Makers of ‘Mammo’ told me they had Waheeda Rehman in mind: Farida Jalal

22/10/2020

DDLJ completes 25 years. Four days ago, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' completed 22 years. Farida Jalal is one of the common links between the two movies; Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Karan Johar of course being the other three.
ETimes got into a long conversation with the senior actress who has seen more than 5 decades of Indian cinema on Friday evening. Here are the excerpts from what we spoke:
You have done over 200 films and been around for more than 50 years in Indian cinema. Do you think the industry has given you your due?
Oh, I would love to do it all over again. People who are fond of me and are in love with my work feel that I have not been given my due. And they tell me this upfront. Honestly I've got a lot of respect and adulation. But yes, there is little remorse somewhere in my heart that I could have done more. There's so much more that I could have offered, a lot of it was just not tapped at all. I will be taking it all away with me the day I go from here.
As an actor, you can fit into several kinds of roles. I put in so much variety in all the mother roles I did and yet they didn't give me anything different. And that's sad. Else I would have done more and you would have been more proud of me (laughs).
You did a lot of roles of not only a mother but sister as well. What are you referring to when you say that you could have offered a lot more?
Look at the male counterparts- Anupam Kher, Om Puri and Paresh Rawal. They were cast opposite me. And now look at the fact that they have got to do a villain's role, comedian's role, lawyer's role, doctor's role. And their body language was so different in all. What haven't they done? But what about the women? Why aren't we given those opportunities?
I am told by people that I have a very good dialogue delivery and know how to modulate my voice very well. But... (trails off).
Having said that, I am in a happy space. I am happy that I have been around for so long. I love my life. I love my film industry. I hate what's going on at this moment. I don't want to get there but it hurts deeply because I am in love with my profession. Creative people are much better off in the rest of the world.
Do you see a change in the roles that women have been offered in recent times?
I hope and pray that it happens. But yeah, a little bit has started to happen in that direction. But again, that's happening for only the leading ladies. What about the character artistes?
I go back to an interview I did with Neena Gupta, a few weeks ago. I would like to tell you she is finally satisfied that she's getting her due...
What is she getting? To play a mother, na? I saw her in 'Badhaai Ho' and she was wonderful. But doesn't it all boil down to essaying just a mother's part, in her case as well? I would like to see Neena playing the lead in a hard-hitting, woman-oriented film. That's because she's a good actress and she'll do a great job.
Looking at the quality and quantity of your body of work, it disturbs me to read the line in Wikipedia: Farida Jalal is best remembered for 'Paras', 'Henna' and 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'...
(Laughs) These are the movies that gave me awards.
Are you saying that apart from his/her film's box-office collection, an actor is measured by the number of awards he gets in his career? Nothing beyond that?
It should be beyond that. But you see, it boils down to the hits you deliver. 'Paras', 'Henna' and 'DDLJ' were all big hits.
An exception alright, but that reminds me that you got one Critics Award as well...
'Mammo', which was a delight. I have tremendous affection and respect for Shyam Benegal ji. I very much remember when I had gone to meet him, he kept the script of 'Mammo' in my lap and said, "This is the script of 'Mammo' and you are 'Mammo'." I was dumbfounded. I had gone to meet him while I was on my way to do some shopping in South Mumbai with mom. I came down and told my mother that I am not interested in doing any shopping and we should return home.

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