Kamlesh Gill thanks Vicky Donor for making her famous

A spirited Kamlesh Gill, 75, the gizmo-friendly whiskey-drinking mother-in-law in Vicky Donor, has been doing theatre from 1957, but says she became popular after her stint in director Shoojit Sircar's sperm donation themed movie.

A spirited Kamlesh Gill, 75, the gizmo-friendly whiskey-drinking mother-in-law in Vicky Donor, has been doing theatre from 1957, but says she became popular after her stint in director Shoojit Sircar's sperm donation themed movie.

"In all these years, I didn't get the attention that I'm now getting for my role in Vicky Donor," said the lucid, articulate Gill, who worked in the Railways for 40 years.

"But acting was always a passion. When I'm acting on stage or television or in films, I feel alive and charged. Not too many roles like Vicky Donor are written. I'm lucky it came my way," she added.

Vicky Donor that hit the screens April 20 has received rave reviews for its concept as well as performances by Ayushmann Khurrana and Annu Kapoor.

This is actor John Abraham's first production venture and Kamlesh is happy that her unconventional 'saas' act has been appreciated in it.

"I'm getting calls from all over saying they love the rapport I share with Dolly Ahluwalia (who played her daughter-in-law in the movie). The whole idea of sharing a drink together is unconventional. But it has clicked. I guess it's a sign of how much our society and cinema have changed."

"I suffer from arthritis and I am unable to be on my feet for too long. Shoojit adjusted my character accordingly. And Dolly was a wonderful co-star. I had a ball shooting this film," she said.

Kamlesh has two daughters, both married and settled away from home.

Acting is her primary focus in life.

"I could've done many more movies. In the 1970s, my serial Aur Gham Bhi Hain Zamanein Mein became very popular and I got a lot of movie offers. But my husband passed away and I had to focus on my daughters. Such is life."