SOME INTERVIEWS

If we valued female actors the way we do their male counterparts, there would surely be room in the top for Juhi Chawla. Her career spanning more than two decades may not have seen the meteoric rise (and the subsequent decline) like that of Madhuri Dixit or Sridevi, but if there is a word that epitomises her stay in the industry, it most definitely has to be `steady'. Radiant and content in her fourth decade, age seems to have bypassed this graceful actor. As she smilingly negotiated the probing and sometimes downright rude queries of the Kolkata print and electronic media at the promotional event of her latest release Bhoothnath at Fame this Tuesday, Chawla didn't betray even a hint of irritation. Sample this- Rude journalist:

"Where were you all these years, you haven't been in the limelight since Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak?"
Juhi Chawla: (Laughs) Where have you been?".
That's Juhi Chawla for you, she charmed a roomful of tactless journalists, and taught us a lesson in manners. And no she didn't have to wag those pretty fingers of hers'. And need we say that she likes to laugh — and she laughs often.

How was it working with Amitabh Bachchan in Bhoothnath?
It's amazing how he manages to nurse a passion for his craft even after all these years. I was always a big fan of his, and working with him again in this film was a delightful experience.

You are quite busy with the IPL nowadays aren't you?
Initially I had very little knowledge of the game. But slowly I have learnt a lot. Now I know what binds the team together. It's the will to excel.

What do you think are the Kolkata Knight Riders' chances in the tournament?
We will try our best, and sing korbo, lorbo, jitbo... (laughs)

How is it to co-own a team with Shah Rukh Khan?
Oh! he is a bundle of energy. Every morning he sends motivational text messages to us. It's hard to match his energy level. He is always there for the team, no matter how busy he is.

You have made a very graceful shift to character roles...
I can't keep dancing around the trees can I? I had to move on. I feel I get to do more interesting things now.

Would you say that this phase of your career is more liberating?
Yes it is. In these past few years I have got the opportunity to work with some really talented, young individuals, and I consider myself lucky for that.

You have worked with a number of first time directors, namely Onir (My Brother Nikhil), Sujoy Ghosh (Jhankaar Beats), Ganesh Acharya (Swami)...
When I was working in these films, people would ask me if I have gone crazy. But I trusted them implicitly and I can't say I have regretted my decisions.

You team up with your old friend Aziz Mirza (Yes Boss, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman) in the forthcoming Kismat Konnection ?
Aziz is like family. I have a small but delightful cameo in the film. I had a ball playing a gypsy fortune teller in the film. In the first day of the shoot I was totally clueless, because I had no refernce point for my character, but slowly I understood my charcter better.

Your husband, Jai Mehta, seems to be majorly into cricket too...
I sometimes wonder what is he doing here. He is an industrialist who specialises in cement (laughs).

How do you juggle family life with your career?
My kids are my priority, and I schedule everything elese around them. But I manage, though I tend to be dog tired all the time.

How was it sharing screen space with Shah Rukh again in Bhoothnath?
It was like we never stopped working together. We might not have worked together on screen for more than seven years now but we share a great rapport, and that obviously gets translated on screen.