Post by nisa on May 11, 2008 4:58:36 GMT 12
On the eve of Mother’s Day, two gorgeous women with successful careers discuss their work and how motherhood influences their creative endeavours BY ANINDITA GHOSE AND MONISHA PRATAP SHAH
Her comeback film, U, Me Aur Hum might have garnered mixed reviews but Kajol remains a darling in the public eye. The actress who made a strong statement when she retreated from stardom to domesticity, talks of her equation with her mother and plans for her daughter, Nysa.
You always claimed you hated interviews and meeting the Press.
And so it remains (laughs). I have been meeting people because I had something to talk about. I was promoting a film as an actor, producer and the director’s wife. That’s the reason I’m all over and it’s best to be upfront about it.
You have turned grey for your role in UMAH. What’s your idea of turning old in real life?
I hope I age like my mom. Her energy levels at this age are commendable and she’s also managed to keep looking great. I hope I resemble her at that age.
Has motherhood really calmed you?
In some ways, “Yes” but in a lot of ways “No”. In fact, motherhood has made me intolerant towards many things. Bratty children irritate me and I blame it on their parents. I’m disturbed by the fact that there are many children who’re deprived of their basic education and rights. I want to do something about it but only when I can devote substantial energy, time and patience to the cause; I don’t want it to be a part time thing.
You have expressed disenchantment with the Indian education system in the past. What are your plans for Nysa?
Well I can say for a fact that I will push her to work hard but I’ll make sure that she enjoys her childhood. I believe in hard work but I don’t agree with excessive pressure on children. If we’re facing a burnout at our age it must be doubly tough on the poor kids. They are crumbling under the pressure. A look at the burgeoning suicide rates provides evidence of this fact. You can’t build children’s life and routine around the grades they get in school.
Has motherhood changed your equation with your mother?
I will always be her baby and that’s one equation I don’t want to change! On a larger note, whenever I’m correcting Nysa I think of my mother and feel, “God, my mom said the same thing to me and I didn’t listen to her.” I try to recall what was going on in my head at that time but today I appreciate her. As an adult I realise that her advice had my best interests at heart. I hope Nysa grows up with that realisation as well. Her latest offering, Superstar India: From Incredible to Unstoppable, is ostensibly a departure from her sensational novels. Presently on an 11 city book tour before the book goes global, she speaks of her writing process and how she manages to spend time with her children.
How did Superstar India come about?
It was a happy coincidence—I was just back from a trip abroad and had a meeting scheduled with my publisher. Hearing me express my angst at the clichés that are rife about India, my publisher pointed out that I had a book in the making.
So the book is designed to instill rage?
Yes, to an extent. But far more importantly, I want people who read it to feel proud. I’m not a messiah but I do believe that today’s generation has patriotic feelings that need to be articulated.
You reiterate that you resent being addressed as a “woman writer”. What do you feel about women’s writing being branded as “chick lit”?
It’s an easy put down. Women who go along with it should be the ones protesting the most. There are some super macho books out there with alpha male protagonists written for an alpha male reader but those don’t get branded as niche. It’s grown into a trendy genre and it’s easy to succumb to it because if you position your book that way it might be a success.
Do you believe motherhood makes a woman more creative?
There’s a tendency to mystify motherhood and I’d like to break that mould. I don’t think there’s anything exceptional about being a mother or unexceptional if you choose not to be one. Having said that, if I had to personalise the experience, I can’t think of anything that has been more exhilarating and fulfilling. But I don’t like attaching a political agenda to my motherhood.
How do you manage to spend time with your family with travel and book tours?
90 per cent of the time, I travel with someone from my family. These days, I have to plead with my children to accompany me because they have lives of their own. Sometimes it feels like I have to stand in a long queue of their priorities, but it works out. Travelling together is the best kind of bonding. Also, my work never cuts into family time. I’m sure my children have their own versions to the story but judging by what wonderful children they’ve turned out to be, I’m sure I’ve done a pretty good job as a mother!
Her comeback film, U, Me Aur Hum might have garnered mixed reviews but Kajol remains a darling in the public eye. The actress who made a strong statement when she retreated from stardom to domesticity, talks of her equation with her mother and plans for her daughter, Nysa.
You always claimed you hated interviews and meeting the Press.
And so it remains (laughs). I have been meeting people because I had something to talk about. I was promoting a film as an actor, producer and the director’s wife. That’s the reason I’m all over and it’s best to be upfront about it.
You have turned grey for your role in UMAH. What’s your idea of turning old in real life?
I hope I age like my mom. Her energy levels at this age are commendable and she’s also managed to keep looking great. I hope I resemble her at that age.
Has motherhood really calmed you?
In some ways, “Yes” but in a lot of ways “No”. In fact, motherhood has made me intolerant towards many things. Bratty children irritate me and I blame it on their parents. I’m disturbed by the fact that there are many children who’re deprived of their basic education and rights. I want to do something about it but only when I can devote substantial energy, time and patience to the cause; I don’t want it to be a part time thing.
You have expressed disenchantment with the Indian education system in the past. What are your plans for Nysa?
Well I can say for a fact that I will push her to work hard but I’ll make sure that she enjoys her childhood. I believe in hard work but I don’t agree with excessive pressure on children. If we’re facing a burnout at our age it must be doubly tough on the poor kids. They are crumbling under the pressure. A look at the burgeoning suicide rates provides evidence of this fact. You can’t build children’s life and routine around the grades they get in school.
Has motherhood changed your equation with your mother?
I will always be her baby and that’s one equation I don’t want to change! On a larger note, whenever I’m correcting Nysa I think of my mother and feel, “God, my mom said the same thing to me and I didn’t listen to her.” I try to recall what was going on in my head at that time but today I appreciate her. As an adult I realise that her advice had my best interests at heart. I hope Nysa grows up with that realisation as well. Her latest offering, Superstar India: From Incredible to Unstoppable, is ostensibly a departure from her sensational novels. Presently on an 11 city book tour before the book goes global, she speaks of her writing process and how she manages to spend time with her children.
How did Superstar India come about?
It was a happy coincidence—I was just back from a trip abroad and had a meeting scheduled with my publisher. Hearing me express my angst at the clichés that are rife about India, my publisher pointed out that I had a book in the making.
So the book is designed to instill rage?
Yes, to an extent. But far more importantly, I want people who read it to feel proud. I’m not a messiah but I do believe that today’s generation has patriotic feelings that need to be articulated.
You reiterate that you resent being addressed as a “woman writer”. What do you feel about women’s writing being branded as “chick lit”?
It’s an easy put down. Women who go along with it should be the ones protesting the most. There are some super macho books out there with alpha male protagonists written for an alpha male reader but those don’t get branded as niche. It’s grown into a trendy genre and it’s easy to succumb to it because if you position your book that way it might be a success.
Do you believe motherhood makes a woman more creative?
There’s a tendency to mystify motherhood and I’d like to break that mould. I don’t think there’s anything exceptional about being a mother or unexceptional if you choose not to be one. Having said that, if I had to personalise the experience, I can’t think of anything that has been more exhilarating and fulfilling. But I don’t like attaching a political agenda to my motherhood.
How do you manage to spend time with your family with travel and book tours?
90 per cent of the time, I travel with someone from my family. These days, I have to plead with my children to accompany me because they have lives of their own. Sometimes it feels like I have to stand in a long queue of their priorities, but it works out. Travelling together is the best kind of bonding. Also, my work never cuts into family time. I’m sure my children have their own versions to the story but judging by what wonderful children they’ve turned out to be, I’m sure I’ve done a pretty good job as a mother!