Bhumi Pednekar: Fans liking our film is more gratifying than making 100 crore at the box office
Actor Bhumi Pednekar, who has done three films so far — all dealing with taboo subjects — says that she won’t stop doing socially relevant films because of the fear of getting typecast.
Actor Bhumi Pednekar has upped her game in a very short span of time. With two back to back releases this year — Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Bhumi has definitely secured her place among the top stars in Bollywood.
Asked if she ever felt sceptical while signing such socially relevant films that can stereotype her as someone who can only play a small-town girl on-screen, Bhumi says she doesn’t let such thoughts play on her mind. “Instead, the kind of success these films have had...it gives me a push to do more of this good cinema and I won’t stop doing it just because of the fear of getting typecast. [Also] I never have that fear of losing out on a certain audience or anything of that sort because all of my films have been fit for family viewing.”
The actor made her debut with the 2015 film Dum Laga Ke Haisha that highlighted the stigma overweight girls have to face in the society. Her next, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha focussed on the issue of open defecation in rural India, while Shubh Mangal Saavdhan talked about erectile dysfunction.
“It is good to know that your instinct [while signing these films] was right. It is a very gratifying feeling that the thing you believed in, has connected with the people. For me, all my movies had a bigger purpose. I always saw them as films that can truly bring about a difference in the society and we succeeded in doing so. That’s more gratifying to me than it making 100 crore at the box office,” adds Bhumi.
The 27-year-old actor also feels that with many big names from the film industry taking up the responsibility to promote socially relevant cinema, these movies help spread the message and work at box office too. “Though I still don’t have a star stature, I definitely feel that having top actors attached to a film really takes it to a different level. Since they all enjoy a heartland fan following, it helps the film as well.”
Follow @htshowbiz for more
Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.