And Tall She Stands

Private to a fault, lover of nature and nailpaints, she is cinema’s favourite muse. Actor Tabu tells us about her unconventional choices in life.

- Neena Haridas

The thing about Tabu is that you don’t exactly get what you come prepared for with the usual expectations. For one, she has small feet compared to what you’d imagine a girl that tall and she treads softly with little realisation of the star that’s she is. She is not waiting for an entourage to escort her to the hotel room, she just walks in quietly on time in a black kurta-pajama and is ready to try on the looks for the shoot. And no there are no hangers-on to give their wee-bit opinions on what looks good on her and why she should “totally wear that.”

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi knows what will work for her and what won’t. She needs no validation.

Armed with a smile, she tries on the various clothes laid out for her. She needs no help there either. As far as she is concerned this is a job she must do, and she will do it without complaining about how tight the zippers or complicated the buttons are. “No ya, I am not fitting into this. Do you want me to try it on with something else?” We try more and she plays the mannequin (even as she quips, oh god, I feel like a scarecrow right now, but now tell me what is the next look you have in mind?). “I know my face is your canvas and you are going to use artwork, but would you be just careful as I have an extremely sensitive skin.” That’s when you know Tabu, the actor, is now in character.

Later she says, “A professional must understand that if you are in the hands of another professional, they will do what is best for you, because it’s a symbiotic relationship. If I don’t look or fit into an outfit, why would they want me to squeeze me into something that will eventually make their work look shoddy. You leave some jobs to the ones who know it better than you, that’s all. What is the need to throw a tantrum over it. One must always learn to step back when needed and step in when required.”