Tabu on missing bollywood and her dream coming true with ‘Life of PI’.

How did Life Of PI happened?

Ang saw Namesake long back and when he was casting for this film he came to me and I accepted. Both Namesake and Life of Pi has strong India connection that’s the reason we are there.

How was working with 3D camera for the first time?

There were 3 big cameras on the set. The crew was huge. There were number of monitors. Technically it was very detailed work and crew was totally involved in it. So that was the only thing different. This is the story of a family so when the scene of family then there was emotions.

Where the shooting did took place?

Taiwan and India

How was the experience?

We had rehearsals in Taiwan a month before we started shooting. I wanted to meet the family before the shoot and we got familiar with the place and set. So it was good I felt like home. Suraj was busy doing other things I mean stunts, swimming and action. When the scene comes on family then Ang was very clear that its emotion, its relation so it’s was quite easy.

Working with Ang Lee?

He is a great person. He is very particular about what he wants. He will not let you go till he gets what he wants in the shot. He is very clear that the emotion should be clear what the character is going through. The other thing is not important to him. He wants the state of mind of the character and for that whatever you do but just bring it out. And until n unless he gets that he keeps pushing.

You are media shy? Why?

I don’t like to be everywhere or seen everywhere. It doesn’t mean I completely don’t want it but I don’t think much about where I should go and where I shouldn’t. Yes but I want to do good stuff, interesting stuff. I am not media shy I guess today in media the presence of actor is very recent. When I started there were very less media and we were not in the practice of such things. We are not habitual of it. We are habitual of going to shoot and do acting. Finish"once the dubbing is done movies is finished...Now if you do films or not it is a story. You meet the director or not"it is the story. This is today trend and I am not new in the industry.

You have worked with Irffan how much he has evolved as an actor?

He keeps doing something or the other. Actually I laugh a lot Irffan used to be very tense and I used to laugh. He is great actor. He has really made a place for himself. God has acknowledge such talent and I am happy about it.

You are playing his mother?

I am not playing his mother. I am playing suraj sharma’s mother. He grows up but I am dead at that time.

Lots of actresses shy taking of mother role but it’s not the case with you?

I guess it is my maternal instinct...well I actually wanted to do this movie.I wanted to work with Ang lee. It’s a journey me from my marriage then the kids till they turn 15 year old. It’s a good film to be a part of.

Do you have any desire to work with any other director?

The film has to interest me of course there is an aspiration to work with good people, interesting people, established people. I want to work with David Dhawan. I love comedy films.

You are branded as a thinking actress?

I love masala movies. I love it and I miss it.

Anything in pipeline?

Nothing to my liking is coming my way

When you look back how it feels?

A lot has been achieved. Believe my live is a successful story. I believe I am very fortunate because I could have failed at my work but I made it. I never thought of becoming an actress so everything looks big. It was long journey. Few things were very difficult and some were easy and I enjoyed it. I met some good people and some bad people as well. I had great friendship with Shilpa Shetty. I admire her as a person. Manisha Koirala is a lovely human being. Karishma and I did maximum number of movies together. And all our film used to do well. Sajan Chale Sasural, Biwi no.1, Hum Saath Saath Hai. Even Babitaji used to say that tum loog toh hit couple ho. We all had a space being in the same industry.

Best role of yours according to you?

Biwi no.1 I liked it so much. Hera Feri, Chini Kum, Chandani Bar, Maqbool, there are number of south films I have done I liked it. My Telugu films I enjoyed thoroughly and it was an interesting journey for me.