To do Patthar Ke Phool was a decision taken in the college canteen
I dress up anyway, nearly every day, when I am working so I have got the mask on
So, Salman said I am not going to work with her again and then we did Andaz Apna Apna
Oh my God, they have got Raveena in a film, this film is jinxed
In fact, I know so many heroes even till date who can’t remember their lines and they have it
written on these little boards all around while they are doing a scene
Oh, really?
I mean some superstars who probably still do that
What’s up guys? Welcome to heart to heart with Bollygirl.
Hi my name is Shiksha Mahtani aka Bollygirl and I will be your host today on behalf of
Pinkvilla USA. Now today I am so excited to introduce to you, our guest. She is a Bollywood
actress and a producer who started off her career in the early 90s giving us hist after hits,
giving us songs like Tu Cheez Badi Hai and Tip Tip Barsa Paani. Not to mention she is an
incredibly influential and an inspiring woman who has had to endure quite a lot while living
under the spotlight. Today you and I get to sit with her and talk to her, one on one about her
journey. Please join me in welcoming Raveena Tandon.
Hi Raveena, how are you?
Hi Shiksha. So nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
Thank you for being with us here today. How are you liking being in LA?
LA is kind of second home for me. I come once a year at least to the US. Every summer we
are here, June-July. So, we do a bit of east coast, we do a bit of the west coast and LA is
home like I said. I enjoy being here.
Like a second home for you?
Like a second home.
What’s your favourite thing to do when you come here every year?
Honestly, so every time I am here there is something new that has opened up which we have
to try and then yes, the usual. Going out shopping with the kids and you know taking them
some place or the other which is, now its Halloween now. We
are in the Halloween season so my daughter is enjoying the Halloween bit
Oh really? So does she like a haunted houses or dressing up? What does she like?
Oh, she loves haunted houses. In fact my nephew was asking like what have you been
feeding her? She wants people going in a haunted house with an axe or hatchet behind her
She likes these. I can’t even watch the you know tiniest level
of horror movies I can’t. Even micro, micro I can’t.
Will you be dressing up with her?
No. I dress up anyway, nearly every day, when I am working
so I have got the mask on so there are few days when I just want to chill. Do nothing.
On Halloween you are just Raveena.
I am scary enough myself. I don’t need to dress up. I will go as myself. Look guys, I am scary.
I love it. Now let’s start off by talking about the beginning of your career. Can you take us
back to the early 90s when you started acting? Did you always want to act in movies?
I am in this industry by default. I have been saying this since my 1990 interviews if you go to
any of my old, really retro interviews. I say I am in this industry by default even though my
dad was in the movies. He was a producer- director but it was, I never grew up with the thing
that I am going to grow up and become an actor or anything. Maximum if I did, I would have
gone into production with him or you know gone into direction and with that intention I
joined Prahlad Kakkar. In fact, my dad didn’t launch me at all. I assisted him when I was in
the 8th standard because I was you know I was kind of wanting to learn the ropes but I
assisted Prahlad Kakkar instead. I joined his advertising agency; I was an intern there. That
was straight after my 10th, my 10th boards and then you have that long break before you join
college like nearly 3 and half months in that I started regularly working and even when my
college opened, when I started my first year even then I used to go do my morning college, it
was 7-12 then after 12 I used to be working with Prahlad.
I did nearly a year with him of training and in that interim I started getting offered a lot of
Ads so people would see me in the studio and stuff and it was like you are not meant for
behind for the camera, you are meant for you know in front of the camera. I was like listen I
am not even asked my parents yet and I am not sure. I used to ask the filmmakers, are you
sure you want to sign me? I have not gone to any acting school, I have not done anything and
they said no, no we will get that done. Then eventually I signed Sippy Saab’s film which was
Patthar Ke Phool with Salman. To do Patthar Ke Phool was a
decision taken in the college canteen.
I said okay fine. They said you have nothing to lose and after that you give up.
You don’t want to work you don’t work, if you find it tedious
How was Salman Khan as your first co-star? What was he like?
We were like two kids in a class who would just want to fight over everything you know
how kids they want to fight over the eraser, they want to fight over the pencil, the pencil box
Yeah. I was 16 and a half and Salman also was must have been what, 23 or 24 I guess at that
time. So, we were just, both of us were brats. Salman and me, as if we were brought up in the
same household. Salim uncle and my dad used to work together earlier. So, our families knew
each other. So we were like as if we are continuing a fight from home, we fought.
So, Salman said I am not going to work with her again and then we did Andaz Apna Apna
and then we did another film together again and then I mean it’s okay.
So what was it like when you were breaking into the industry, wasn’t something you
necessarily wanted to do and then you know with Bollywood
comes parties and networking and things like that so
So, you know even though I come from a film family as in my dad was in the movies but we
were not really a so to speak, clichéd, what people project to be a film family or a filmi
family. I just signed movies and I think whatever I worked for I did I think it was, I can say it
was with my own merit. It was never compromising on
anything including the principles and
the lines that I had drawn for myself that I will do this, I will not do this, I will do this, I will
not do this and I was very clear about that. You still want to sign me, sign me.
I mean its sounds like it was so very difficult to kind of do that without the kind of mentorship necessary
I agree. I did make a lot of mistakes in that because I didn’t have the right guidance. Even
though dad was very much always with me but he never interfered in my work, he always let
my manager handle the work because you know and even when people used to tell my dad,
oh why didn’t you launch her? And I used to tell them even if
my dad would have wanted to launch me, I don’t think I would have preferred that or done that.
That’s so admirable because that’s a much tougher world to go on.
Exactly.
But nonetheless you were able to give us hit after hit after hit I
mean damn, how did you go about choosing the roles that you chose?
So, it wasn’t always like that.
So initially in fact I did face a time where after Patthar Ke Phool there were 4-5 of my films
that did not do well and they were mega star cast kind of a setting you know of those films
and unfortunately those didn’t do well. And I do remember that there was almost a time
where couple of magazines even called me a jinx. Oh my God, they have got Raveena in a
film, this film is jinxed and I remember then came along Dilwale and immediately after
Dilwale was Mohra. Sonam, I remember we had a success party of Mohra and in front of the
whole media just stood up and you know. As soon as I walked in on the stage, she’s like here
comes our lucky mascot. And after that it was such a reversal, the same media that were
almost writing you know she is the jinx suddenly started
writing, oh Raveena’s a lucky mascot. Whatever film she is in, it works.
You know sometimes you just face these things and you are like, wow. Okay
Can you talk to us a little about your process? From you know choosing that role and then
preparing for the role, memorising the lines. What is that like for you?
So in the 90s it was not that we were ever given a bound script
before, in fact we would reach the set and they say they are writing the scene.
So even if it was a 5 pager, you got it immediately and you had like about an hour just to
come and start performing. So sometimes I do feel that general public just because a woman
is beautiful or you know is good looking, they generally have this perception that, oh she
might not be so intelligent after all. I think that is stereotyping actresses a little too much and
I think that all cannot be done if you are not, you know all focussed or not all there. And
trying to work hard for what you are doing. So, I find that strange in fact. In fact, I know so
many heroes even till date who can’t remember their lines and they have it written on these
little boards all around while they are doing a scene
Oh, really?
I mean some superstars who probably still do that and that then you know they say, why are
we women always spoken about when you know the men are probably doing worse things
I love that you are saying this. Like lets shine some light on that, people need to know.
Whether its America, the American industry, the British industry or the Indian industry I
think men are doing equal amount of stuff to themselves and then you know whether its
cosmetic or anything but it is always the women who are spoken about. So, I am like okay, whatever.
Do you feel like its getting better or worse with time?
I think it is getting better. It is definitely getting better. In fact in the 90s honestly we used to
have a lot of women editors also who would love running down women because they were in
love with the heroes or they were flirting with the heroes so
it was such an unfair world because you would see women do that to women.
And now they on Twitter or something in social media they will pretend to be such liberated
women but I think they forget that the time in 90s when they were busy running down other
women and calling them you know horrible names when all they were doing is trying to make a living.
I was going to ask you your thoughts on social media, do you like it or hate it?
So it is a bane and a boon. Boon in a way like I said you are there, it’s a instant reach out to,
there are no middle men. There is an instant reach out to you know people who follow you,
your friends, your fans, your well-wishers and you have a voice. You can say your side of the
story. There are so many times when all our 90s stars have faced it. That fans used to come
and meet us, interact with us and say oh my God, you are not at all like how the magazines
write about you. They sell on us, what can you do?
So these are the things yes, you do go through but I think now time are much better because
even now if you have a strong legal team and even if it goes viral on the internet there are
ways of pulling it down, there are ways putting out your side of the story.
How do you deal with trolls and online bullying and things like that? I know that with more
the social media grows just everybody is dealing with this now, right? You have trolls and
people bullying you online and that’s a real problem
So A, I do believe that social media is a bit of an addiction. You need to learn to tell your
children to balance everything out and not be addicted to it
24/7, that is not your life. What you see on Instagram, people is not real.
Please let me tell you we all photoshop our pictures. We all edit, I have a plump nose,
sometimes you won’t see my plump nose but that’s me. This is real. So, believe in yourself,
be yourself. You are beautiful. Do not try to be someone else
because you don’t know what is real and what is not.
Taking it back to, filming your movies I have to know when you get ready for a Bollywood
song, do you practice those expressions in the mirror, how
do you get ready? Because Bollywood, a lot of it has to do with expressions
No so there are rehearsals that do happen. I remember when Saroj ji was alive, she used to
hold rehearsals at Satyam Hall so from 5 days before the day of the shoot or 4 days before the
shoot she used to practice with us and the hall would have mirrors and you know she would
rehearse. Her dancers would make us rehearse so yes, it is rehearsed.
Lets start talking about your co-stars’ in Bollywood. Who would
you say has been your favourite person to work with so far?
I think all my heroes. I love Salman, I love Sanju, I love Sunil, I love Jaggu, I love all of them.
I have had a great time shooting with all of them. A lot of them are my buddies, everyone.
And whenever we all meet even now, we meet so warmly and it’s so much fun to catch up
and you know do things together even now.
And you actually posted recently that you might have something coming up with Govinda
who we all know, you and Govinda are magic duo. Is there anything more you can tell us about that?
No.
In regards to your career in Bollywood you had a few times where you had to take step back
and take a break for personal reasons and I am just curious to know, what was that process
like? How difficult was it to make the decision to take a step back when you are giving hit after hit?
So, you know sometimes I do think back, I do think that maybe because I got my career so
easily in life, I just told you how I started. I don’t think I took it that seriously and it was always
never my be in it all so I was like okay, when I settle down, I am going to give it up for a
while, focus on my family life and then see if I want to work again. But then when I did
eventually give it up for personal reasons and then I had to restart all over again that I
consider as my struggle period because I left at my peak right?
And then I had to start of again with just doing item songs
So, there was Sheher Ki Ladki and there was another song and I forget now but I did you
know those 5 scenes, songs kind of films trying to get back to that till the time I got to do a
Satta again or I got to do Shool again and I regained my footing back in to the industry. And
thankfully so I don’t think I have slipped since then
So now that I know that you have been coming to LA every year,
Oh God, I am caught. I will have to do this with you every year.
Absolutely
I am actually enjoying myself. So you better call me then every year.
Okay. Done. 100%
Is there any chance you will be working in Hollywood?
Yeah, maybe, maybe not. I have got a couple of offers even now but I didn’t take it up again
because it required 3 months of being in Hong Kong at a stretch and then 14 days quarantine
before and 14 days so nearly 4 months getting away, leaving
my kids and family and that was not okay for me. But yeah, soon enough maybe
Now before we end, I do want to do a quick rapid-fire round with you.
Go for it girl
So just remember the quickest thing that comes to your mind
No thoughts involved
So, something we wouldn’t normally know about you?
But it’s obviously something that not known, I don’t want it to be known. Okay. I used to bite my nails
That counts. That’s fair.
Your favourite film of all the ones you have made?
Lot of them. It has to be Satta, Andaz Apna Apna, Maatr now
recently that’s on Amazon, something which is very close to my heart.
Okay great.
If there was a fire and you could only save one thing, what would it be?
A blanket, my dog. Oh, you said one thing.
A blanket so that I can make it wet and then I will run into the fire and save my dog
What’s the one song from your movies that you find yourself humming to the most?
It has to be Is Tarah Aashiqui Ka Asar Chhod Jaunga
A favourite Bollywood movie, actor, song?
I think Ranveer Singh has great energy, Alia Bhatt is really good,
Deepika is stunning. You wanted one, right?
And movie?
Movie I think will have to be my dad’s which is Khel Khel Mein
And then lastly, if Bollywood were to remake any one of your
movies which one would you like them to do and how would you cast it?
You know I think Shool because I think it is still so relevant in a lot of places. Okay tough
question, people have been saying Andaz Apna Apna remake but I think once a classic is
made, its made. You can’t really remake them.
But that’s the world is \headed now with
I don’t think so, I think sometimes it works and
sometimes it just doesn’t so I think the world needs to get a little more original .
Yes.
Well, thank you so much for being with us here today. It’s been great talking to you.
Seriously yes, it was fun.