Hema Malini on her plans as BJP vice president, her equation with dissenting party member Shatrughan Sinha and her soon-to-release movie that has a Pakistani
connect.
You’re returning to the theatres after almost three years with Sadiyaan. Is acting still a thrill?
Of course, but the excitement is different now. Having seen and felt it all before, you are now used to it.
Why aren’t you doing more films? Is it because politics takes up a lot of your time now?
Politics is not a 24x7 job. Just because I’m BJP vice-president now doesn’t mean I’ll be at the party HQ from dawn to midnight. I will continue with my dance and movies, there’s enough time.
I’m always open to a good role appropriate to my age. But they have to come to me, I can’t chase after filmmakers, na?
Shatru (Shatrughan Sinha) was keen that I do Sadiyaan with his son, Luv. It’s not a big role but playing a lady from Pakistan, I get to propagate the message of peace.A recent film that also came with the same message, Lahore, has been banned in Pakistan. May be some people don’t want peace. It’s a political game. But the ‘aam janta’ (common man) there loves Indian movies and Indian movie stars. Yes, Kareena Kapoor’s ad campaign for a Pakistani textile company has made her the ‘face’ of the country.(Smiles) That’s not surprising, Kareena is a beautiful girl. I have a lot of fans there too.
They must be inspired by you?
‘Maine kya kiya (What have I done?)?’ I’ve just lived life the way I wanted to and if that inspires people, that’s good. But there are so many other women who are equally inspiring. The Women’s Reservation Bill is a positive step, more women should come into politics so that they can raise issues related to women and children.
Dharmendra seems pretty disillusioned with his stint in politics. Didn’t he have objections to you getting more closely involved with the party?
Dharamji has done a lot of work for his constituency, quietly, without beating any drums. I can vouch for the transformation he has brought about in Bikaner and other places in Rajasthan over the last five years.
It’s not easy to break through the system but he has pulled off some miracles. He may not have sat in the Lok Sabha everyday, but he was out there getting roads and bridges built. Poor guy, didn’t get much credit for his efforts.
The decision to join politics was taken in consultation with him. We share a lot together which is understandable since Dharamji is my husband. He was not keen initially but now he is more recoiled to the idea of me in politics.
He’s seen me balance my home, the children, dance and movies with ease. His argument is that if it gives me pleasure and doesn’t stress me out, he has no objections to my continuing in politics. (Smiles) I think he admires me and I’m sure, if need be, he will lend a helping hand too.
I’m told you want your daughters, Esha and Ahana, to get involved with politics too?
I’d like to take them along to meetings and when I’m campaigning. That may attract more youngsters to politics. Right now, they are only running politicians down. If they were to get more involved, may be they could bring some much-needed changes in the system.
Nana Patekar says that increasing population is our biggest problem?
Why is he only talking about these things, why doesn’t he also get into politics? He’s an eligible candidate and he can handle the problem of checking numbers.
After Atal Bihari Vajpayee stepped down, BJP lost much of its shine. Will new party president Nitin Gadkari with his recently announced core team be able to turn things around?
I don’t think the BJP has lost ground. Changes take place in every party. Atalji was a dynamic leader but he’s now old and ailing. We have many young leaders like Arun Jaitley, Venkaiyah Naidu, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajeev Pratap Rudy, Shahnawaz Hussain and Muktar Abbas Naqvi who can take the party forward. With Gadkari as president, BJP is on the right track.
Gadkari and Shatrughan Sinha don’t see eye-to-eye and the latter has openly said that he is hurt and disappointed by Gadkari’s choice of party leaders.
Shatru may have differences with Gadkari but he’s not made any personal attacks against me, saying I’m not eligible for the post of vice president. He’s like my brother and a part of my family. I admire him. Tomorrow, if he were to say anything against me, I’d not be offended.