It's my life...

JITESH PILLAAI TALKS TO THE FEISTY BHUMI PEDNEKAR

- JITESH PILLAAI

Bhumi Pednekar. Talk to her for ten minutes and you know she’s a true-blue actor. And that’s a good thing. Because filmmakers are increasingly turning away from subjects which portray leading women as dolled up mannequins. And they are doing it because the audience is showing signs of being fed up of mere fluff and want a taste of something substantial. Normal and relatable is the order of the day and Bhumi fits right in the new order of things. We would even be bold enough to say that she has been one of the pioneers of this new normal. She started off by playing a sassy overweight wife in Dum Laga Ke Haisha. And had no qualms playing a sharpshooting grandmother in her last release Saand Ki Aankh. She’s still in awe of movies, of movie-makers. Her replies are forthright, witty and introspective. She’s both wise and foolish, content and hungry. Raring to run, and enjoying the serenity of the lockdown...

WHAT’S YOUR LOCKDOWN ROUTINE LIKE?

Currently, I’m just spending a lot of time with my mom and my sister. Times like these make you realise that there is nothing above the safety of the people you love. I’m reading a lot. I’m going through my school history books. I’m trying to understand programming because computers have always been so alien to me. I’m studying climate change because that’s something dear to me. And I’m cooking. One day my mom and sister gave me so much attitude. I wanted banana bread and I was like I’ll do it myself. I’m not dependent on you guys anymore. I followed the recipe and I baked banana bread and since then I have not looked back. (Laughs) Now I’m Bhumi the baker. And I’m working out.