Sonali Kulkarni: A lot of actors would die to be in my shoes

National Award-winning actor Sonali Kulkarni, who was in Lucknow recently to stage her play Gardish Mein Taare, is enjoying the pace at which she is working. "I am loving the work that I am doing. In fact, I would say that a lot of actors would die to be in my shoes. If at one point, I am talking of a Singham, I have also done The Good Road which went to the Oscars, and I also have to my credit a Marathi film like Deool, that won the National Award. And then something like this play , Gardish Mein Taare, which challenges me as an actor ­ I have such a variety of roles being offered to me. So, it's beautiful to be where I am, a unique position. I feel like an unreachable star these days ­ Dhruv taara bolte hain na? It's enviable at times. Playing characters across genres also makes you mature and more sensible," she says. Known as an erudite actor, Sonali says that her reprisal of a character like Megha Kadam, an avenging wife in Singham, shouldn't surprise the audience. "I think roles like Singham are extremely important. As an artiste, I have to keep up with my work. If I choose my work and say that I only have to cater to the kind of roles that only I feel right about, or such types of films which will reach certain types of markets, then I'm a very selective artiste. If I treat myself like a diva or a star and that I shouldn't be doing this kind of cinema, then I am cheating myself and my audience. I don't want to get into that branded-type category. Whether it's a group, a party, a film or a play, I believe I'm an entertainer and I like to take on the mood of that situation and deliver my best as an artiste.Toh Singham mein I loved my character.It was great fun working with the team.And it made me grow as an actor," reasons Sonali. Having played the lead in Gardish Mein Taare, a story inspired by the lives of director-actor Guru Dutt and singer Geeta Dutt, Sonali says she doesn't exactly identify with her character, but certainly empathises with her. "I won't use the word `pity' for my character, that will be derogating her.But as far as identifying with her is concerned, I would say that we are both in the same industry but our situations are different. Just like Geeta Dutt, this woman too is family-oriented as well as career-oriented. She doesn't get much support from her husband who's battling his own emotions and insecurities. Plus, she wants to follow her passion and become a singer, but is torn by the guilt of not being able to look after her children properly.The situations of her life and mine are somewhat similar. Our conflicts are the same because we want to give time to our families, we are also career-oriented, and we want to do justice to our career and passion, but we have our own means and ways to handle them,“ says Sonali. She further adds, “But I'm out of guilt. Those conflicts are still there. As a mother, I do feel bad because Kaveri, my three year-old daughter, is a little down today and I have to travel. But I'm not that fragile to say ki aaj shoot nahi karte hain because she's down. I can't because this is my commitment and also, I know that the next morning when I reach home, she's going to be fine. As a mother, I do feel bad but one still has the intelligence to request the husband to come back home a bit early to look after the kid, or assure yourself that you're not doing anything wrong. It's okay to work because some people need to work for money, some out of passion for what they like. Some women are lawyers, some teachers, and they would have had to go for work. But as compared to them, I have much more luxury. I work at my pace and at my will. I get lots of chhuttis. Yes, at times I have to work on holidays, I have to travel. But then, I have to accept what's required of me as a mother and as a professional. I have to accept that gracefully and only then will I be able to let my family accept it just as gracefully. A lot of grace and maturity in this conflict is required to smoothen out those slightly roughened edges," says Sonali.TV has added respect to the profession: Sonali has participated in Fear Factor and Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in the past and might take up a project on TV if it's interesting. "Who knows, maybe some interesting project comes up and I say yes to it. I like the medium and I like its reach. I'm very, very grateful to TV because it's brought praise and respect to so many artistes and technicians. Pehle people would shy away from TV, but now people from theatre, films are all doing television. So it has added a lot of respect to our profession," she says.For latest Bollywood updates follow us on Twitter >>>@TOIEntertainFor the latest in Bollywood news, like us on Facebook >>>TOIEntertainWATCH: Sonali Kulkarni returns to theatre - TOI