Top 33 Rohini Hattangadi Quotes

I don’t look at the length of the role, but yes I’m looking for substance.

‘Karmyudh’ is the story of a young, dynamic politician named Yashwant Chauhan and his police officer wife Shivangi. They love each other but have different ideologies. I play the role of Yashwant’s mother who supports her children in times of need and stands by truth.

Some things can be hidden on TV with the help of cameras but in theatre, you are seen live by the audience, so you can’t get out of your character.

In Hindi films, it’s easy to get typecast.

I knew that I wanted to be in parallel cinema and do meaningful films.

I was playing Sultan Razia and had a habit of twitching my wrist when I took a movement.

India came to be known in the West because of ‘Gandhi.’ Otherwise, they still thought that tigers roam around on the streets in India.

I did ‘Gandhi’ but post that how many roles could be generated in a Hollywood film for an Indian face? Similarly how many roles can be generated to accommodate Hollywood actors in Indian films?

If you are really passionate about something you can even wait for 10 years. Look at Nawazuddin Siddiqui for instance. He waited for 20 years!

The first time I saw Dr. Shriram Lagoo was way back in school. I did not interact with him. It was only after I completed my training at the National School of Drama in Delhi and came back to Pune that we had our first exchange. I participated in a play, and he sent me a message to call him.

So, theatre will always be my first love. It’s not that I am trained in it, but I also feel that theatre gives an altogether different experience every time it is played. But a movie and a TV show is always a one time experience for me.

Gandhiji was educated in an English atmosphere, and if you understand the British, you can truly understand his principle of offering the other cheek when you are slapped on one.

A television serial should end when the story stops entertaining the audience.

I love to be at home when there is no shooting.

Shooting for ‘Gandhi’ was a revelation for me. We were all given scripts and then we were asked to do our homework. I searched for books on Kasturba, but I found only two books, that’s all. So I had to rely on my own skills.

Films I did initially, like ‘Arth’ and ‘Saransh’ are really close to my heart.

I still remember very clearly how the director was not convinced with the makeup shot in ‘Chaalbaaz.’ Eventually when Sridevi saw me struggling, she decided to do the make up herself. What you all saw on screen was actually done by her.

The script was focused on how Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi turned into the Mahatma. There was no room for many others who mattered in the making of India. There was no space for Subhas Chandra Bose or Rajaji that an Indian director might have been pressured to include. This process of elimination was necessary.

I remember I would work in the South industry and Hindi TV industry too along with doing ‘Char Divas Sasuche’ and that was the reason I never got bored.

I have a sense of humor and enjoyed playing the role of Daku-amma in the serial ‘Gunwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge.’

NSD gave me the vision to see further and they exposed me to integrated works, right from working on the backstage to even doing the costumes.

Earlier we would do theatre and cinema both at a time and would consider TV only if we were offered.

The magnitude of the film and the life of Gandhi had not yet sunk in then as it is now when I look back.

Nobody remembers young Kasturba… Once I called Basu Bhattacharya and told him ‘I am only getting roles of a mother.’ He told me, ‘There are only two people who can play young and old with equal ease, you and Sanjeev Kumar. So, don’t feel bad about it.’

I guess I do what I like and enjoy my job thoroughly, that reflects on my face.

I am playing the character of a grandmother in ‘Doctor Don’ which is completely different from my previous roles. My character is dashing, carefree and has a bindaas mindset. She loves to live her life happily.

The director could start shooting the fifth scene first. So while giving take for the scene I need to know what I am expected to do in the first four scenes. Sometimes it gets quite confusing and on television you never know when the channel will change the story or dump the character!

I have played queens on screen in the past.

Indian filmmakers sometimes twist the details and the mood of the film to give it the Indian masala flavor. This tod-marod in films is a rather big impediment.

The detailing on the sets of ‘Gandhi’ was very minute. There was immense discipline and nothing was taken for granted.

As an artiste, I made sure that the character sketch and look of each mother I played was different.

‘Once More’ is a comedy for sure, but it also makes us introspect.

I don’t know what forces Hindi satellite channels to indulge in so much negativity.