the film since they’ve literally grown in front of me.  

Recent reports suggest that you’ve fallen out with Sanjay’s sister, Bela Sehgal, over her debut film?
Rubbish. 

What about all those shaadi rumours about you and Aditya Chopra?
Rubbish. 

Is that all you want to say?
What can I say? Everyone is talking about my secret wedding. But don’t you know I also have five children hidden away in my so-called love nest in Juhu? It’s too preposterous to even talk about. The entire thing is a figment of someone’s imagination. Why would I ever need to hide the news of my marriage? I can’t relate with people who hide their marriage. It’s a beautiful thing. Why hide it? There is not even an iota of truth in this news.
I mean, first I need to find a man with whom I want to have a relationship. Marriage will follow. And let me assure you that the day I decide to get married you won’t need to hear about it from my sources. I’ll happily tell my neighbours and their neighbours as well. But I really want to know who concocted this whole engagement story. The day when this news broke, I was at Yash Raj Studios. We were shooting Konkona’s wedding sequence in Laaga…. Some freak must have seen me dressed in wedding finery and cooked up this story.  

So no plans of marriage yet?
None. Like I said, let me find a man first.