My mom loved the film, I feel so proud: Bhumi Pednekar

Bhumi Pednekar of Dum Laga Ke Haisha (DLH) fame stayed in a village in Uttar Pradesh to train for her role in the film. She says, “I helped the lady of the house with her housework and childcare and used clothes and footwear similar to what the ladies in the village used. I belong to Mumbai and I found it difficult to get rural mannerisms. Interaction with locals in Haridwar helped immensely. The word gurutavaa-karshn troubled me a lot! Changing the way I pronounced ‘Thanks’ and a few other English words was tough too. Instead of sitting in the vanity van I would interact with others. Those were great lessons.”

 

Bhumi joined Yash Raj Films (YRF) when she was just 18. “I heard about the vacancy through a friend and joined ready to do anything, but was keenly interested in acting.” 

About her family, she says, “My family, full of doctors and engineers, never understood my acting aspirations. Only my mother did.”

 

And how did people react to DLH? “My friends and family liked my performance. The best compliment was from my mom who said, ‘I am very proud of your work. As an actor you have shown a lot of maturity in a few  emotional scenes’. It is the proudest moment of my life! Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan praised the film and so did my contemporary Parineeti.”

 

She is also very frank about her weight, “I was fat, 90 kg! I thought I looked beautiful even then, whatever you feel from within shows on your face. Now I have lost weight, not for roles but because it was essential for me. I’m not following any strict fitness regime and I love food.” About her smooch, she says, “We were fumbling with the kissing scene when (director) Sharat said, ‘Kar lo na yaar!  khatam karo!” So I just did it telling myself, ‘Kaam hai yeh mera’.”