From A Reluctant Actress To A Recluse Tabu's Incredible Journey

Tabu has had a reputation of being evasive when it comes to interviews. In this rather leisurely chitchat with Society, she made a wee bit of an exception and let her guard down from time to time.

- Arwa Janjali

“Come in, come in. Are you coming all the way from town? Have you had lunch?” The interview seemed to have begun right at the door as Tabu welcomed me into her office. Except that there was an unexpected role reversal here, with me becoming the interviewee and she, the interviewer. Looking her casual and pretty self in a top and pants, her hair tied up and namesake make-up not targeted at concealing anything, Tabu revels in her natural beauty. Age is certainly not a concern for this actress. Though she uses the age factor to her advantage to avoid any questions that she doesn’t want to answer. “I don’t have any sensational quotes to give you. I am older na, so my interview will be different,” she will say diplomatically, when she sniffs controversy. Or she will just bring out her scissorhands and go “cut cut cut” with her fingers.

In fact, there is no scope for the conversation to even veer towards current affairs as anything that requires her to give an opinion on or comment about something, becomes a big ‘cut cut’ for Tabu. Despite the fact that she has been an integral part of a parallel framework of films, which have delved into deeper issues concerning the socio-political fabric of India. She may have set a benchmark as an actress with important portrayals in films like Maachis, Chandni Bar or Haider, but she is no crusader who believes in making a difference by speaking up on issues. Naturally then, if you thought you could even mention the blackbuck case to her, you have undoubtedly harboured the greatest illusion of your life.