Starting her career with the over-the-top commercial fare, making her presence felt there, then achieving glory in serious cinema to 30 years later, carving a new niche in the OTT arena with A Suitable Boy, Tabu has done all that and more. She has reunited with Mira Nair once again after The Namesake (2006). The intervening 14 years didn’t prove detrimental to their camaraderie. It’s as if they never stopped working together. Tabu has a way of making each role her own and watching her in A Suitable Boy, it feels like she was born to play Saeeda Bai. She worked with Shahid Kapoor in Haider (2014) and six years later finds herself working with his younger brother Ishaan Khatter, whom she finds a bundle of energy. She talks about old bonds and new in this candid chat. Excerpts...
You worked with Mira Nair after fourteen long years. How was it reuniting with her for A Suitable Boy?
Fate brought Mira and me together after 14 long years, after our much-loved project, Namesake. A Suitably Boy has been well received both in the UK and in India. I always jokingly tell her that we are a ‘hit pair’. Mira and I have a special bond. Her being the person she is, it is easy to just pick up from where we left off. There is something so strongly unchanging about her that it feels dependable. It took me two years from the time she offered me the role to me agreeing to do it. But once that was done, it was exciting from the word ‘go’. Because I know a role that Mira offers me will most definitely suit me and will be something we will enjoy working on together. Plus, Saeeda Bai was so starkly different from Ashima (my character in Namesake), that it was interesting to try it with the same director.
From the Namesake to A Suitable Boy, how much have you and Mira Nair changed?
As I mentioned earlier, Mira is so easy-going and dependable, it is always a pleasure to work with her. Mira hasn’t changed at all. Yes, she has become more of who she was and has honed her skills. She has incredible energy, drive and joie de vivre - it is not easy for everyone to keep up with her. She is also very inspiring, she can fuel you to take action. That’s what I love about her. She also has some strong connections that she’s made over the years. I always tell her that she has a film family that has been consistent for more than 30 years... Actors and crew members that she regularly works with. I think that is one of her greatest strength. Three generations of the same families have worked with her, which is amazing.
How do you look at your character, Saeeda Bai?
She’s a courtesan, surrounded by a rich culture specific to that time -- beauty, music, poetry. But she’s also someone who is familiar with politics and the establishment. Confined in the realm of her home, which is also her workplace, it’s not possible (rather frowned upon) for her to integrate with society and lead a so-called normal life. Her fate is to lead the life that’s given to her as an inheritance. Yet, she stands tall and is the master of her own territory. Though society has put a label on her, there’s much more to her than her singing and enticing abilities. This is evident in her love of poetry, music, and appreciation of art and aesthetics. Her understanding of the language and its nuances show the depth of her feelings and the deep relationships she has had. It’s evident that she has loved, loved freely and has known the pain of not belonging. However, even her wisdom cannot protect her when a much younger man, Maan, falls head over heels in love with her. She gives in even though she knows there can be no future with him. Her journey with Maan is something she will treasure for as long as she lives.
Ishaan Khatter is new to the industry. What did you like about him as an actor and what would be the one piece of advice you’d give him for the future?
The very talented Ishaan is a bundle of energy. His greatest strength is his desire to learn and to grow, to apply his mind and to excel in his work. I’m sure these qualities will propel him to good places in his journey
How was it working with such a big ensemble cast?
It’s always fun to work with a big ensemble cast. I’d worked with Aamir Bashir in Haider and now have worked with him in A Suitable Boy. Interestingly, I haven’t worked with anyone else in the cast. The whole family of actors was a mad, happy bunch and it was such a fun experience. The whole bunch - Ishaan, Vijay Varma, Manoj Pahwa, Tanya, Rasika, Shahana and everyone else — is extremely talented. I am glad I got the opportunity to work with them. Shooting in Lucknow was an amazing experience, it was my first time in the city. Mira likes to make the shooting experience fun and celebratory for everyone, which added to the joy.
Are there any significant differences in the book and the series according to you?
I haven’t read the book. However, I remember when the book was published in 1993, people were so impressed. There were praises all around the globe for Vikram Seth’s novel. It is a timeless piece of art and I have immense respect for Vikram. I actually made it a point to speak to him to understand how he saw Saeeda Bai. I also spoke to him about the character’s personal trajectory. Which shaped her character and who she is, the core of her
as a person.
What is your favourite thing about the series?
A Suitable Boy has something to offer to all its viewers. There are so many different, complex characters and they are all walking their own paths. It has a range of stories, each with a different emotion at its core. Every character is significant and each of them has their own obstacles and internal and external struggles. They belong to different families with different mindsets and different societal statuses. Amidst all of this is the backdrop of a newly independent India. It was a time of change and the values of parameters were shifting. It is a complex narrative but it’s been woven beautifully together, which is its inherent charm.
You are one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. Do you feel you still learn when working on new projects and with new people?
I believe that we learn throughout our lives because change and growth are the two constants. Every project is a new experience. It’s a new character you don, and new people you meet and work with. Here, learning is an automatic experience. You cannot always identify it, it is not always obvious, but it is inevitable.
You’ve completed 30 years in the industry. What do you feel about yourself, professionally and personally, when you look back at all this time?
I am thankful for the 30 years that I have had in this industry and for getting the opportunity to do such versatile roles with such wonderful actors and directors. Talking about changes in me, I don’t know. Looking back at all this time, I can say that there’s surely more clarity within myself and I know the importance and the reasoning behind choosing a particular project.
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