I Like to be Dabangg and Singham For a Change: Tabu

Tabu wishes she could be as ruthless as her character in Drishyam and is happy to play a Dabangg like character

After the success of Haider, Tabu is traversing into a totally different zone by playing a cop in Drishyam. The actress talks about her journey from the vulnerable half-widow, Gazala to the powerful Inspector General of Police,  Meera.

Q: After a fantastic performance in Haider, was it exciting for you to play a cop in Drishyam?
Tabu: To play a cop is always exciting for any actor, because that uniform has something to it. I haven’t played anything like this in a long time. It is always nice to play powerful people who can call the shots. I didn’t enjoy the violence but it was necessary for the script. I didn’t have to do any action so I was saved from rigorous training.

Q: Were you able to relate to the ruthless character you play?
Tabu: I really wish I could be like her, so ruthless and so cold at one level, and be able to get the job done. While playing this character I felt, wow! I have always wondered what it must take for women to be like this in real life and what kind of personality must one have to take this powerful position. Being a woman you can call the shots, get people picked up and beaten up and extract truth out of them, put them to task, get them behind bars. I met a woman who was a part of the Anti Terrorist Squad. She has done so many encounters. It was fascinating to meet her. I admire that kind of fearlessness to be able to put their life at risk.

Q: You and Ajay were successfully paired long ago in Vijaypath, what took so long to do another film together?
Tabu: We were all going in our directions and our paths did not cross but that didn’t change anything in our relationship. I feel Ajay is the same as before.

Q: Ajay also said you are the hero of the film.
Tabu: He is just putting the expectations on me and trying to underplay of his importance. He is the hero and it is because of his star status that it becomes such a big project. I play a very strong character in the film but his significance is so strong that it is felt.

Q: Tell us about one woman who has been an inspiration to you.
Tabu: I can’t think of any ‘one’ woman. I am surrounded by so many of them. My mom, my sister. I think every woman has some unique thing about them. Women have a very strong survival instinct. And what they have done to keep their families going or their marriage going or bringing up their kids well or even professionally, how they multi task. Whether it is Oprah Winfrey doing so much for girls and women all around the world, to my mum or my house help who works in 14 houses in one day and looks after the education of her children. I think every woman has a story to tell.

Q: You said yes to Nishikant for this film in five minutes on the first call. What was so attractive about the role that you agreed to do it?
Tabu: When I saw the Malayalam version na, that time there was no talk of making it in Hindi. My best friend’s have produced the Malayalam version. So I have known about this film since the the original was in the making. And I saw it just like that. When I saw it I felt the role was so powerful and I told them to make it in Hindi. And I told them then and there that if they ever make it in Hindi I wanted to play the cop’s role.  When I saw it, I knew that if I had to do something next, it had to be a role like this. Being vulnerable and rona dhona is ok, but sometimes I also want to feel in charge, be the Singham and Dabangg for a change.

Q: Most of the characters you play are very powerful or intense. Is it a conscious decision because of your real life personality. Do you like taking up such roles?
Tabu: Yes. I gravitate towards characters that have something about them - something edgy or unusual or make an impact in the film.

Q: How do you rate Nishikant Kamat as a director?
Tabu: He is fantastic. Since he is such an easy going person it was easy to communicate with him. He does not carry a lot of baggage. He has no ego and I didn’t feel any barrier in approaching him. He knows his job and what to do and how to finish a film in so many days because he has so much experience.

Q: When you were shooting Haider did you know it will generate so much praise?
Tabu: I had no clue that the reviewers will write that it should have been called Gazala and not Haider. I didn’t expect such appreciation. It’s a magical experience for me. I knew the film will have an impact. I knew it will be a really unusual story and unusual characters and very very twisted, but also identifiable in some ways. So, in a way I was pleasantly surprised. It was good I didn’t expect anything. Also I was so involved in playing that character and so strongly in that zone that I had no ability objectively to perceive how it will be received by fans.