Twinkle Khanna dons many hats, and she’s as much at ease playing an author as she is being an entrepreneur. Now, she adds yet another feather in her illustrious cap — that of a producer for Pad Man. In a chat, Twinkle opens up about parenting, the challenges of production, her social media presence and why she will never write a book on her father. Excerpts:
To begin with, tell us how 2017 has been for you as a daughter, and mother.
As a daughter — more than ever before — I feel that I am being a mother to my mother (actress Dimple Kapadia). As a mother of a teenager (son Aarav Bhatia) I’m learning to loosen the strings that tie me to him. Because if I don’t let go, then all those ropes will just get tangled around me and trip me over.
And as a wife to an unassuming star?
This month, we’re celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. And the only thing I know about marriage is that while it’s comforting to look for commonality, it’s the differences that help us grow.
Besides these, you’re also a successful author and entrepreneur. How do you juggle all your roles?
The author and entrepreneur have both decided that I need to pencil in a little bit of ‘nothing’ time in my to-do lists, because at this point, I’m definitely overworked. But luckily, I’m not underpaid!
Something new is always happening for you. You’re taking on 2018 by turning producer. How did that happen?
Nothing new happens accidentally. It’s my penchant for taking foolhardy leaps sometimes. Luckily, I make the jump often enough. But sometimes I land splat on my a**, in the middle of a muddy puddle (laughs). Am I allowed to say that?
Absolutely. Go on?
I did not plan to turn producer. In fact, I didn’t even know if I would produce another movie. Arunachalam Muruganantham’s (the inspiration behind Pad Man) story was compelling and my only intention with this project is to ensure that it reached as many households as possible. I began by writing a fictionalised account of his life in my book The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, and then I decided that the only way to reach more people was through the medium of cinema.
What have been your takeaways for you from the experience of producing Pad Man ?
That production is a lot more complicated than it seems, and each time you think that the job is done, unexpected juggernauts show up on the horizon.
Now that the movie is ready for release, what do you think of it? Has it shaped up the way you had imagined it would?
R. Balki is a fine director, and it’s a movie I’m very proud to be a part of. It touches upon a taboo subject, completely unapologetically, and without being preachy, in the last bit.
As an author, columnist and individual, you’re very active on social media. What are the advantages or disadvantages of social media for you?
The advantages — at least of being on Twitter — are that I get to read about varied viewpoints regarding the same subject, and can then form my opinion. I don’t see too many disadvantages if you’re slightly thick-skinned, which thanks to being born in this fishbowl, I am.
As a mother, how do you cope with anxieties about your children, and what advice would you give parents who constantly worry about their kids?
There’s just one think I tell myself — I survived, and so will they. As parents, we must lead by example. Kids are always watching what we do, and aren’t interested in what we say.
Your kids are growing to be lovely humans. How would you rate yourself as a mother?
You can only rate your performance on a job when it’s complete. And you tell me, when does parenting end? I’m in my 40s, and my mother still thinks she has to nag me about the way I run my house.
Your daughter was born a long time after your son. How different is the experience of watching Nitara grow from the earlier experience with Aarav?
I don’t think I have as much physical strength to carry, run and play as I had with my first. But I do have a lot more patience. My little one is a lot like me. She loves books, and I love how feisty she is.
Aarav seems to have inherited the best of both his parents. Would you like him to be an actor?
All I would want for him and from him is to focus on his natural talents, and make a career based on them, regardless of whether he picks acting or astronomy.
Any books on the anvil this year? And would you write a book about your father, Rajesh Khanna?
I’m halfway through my third book, and as usual I have plans to try yet another new thing. So ask me about that in a few months. About my father, it would be too personal. And certain things are meant to stay that way. So no, I wouldn’t want to write about him.
