Court Martial

In a racy interview to Sumita Chakraborty, the very gorgeous Raveena Tandon candidly speaks about actresses ganging up against her, drugs in the industry, the term “smashing patriarchy” and much more.

Sing ‘tip tip barsa paani’ and a vision of beauty conjures up of Raveena Tandon in a gorgeous yellow chiffon sari dancing in the rain. Well, this gorgeous gal has always been bold, beautiful ‘n’ extremely outspoken. A powerhouse performer, her effortless acting has won her accolades and applause across the nation and overseas too.

But Raveena has not only been the Photograph by darling of the nation for her fabulous acting, she is also the poster girl of social activism whether it is regarding people or animals… in fact, whenever the time had come for her to speak or help out, she does that without a second thought. Her dedication and focus are still unwavering as despite a hectic schedule, she still makes time to give this interview within the deadline. Here the very ravishing Raveena tackles all the tough questions - from SSR’s untimely death to drugs and patriarchy - without batting an eyelid. Read on…- Raveena Tandon ““I have probably apologised to people who have been hurt. I feel no shame in that because that was never my intentions.” Mansi Manek 20

““Even now though films is a part of my life, it is not my ‘be all and end all...”

Photograph by Khushboo Ghulati

You are a powerhouse performer perhaps in the league of Sridevi, why don’t we see more of you in dynamic roles?

Well that’s very kind of you, thank you so much. But yes, I had taken a personal sabbatical both the times I was pregnant and had my kids. I like to devote more of my time to home, family and being with my kids. I’m the kind of person who likes to work at my own pace. I did Maatr but it has been some time now. And now because of the lockdown, everything had to be stalled. But I finished shooting for KGF. So you will be seeing me soon in KGF and then I’m doing a couple of webseries so yes, good things are happening slowly but surely.

There’s major upheaval in Bollywood – from drugs to SSR’s mysterious death… what is your opinion of all the goings on? Do think the Hindi film Industry will bounce back from such serious allegations?

Well, the film industry is the industry that has always stood up for the country - for its people every time there has been a calamity or disaster - natural disaster, a war or any other given trying circumstances - even to the extent of putting their lives at risk - to collect funds or to do good towards society. Our industry has done a lot of great things, unfortunately for the sad, sad episode of SSR’s death which was very unfortunate- and I know the family is grieving - but I do believe the media has made it into a circus and I’m not sure whether even he would have wanted his memory to be tarnished this way - more so with the kind of allegations that are being cross flung on everybody. Well, the truth shall prevail, and I do believe in the judiciary. I do believe that ultimately the truth shall come out. So if people are guilty and if there is more than the eye can see then surely the guilty should be punished. Also, I do believe that this very, very tragic incident was very sad and that such a tragedy had to take place for the authorities to wake up to a lot more other vices happening in our country.

“Smash patriarchy”… do you also believe that this is the root of all the problems and - Rhea Chakraborty (for whom it has been used) is a victim of this as some actors like Vidya Balan, Sonam Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar etc claim?

“Patriarchy” is a very broad word – very widely used and misused as well. There are people who attack harmless traditions and festivals which is only made out of love and respect by labelling it “patriarchal” whether it is a beautiful festival like raksha bandhan or a beautiful tradition which is love, reverence and respect for the family like karwa chauth - that too ultra mod people would call “patriarchy”. It is a fast for someone you love. I do it for my entire family. I do it for my children’s well-being. I do it for my husband. So I think patriarchy is used as well as misused. The “patriarchy” that I fight against is inequality, female foeticide, traditions that bound women in purdah system… or against subjugation or suppression. Feminism means equality – social, economical or professional …job opportunities, pay equality, educational opportunities… rubbing shoulder to shoulder with any of my male counterparts. This is the system that we need to definitely crash and that for me is smashing patriarchy.

A lot of top actors have been summoned by the NCB regarding the use of drugs. What is your opinion about this?

Right now the entire scenarios being played out in the media is obviously for TRP ratings because nothing sells better than Bollywood. Is the entire film industry to blame? Well, it is not the way it is being played out on any of these jingoistic news channels. It is very clear that drugs are a menace which is deeply rooted in the entire country. It’s so easy for these news channels to send their journalist and do sting operations and get to meet drug suppliers and the drug mafia dragnet so how is it not possible for the local police not to know where the suppliers are hanging out or where they are? So if it is so easy for the journalist to reach these people, why can’t the cops reach them. I do believe that there is an entire nexus where the entire system with

““I think my choices are mostly been now to the latter half of my career, entirely on the script.”

Photograph by Khushboo Ghulati

the local politicians, the local cops, the local babu, the local bureaucrats are all involved because without their blessings, the drug menace cannot function so obviously. They are on the take whether they are probably getting bribed or making money out of it because the fact is that they are turning a blind eye to this entire menace which is so openly available outside schools, colleges, universities, outside restaurants outside pubs at night… How are they thriving and how are they not being caught? So I believe that there is this entire system that is allowing this drug menace to spread in our country and we all have to declare a war against this. The entire drug menace has to be literally cleaned out and it is to be done on a war footing.

You’re one actor who has never minced her words… you’ve called a spade a spade… does that get you into trouble?

Yes, nowadays because of social media which is a boon and a bane as well because everybody has an opinion, right? Everybody suppresses an opinion. Everybody can also misconstrue what one has said. You might type something out with the meaning that is in your head but maybe it does not translate into what you are trying to say. So everyone sits there waiting for you to comment on something for example my previous answer on patriarchy, believe me there will be hundred percent criticism. As far as any comment is put on social media however good your intentions maybe, it will be dissected, analysed and probably misconstrued in a way that people want to see it. They might not see your point of view and yes, they will always be criticism. So I think one should just say what one has to say and stand by it if they really mean it. There have been times when I’ve probably made mistakes and maybe, it has translated into completely something else, and on a large majority people believe that. There are times when I’ve recorrected myself and I have taken the comment back, and yes, I have probably apologised to people who have been hurt. I feel no shame in that because that was never my intentions.

Some people have insinuated that you speak out because of political aspirations. What is your take on this?

Political aspirations… Ha ha ha! If I had to join politics. I would have been in politics 15 years ago. The first big seat offered to me was Virar when Chi Chi (Govinda) left. Then I was offered the Bandra seat by parties. I’ve been offered by regional parties whether it’s Bengal, Assam or Punjab. I have been offered by most of the political parties to enter politics. I honestly haven’t found what I’ve been looking for. Sometimes we wonder the way we criticise our politicians, should we be the change that we want to see? So when people like you and me probably get into politics, we might just clean it out otherwise sometimes you wonder what kind of people just get in and how they ever win? So the fact is that if we want to see the system change, we also need to be the change. So that is something that I’m constantly fighting against but I’ll probably or probably not (join politics). But when the time is right, we will see. Right now, I’ve got too many things on my plate so uptil now I’ve been saying “no”.

You have often spoken about a girl gang who were nasty to you… Could you tell us about this? Do actors face this kind of bitchiness from colleagues?

I do believe that every profession has its ups and downs, rivalries and competitiveness, and yes, a good amount of politics as well. Yes, I’ve suffered at the hands of being played politics with false stories being planted about me. When journalists were buttered up and fake stories were planted about me. Various magazines had screaming headlines just to bring me down somehow. False rumours were spun and yes, their boyfriends who were heroes and with whom I was working were convinced to somehow stop talking to me and kick me out of their films which added more fuel to the fire because people would wonder why did this happen to me. So yes, these things have happened but it’s okay. Sometimes when I look at them and when I look at me, I say thank you God for giving me the life I have - maybe it’s my good karma - and all

“In your life you will fall many times but you don’t just get scattered around, you pick up the pieces and start all over again.” “

Photograph by Khushboo Ghulati

they have done is collect bad karma. So let them live with it because my conscience is clear but like I said, if you are hard-working dedicated and talented, no one can take away your life or your career from you. You have to just fight it through. You have to be tough. When the going gets tough, the tough get going and that’s what I strongly believe in.

What has been the driving force behind your career choices?

Yes, I do belong to a filmi family but honestly, we were brought up in a very non filmi fashion as in I was not brought up to believe only to eat, drink, breathe films. Even now though films is a part of my life, it is not my ‘be all and end all’. And even with my dad being in the movies, we were allowed to go on the sets only during vacations, in fact, that was the time we would see what shoots were etc. I actually always wanted to be my dad. I was always inspired by him. He was a self-made man who came from Agra - he started out of nothing. He was a junior artist and stood on his own feet. He never took anybody’s help. That’s exactly when people asked me why I did not ask my dad to launch me… First and foremost, I was in this industry by default. I never grew up thinking that I’m going to become an actress. In fact, I always was more interested in production. I also wanted to give my IPS exam and after graduation, I wanted to become a cop – I was inspired by Kiran Bedi. So films was actually not really on my mind. It just happened to me but nonetheless, I never thought of even then telling my dad, you should launch me. I’ve always wanted to stand on my own feet. I always wanted to be self-made. I do believe that whatever a child does, parents always appreciate and love whatever they are doing. But when producers and directors come to sign you or when fans appreciate your work, then it is purely your own work that is being appreciated. So that was the driving force behind me wanting to stand on my own feet and make it on my own.

You have had your share of hits and duds. When you look back are you happy? How did you cope with failure?

I have always been lucky to have worked with the best directors in our industry. I have worked with all the heroes that are there – Amitji (I have done three films with him), Irfan Khan to Nana Patekar to Naseer saab, Jackie to Sunil to Akshay to Sunny to Aamir, Salman, Shahrukh. I think I’ve just worked almost with everyone. And it’s been a great feeling when I look back and see that there haven’t been practically any director or actor I haven’t worked with. I think my choices are mostly been now to the latter half of my career, totally on the script. In the early ‘90s, there haven’t been too many films that were being made where women had a lot of scope to perform. Those were the singing dancing kind of films which I also enjoyed doing so I have no regrets doing those as well. Towards the latter half I started choosing scripts which were strong with great content with a good director and that is what ultimately matters to me even today. As for failure, it is subjective as it depends on one’s perspective as to what one views as failure. For me, I used to be so busy working to put my best in the movie. But I believed that the movie’s fate belonged to the movie. Yes we all work hard towards something but if it doesn’t work, no problem let’s move on to the next and work harder in the next. One has to take failure in your stride. One has to be tough enough because nobody’s life is a bed of roses. There are ups and downs and there are at times drastic ups and downs. But you need to evaluate failure. For me, as long as I have food on my table, a roof over my head and a loving family around me, standing by me, I don’t think I’m a failure in life. If I can count five people who I believe are my true friends and have stayed by me through thick and thin through the time I was a nobody or a somebody - I’m not a failure. My dad always taught me one thing very early in life that when a child learns to walk, he falls many times but he picks himself up, dusts himself and tries again. Such a person walks tall with his head held high. In your life you will fall many times but you don’t just get scattered around, you pick up the pieces and start all over again. Starting all over again is my success mantra.