Tabu is tired of the tropes

If there is any Bollywood star who retains a blanket of humility as she speaks her mind with cut-throat clarity and also remains unafraid of swan-diving into international cinema, it has to be the legendary Tabu.

In a recent interview with the BBC Asian Network, the Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 actor give her unfiltered take on taking on foreign projects, her gratitude for the love she has received from her legion of fans over the years despite never hogging the red carpet, and whether or not modern Indian cinema can escape the rut of predictability it is now mired in.

"Working on projects such as Dune: Prophecy and Life of Pi is a transformative experience," noted the Bollywood star. Expanding on her hunger for uncharted territory, Tabu added, "I meet a completely new set of people – but here [in India], I know almost everybody! It's the greatest nourishment for me to work with new minds and be in a creative space that I don't know previously."

As a veteran actor, there is not a lot that Tabu has not already seen in the country she calls home – which is why she relished the chance to play a dual role in horror film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, released last year.

"It was a novelty for people to see me like that in a way that they have not seen me before," said the actor with a level of fondness.

Bored of modern cinema

Despite being forever on the lookout for something novel, Tabu was careful to make allowances for creatives in the industry facing the constant challenge of churning out "something new".

"I get a little bored and put off by things that have a repetitive style or form and a predictable format," she confessed. "But cinema is also 100 years old now, so how new can you really be in the mechanics of it?"

Mulling over the mounting difficulties of producing an idea that nobody has ever seen before, Tabu continued, "Every film will have a beginning, middle and end. There will be a hero and a heroine. There are only so many stories you can tell. I think there is a need to – I don't know – it must be so difficult for people to think of something new that people have not seen!"

In a world heavily populated with sequels and prequels and repetitive tropes, Tabu added more to her defence of producers, scriptwriters and directors in the industry. Stressing that it is "not possible for anything to be absolutely something that nobody has seen" the seasoned star had these final words to say on the inevitable path taken by modern cinema: "So much is happening, everyone is making something or the other. I just feel a little bored of predictability, but I think to do original stuff and to create from your own self is a challenge. I don't know what is new anymore.

Love for the fans

In addition to tropes and plot trajectories, there is one more thing that Tabu notes has remained a constant throughout her career: her large unwavering fan base.

"I really treasure the love that people have for me. It's the greatest gift," she said with gratitude.

Noting that she had never set out to court popularity on purpose ("I never engineered anything to get that"), Tabu mused that the reason behind the generosity of her fans encompassed more than just her acting CV.

"For any actor, the love that people give them is not just for their role," remarked the star. "There is something beyond the character that people see, and that touches them."

Tabu had no concrete answers on what that "something is", but she does believe that for any showbiz star, the core of their personality has to be relatable to the audience at large – and it is not something that can be faked or concealed.

"It could be the way you conduct yourself or something that people relate to, but it's definitely something so powerful that it will go and reach another human being," she elaborated. "I think over time it's not possible for anybody to keep it hidden. Whether you want it or not, your inner world will go and touch a few people somewhere. Something is created out of that spark, but I know for a fact that it is an emotion and a feeling and not just 'Oh she was great in that film'."

In addition to that spark of something, Tabu remains convinced that a little humility can go a long way, not that she has to work to hold herself back in the public eye. Being naturally disinclined to court attention, the Dune: Prophecy actor reminded viewers, "I grew up in a generation that was not so vocal about what we were doing. Social media was non-existent and we were not in the habit of promoting so much, so a huge part of it comes from there – but it also comes from the person I am."

Letting work do the talking

Being naturally reserved is not something that concerns Tabu in the slightest, despite being in a profession that demands an affinity for publicity. "I don't have it in me to go out and exhibit something," she said unabashedly. "I'm like that in my personal life and relationships too. It's not that I want to deliberately hold back and hide. There's only so much that you can talk about!"

As the Bollywood veteran went on to note, once any film is out for public consumption, there is no putting that genie back in the bottle – with or without her willingness to talk about it to the media.

"Once a film is successful, it's out there," noted Tabu sagely. "I don't need to declare a collection for people to tell them about it! If it's done well, you sit back and know you've done a good job, and the producer can enjoy the film that his or her film is a success! By virtue of being in a successful film, you are going to be talked about – especially if you are an actor."

Unapologetic, humble, straightforward and happy to take risks – there is a reason Tabu has such a large army of fans, and by the looks of it, that army is here to stay.