Hindi heist comedyStaffIt recently crossed the ₹100 crore mark at the box office, dispelling notions that after the pandemic, only male-centric action dramas could rock big numbers.
Standing tall at the center of the film’s success is actress Tabu who shared the screen Kareena Kapoor Khan And Kriti Sanon Directed by Rajesh Krishnan, the film stars Rhea Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor and Anil Kapoor. “The film had several elements that the audience would enjoy and while working on it, I believed it would do good numbers,” says Tabu.
She should know. Staff The latest in her string of hits Bhool Bhulaiya 2 And Scene 2. He has also played central parts Kutte, Bhola and a Netflix original film, Intelligence. At 52, the actor is quietly showing how a female actor can be age and generation agnostic and calls the shots.
Say that some trade pundits have pointed out that she is the only actor, apart from Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, to have delivered more than two hits post-pandemic, and she says, “So I’m a hero now?”
Then she pauses and says, “Honestly, this is the best chapter in my career; I am happy and grateful that people are coming to theaters and watching my films. A film is a combination of elements – it’s never just the script, the director or the actors. Everything must work; If we give something new to the audience, they will accept it in any genre and language.
Belief in nature
taboo | Image Credit: Exclusive Arrangement
The past decade has seen Tabu reinvent itself. Post Director Vishal Bhardwaj is appreciated HyderIn which he gave a brilliant performance, one of the more mainstream films Drishyam, Andhadhun And De De Pyaar De, Along with others, she often found success at the box office.
Tabu recalls the conversations during the lockdowns when the film industry wondered if audiences would visit theaters again after getting used to consuming serials and movies on digital platforms. “People were making assumptions overnight and it annoyed me. A school of thought became so contagious that the entire film industry started echoing it. I wondered if I was the only one who disagreed with their idea.
He says he urged those who voiced such concerns to wait for normalcy to return. “When the films started working again at the box office, I told them with a smile ‘Maine kya bola tha?’ (What did I tell you?). I think people will say whatever suits them at the time. Those who want to force you to work more in the digital space say that cinemas are a thing of the past. Now that films are becoming successful, people say don’t even think about OTT.
Returning to Staff, watching gangs of girls flock to theaters to soak in the fun locker room conversations between the three female leads pulling off an improbable heist, Tabu says, “Riya (Kapoor) was smart and clever to put this character together. Some scripts may only work with certain actors. Casting can bring a new element. “
Time for some fun
taboo | Image Credit: Khamkha Photo Artists/Special Arrangements
Staff It is penned by Nidhi Mehra and Mehul Suri and has many zinger lines including Tabu telling Kareena that she is into vanity, ‘Boss Kar Cleopatra, Ye Foundation High Time Machine Nahi’ (Stop it Cleopatra, this is a foundation, not a time machine) Hit the mark.
Tabu revealed that some lines were improvised on set. “Nidhi and Mehul worked on the script for four years and were very specific about what they wanted. In consultation with the director and writer, I changed some words that I felt didn’t land well and didn’t generate laughter. Comedies are always alive on the sets and things change according to the actors as it’s not an intense dramatic script. . He explains how the core team observed the mood on sets to gauge whether the comedy was working. “Accordingly, the original lines were kept or changed.”
Tabu wanted her character Geeta Sethi to come out with different faces. “She’s fun but she has gravity. She’s a former beauty queen (of Karnal), has seen life change and has inner strength; I tried to bring it all on screen to the best of my ability. The relationship she shares with her husband is special and Kapil Sharma’s portrayal of the character has enhanced the bond immensely.
The character gets anxious, popping pills and wiping sweat in critical situations and all this adds to the comedy. The trick was to find the sweet spot that made Geeta look innocent, vulnerable, yet brave enough to be a part of the heist. “We kept experimenting… we wanted to make her interesting, entertaining and delicious.”
Tabu is no stranger to comedies. Think about it Sajan Chale Sasural Or BV No.1. She doesn’t believe script reading sessions or workshops are necessary to break the ice with co-stars and get the comic timing right. “Even though I’ve never worked with actors before, my training over the years is that I go on set and do what’s needed.” She pauses and adds, “I have worked in almost 100 films (92 and counting). Not that we have script reading sessions for all those films,” laughs.
Lately, he has been playing roles that are not too serious or gritty Chandni Bar, Existence, The Namesake, Maqbool Or Hyder. And yet, in such pictures Andhadhun, Bhool Bhulaiya 2, Drishyam 2 And StaffShe is the center of the drama.
“It’s a different kind of good stage. Whether it’s a serious or a fun film, the responsibility and what I have to bring to the table doesn’t change. Today there are new people younger than me like Asman Bhardwaj (debut director) on the sets. Kutte) and contemporaries like Ajay (Devagan). Each film offers a different experience. “
Writing it down
Wellness coaches and psychologists today tout the therapeutic effects of journaling for dealing with anxiety, and Tabu reveals that she’s had the habit since childhood. “I recommend it to everyone. It has helped me express myself better.” She writes about people she meets, things that move her, and to-do lists. “I use pen and paper, not an app. The connection between brain and hand, when we write down our thoughts, makes a difference. .
He has witnessed a sea change in the way of working in the film industry. In the 1990s, leading ladies like her would do three or four shifts a day and complete a dozen films every year. “Now we do two or three films a year and there are breaks before we start our next one,” he points out.
Staying current
taboo | Image Credit: Khamkha Photo Artists/Special Arrangements
She has been part of the film industry for almost 40 years (made her debut as a child actress in the 1985 film Hum Naujawan), Tabu has a knack for keeping abreast with changes. “It’s hard to pinpoint what worked. It’s a combination of factors – years of work and the relationship I share with audiences across generations. You are considered relevant only if you can connect with the immediate younger generation.
How did she think she would handle it? “It’s not like I watch serials and movies to know what’s currently working. Since my childhood, I am not much of a movie buff. Nowadays information pours in through various sources and you can gauge what might work.
Next is Auran mei kahan dum tha, director Neeraj Pandey’s love story, in which Tabu shares the screen with Ajay Devgn for the 11th time. “It’s a film I’m really looking forward to. Neeraj has done something interesting,” he says.
Ask her if Indian cinema is moving into a sector where actors of all ages have more opportunity to engage with interesting parts and she says, “I think it’s always been there.” She is part of the May-December romance Chinese Co. “Society has changed and so has the audience’s taste. Today new concepts are more palatable to mainstream audiences. Ultimately it all boils down to how an actor is presented in a story.