Tabu, the singer and writer

Whether in Bollywood or South, over the years, Tabu has created a niche for herself for doing power packed roles. And her portrayal of the tough police IG in Drishyam is a case to point.

Early days with Dev Anand
Tabu says, “When I worked with Dev Anand saab I was very small. But now when I look back, I realise he had a lot of confidence. He would always ask me to perform with confidence too... He would advice me, ‘Tum jo ho usko hamesha enjoy karo… and whatever you wish to do, do it with confidence’. He would always be occupied with doing something or the other in films; that’s the reason he always remained active. I respect him for whatever lessons I have learnt from him.”

On singing and writing
Not many know that Tabu is also practising singing. “I sang in Haider. And since then I have been honing my singing skills. I sing for an hour every day and I also write some verses. I will surely try my hand at writing and Gulzar saab too, has asked me to write now and then.”

A long journey
Tabu, of course, has come a long way since her Prem days. “My journey has been rewarding,” she says, adding, “Though it was difficult at the same time. I have learnt a lot and have grown as well. Like every actor, my journey too has been a roller coaster ride.”

Very few actresses are as natural as Tabu on screen, and for that, she gives credit to her directors. “Be it Gulzar saab or Vishal Bharadwaj, they gave me the freedom to express characters my way. The moment I realised that I had the liberty, I decided to do it my way. My realistic approach comes from my heart. My personality reflects on screen and I am happy I have been able to entertain my audiences.”

“I don’t choose a character keeping in mind whether I will get an award for it or not. In fact, I just ensure that I am able to perform to the best of my potential and do justice to the character,” she adds.

The Bollywood-South divide
Having worked in both regions extensively, Tabu says that she can’t decide which  industry makes better films. “Everyone tries to put in their best. It’s the culture of the region, which plays an important role in depicting a story. We cannot make distinctions merely on the basis of states. Cinema plays a vital role in the lives of people and if the story and its depiction can satisfy the audiences then the job is done.”

She adds that she would have loved to have acted in the biopic of Rani Laxmi Bai, which Kangana Ranaut will be doing.