Always willing to take chances, veteran Bollywood actor Waheeda Rehman experimented with unconventional roles in films such as Guide and Teesri Kasam. She sees a reflection of herself in Vidya Balan, who has also shown great interest in selecting her films.
When asked who among the current actors was like her, the screen legend said: “Vidya Balan.”
“I also used to choose different movies. I never stuck to one-good-girl-in-love kind of roles and Vidya does the same thing,” Waheeda said in an interview.”I had the guts to do Guide although they told me not to do it because it was a vamp’s role. I did Mujhe Jeene Do and Teesri Kasam as well. I wanted to take a chance and Vidya is doing the same thing.”
The graceful 76-year-old thespian follows the same maxim even today. The reason why she hasn’t taken up anything after Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s 2009 release Delhi 6 is: “The role should excite me. It must contribute to the movie. I shouldn’t just stand there. That’s not exciting,” said Waheeda. “The kind of a role I want exactly is difficult to say. Even if it is an elderly one, it must contribute to the story. I don’t want to be there for the sake of just being there,” she added.
In a 56-year acting career, she gave all-time classics such as Kagaz Ke Phool, Guide, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Teesri Kasam and Mujhe Jeene Do.
With no prior experience in acting, she always focused on her director’s brief. “Whatever acting I did, it was with the help of my directors and my imagination. I used to do things to the best of my ability. I emphasised on my feelings and not so much on technique,” she said.
The big screen veteran has no plans to join TV. “I got so many offers, but I don’t want to do TV. I was told you get stuck badly if the serial becomes popular. Then the timings and all...I want to have my life at my time,” she continued.
“If I do one picture at a time, it is fine. I want to enjoy my life. Currently, I’m enjoying myself. There are so many things to do — I run a house, meet my friends, do a lot of reading, meditation and I travel as well.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2012.
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