Tabu loves a good conversation, and more than that, she loves a good laugh. The actress, who is counted among one of the finest in the country, admits that people have been often been pleasantly surprised by her sense of humour. But she rues the fact that these days, she has to censor herself when she talks, lest people take it in the wrong way. “We have become so unnatural in our self-expression. I like doing interviews where something fun comes up. Now, if that’s going to be misconstrued and highlighted, how does one talk?” she questions.
A great sense of humour apart, the other things our March cover girl has in abundance are spontaneity and oodles of talent. It is difficult to pick her best performance – there are so many to choose from! From Maachis to Maqbool, Virasat to Haider, and Astitva to Andhadhun, this powerhouse performer has only gone from strength to strength. Last year, she made her digital debut with A Suitable Boy, playing the beautiful courtesan Saeeda Bai.
The National Award-winning actress sat down with TMM for a quick chat about her work and the projects she would love to be a part of. Was there a lot of fun banter? Oh yes, but we decided to censor some of it!
Did you read a lot of scripts during the lockdown?
Oh ya! I hadn’t read so many scripts even pre-COVID. I think everybody was doing what they could do from home. This was the prep in a way, listening to projects so you can start off once everything goes back to normal.
You must come across so many people who appreciate your work and pay you compliments. How good are you dealing with compliments?
I feel happy. I don’t think there is anyone who doesn’t feel happy receiving a compliment. I get overwhelmed and overjoyed and I feel shy. I feel tremendous gratitude for the person complimenting me because I think it’s a wonderful thing to receive appreciation for your work. You want to continue doing good work and you feel you have touched somebody’s heart or you helped them experience 
something they have liked and that’s why they are complimenting you.
You are the recipient of so many awards, including National Awards and are counted among our finest actresses. When you are reading and choosing a script, do you think of all the responsibility that comes with your experience?
No, that does not weigh in but I think it motivates me to go a step further. I don’t think of all that except that this is the project, this is the role and how best can I perform it. How best can I fulfill the demands, if I can take it beyond what is there in the script and what will it take from me to do this character well. The character, the project, the director, and the team – motivate you to come to that point where you are interested. I just want to be able to justify my presence and give my producer/director their effort’s worth. I also want to make it worthwhile for myself. If I have to engage with that character for that many numbers of days or months, I have to give it my 100 per cent. I try to make it work for me rather than weigh me down.
You seem to be the kind who is spontaneous and goes with her instinct…
My friends say that too. ‘Tu plan nahi kar sakti, koshish bhi mat karna!’ (laughs)
Your filmography is full of such a wide variety of roles. Is there any role that has really impacted you on a personal level or consumed you like no other?
Quite a few roles like that – Maqbool, Haider, Hu Tu Tu, Astitva and Chandni Bar come to mind. There was no way these roles and characters wouldn’t have impacted me in some way or the other, not because I was bringing them back home but because they ask that of you. It was a new 
experience for me, especially Maqbool. It was a very new style of filmmaking and storytelling. I had done a lot of work before Maqbool came to me but it broke the mould for me experientially because there was so much new in it.
Last year, you made your digital debut with A Suitable Boy. Did you enjoy that space and are you open to exploring digital more?
I did that project because of Mira (Nair) and because of the character. For me, it did not feel very different from a film because Mira shot it like a movie. Only when it comes to promotions and release, you feel it’s a different medium. I’m absolutely open to doing other projects on the platform provided the material is exciting for me and the makers are interesting. I apply the same criteria to any platform. The character has to be important; I have to have faith in the director and the project should be worthy enough for me to engage with.
Apart from Mira, you have worked with other female directors such as Kalpana Lajmi and Meghna. Do you think female directors have a different perspective?
I think every director will make a different film, whether it’s a man or woman. I will never be able to tell. I don’t know how The Namesake would have been if a male director had made it. I guess you can make the distinction depending on the stories male or female directors are picking up or choosing to make.
What are you looking forward to now? What is next?
The immediate one is Bhool Bhulaiya 2. That’s a very big project because it has a lot of CGI and will take time. I want to focus on finishing that first and then there are a couple of things that I will start around July.
Any regional films in your kitty?
I have heard so many Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu scripts but nothing has been finalised. I am really looking forward to doing a Telugu film. My Telugu film released just before lockdown. I had so much fun that I want to go back and do a small, intimate Telugu film and come back. When I go to Hyderabad and do a Telugu film, it’s like a holiday. I have my home, family and friends around, so I’m always happy to be back there.
RAPID FIRE
A Hyderabadi dish you like cooking or eating: Cooking toh nahi but I like eating doodhi ki kheer.
A director you really want to work with: Quentin Tarantino. I used to feel if I work with Ang Lee, that will be it! Now that I have done that, I should do one with Tarantino as well.
Most comfortable outfit: Jeans and shirt
Plans of writing a memoir: Not at all! I cannot write about myself.
Do you have a sweet tooth: When I was younger, I used to sleep with a sweet in my mouth! (laughs) I had a sweet tooth but not anymore.
Favourite travel destination: San Francisco
A movie close to your heart: Jagte Raho
According to you, best work: Yaar, I can’t look at my work and say ‘bahot acha kaam tha.’ So, I don’t know about that but Maqbool is closest to me.
2 am friend in the industry: I sleep by 10! (laughs)
Your mantra in life: My good friend Rumi Jaffrey, whom I have known since I was in my teens used to say, ‘Kaayde mein rahoge, toh faayde mein rahoge!’ (laughs)
Words: Deepali Singh
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