‘He Was A Sarvashresth Brahmin. I’m In Awe Of People Like That’

‘What
would
Ravana
do
in
today’s
time?’

Kajol
doesn’t
watch
horror
films
but
she’s
all
set
to
star
in
one,
in
this
week’s
release,

Maa.

As
the
title
suggests,
the
actor
plays
a
mother
who
does
everything
in
her
power
to
save
her
daughter
in
this
supernatural
film.

She
tells

Patcy
N/Rediff,
“It’s
not
a
typical
horror
film
because
besides
fear
and
great
background
music,
it
also
has
emotion.
That
is
its
strength.”

You
played
a
mother
in

Salaam
Venky,
and
you
play
one
in

Maatoo.
How
are
the
two
different?

Every
woman
has
an
identity,
whether
she
has
children
or
not.

Salaam
Venky
had
a
different
mission
in
life.
In
this
film,
we
are
fighting
against
a
unique
evil.

In

Salaam
Venky,
we
were
fighting
a
demon,
which
was
a
disease
spreading
through
the
body
(Kajol’s
screen
son
suffered
from
a
medical
condition,
which
resulted
in
an
early
death).

In
this
film,
there
is
an
actual
demon.

But
the
fundamental
fear
that
every
mother
has
is
that
nothing
should
ever
happen
to
her
child.

The
biggest
battle
is
whether
she
can
protect
the
child
or
not.

The
tagline
of
this
film
is
‘Evil
versus
Faith’.

The
faith
a
mother
has
in
herself
and
in
Maa
(goddess)
is
very
important.

Do
you
think
in
our
country,
especially
with
our
traditions
and
culture,
mothers
are
glorified
so
much
that
they
are
not
seen
as
normal
humans
and
that
they
cannot
make
mistakes?

There
is
a
very
thin
line
between
right
and
wrong.

Life
is
not
black
and
white
but
a
big
grey
area.

It’s
always
up
to
the
perspective,
how
you
show
a
character,
how
the
director
views
each
role.

This
film
shows
many
different
forms
of
motherhood.

I
feel
the
mother
is
judged
a
little
less
now.

Do
you
believe
in
black
magic?

If
you
believe
in
Light,
then
you
have
to
believe
in
Dark.

I
believe
there
is
a
balance
in
the
world.

Without
evil,
good
cannot
be
appreciated.

I
don’t
know
whether
I
believe
in
everything
but
there
are
some
things
that
are
normal.

Have
you
faced
any
eerie
or
paranormal
things
on
sets?

No,
never.
Don’t
speak
about
these
things
now.

How
was
your
experience
shooting
the
film
in
Kolkata?

I
got
so
much
love
from
everyone.

The
food
was
amazing.

The
people
in
Dakshineswar
were
nice.
I
am
so
grateful
and
lucky
that
so
many
people
love
me.

It’s
the
land
of
Kali
Maa,
so
I
love
going
there.

Do
you
like
horror
films?

I
don’t
watch
horror
films.

My
sister
(Tanishaa
Mukerji)
loves
horror
films.

I
told
her
she
doesn’t
need
to
watch
horror
films
to
get
scared,
I’ll
do
it
for
free!
But
she
never
took
me
up
on
that
offer.

What
was
your
reaction
when
you
got
the
offer
to
do
this
film?

I
loved
the
story.
It’s
my
favourite
story
about

Kali
Maa
Aur
Rakth
Beej.

I
have
told
this
story
to
my
children
many
times
in
different
ways.
I
used
it
to
scare
them!

When
I
got
the
offer,
I
felt
it
was
a
cool
concept
and
I
have
to
do
it.

When
the
script
was
written,
we
thought
it
would
be
a
thriller.
But
by
the
climax,
we
realised
it
had
to
be
labeled
horror
because
the
characters
and
the
situation
became
very
big.

It’s
not
a
typical
horror
film
because
besides
fear
and
great
background
music,
it
also
has
emotion.
That
is
its
strength.

There’s
a
scene
in
the
trailer
where
you’re
driving
and
suddenly
a
witch
comes
to
your
window.
Was
that
scary
to
shoot?

Yes,
it
was
very
scary!

We
shot
at
a
large
ruined
mansion,
four
to
five
hours
away
from
Kolkata,
at
night.

All
windows,
except
one,
were
closed.
In
that
window,
there
was
a
skull
placed
mysteriously.
It
was
very
creepy.

Even
shooting
normal
emotional
scenes
felt
scary
there.

Do
you
like
mythologicals?

I
love
mythology.

I
have
read
Indian
mythology,
Viking
mythology,
Greek
mythology
—
everything!

I
have
been
passionate
about
it
since
childhood.

Would
you
like
to
do
something
based
on
the
epics
like
the
Mahabharata
or
the
Ramayana?

Absolutely!
I
would
love
to
play
Krishna.

Though
I
might
never
get
the
chance,
it’s
a
character
I
really
want
to
portray.

I’m
also
fascinated
by
Ravana
and
would
love
to
play
him.

If
I
was
a
writer,
I
would
have
loved
to
meet
these
two
characters.
I
would
love
to
write
a
book
exploring
those
characters.

What
intrigues
you
most
about
Ravana?

Ravana
was
also
called
Dashavatar,
but
in
real
life,
he
did
not
have
10
heads.
He
was
as
intelligent
and
learned
as
10
men.

He
was
considered
as
a

sarvashresth
Brahmin.
I
am
in
awe
of
people
like
that.

I
would
love
to
know
how
the
mythological
Ravana
would
be
in
this
day
and
age.

In
ancient
times,
there
were
a
lot
of
restrictions
and
rules
that
everyone
had
to
follow.
But
what
would
Ravana
do
in
today’s
time?

Are
you
or
Ajay
Devgn
more
protective
about
your
children?

Both
parents
are
very
protective,
probably
on
the
same
level.

How
naturally
did
the
emotions
come
to
you
during
the
shoot?

I
have
played
a
mother’s
role
for
the
last
22
years.
It’s
an
emotion
that
comes
very
naturally
to
me.
The
body
language
comes
effortlessly.

But
because
it’s
a
horror
genre,
everything
is
on
a
certain
pitch.
But
I
trusted
Director
Vishal
(Furia)
completely.

Why
weren’t
you
present
for
the
dubbing
of
your
son
Yug’s
debut
film,

Karate
Kids:
Legends?

I
was
working
on
another
project
that
day.

But
I
was
very
happy
with
the
way
everything
was
done
and
proud
of
how
the
child
acted
responsibly.

Do
insecurities
affect
your
performance?

Everyone
has
insecurities.
I
don’t
focus
on
them.

I
just
believe
that
if
I
work
hard
and
do
well,
they
won’t
matter
on
screen.