I stayed away from films because kids need a parent beside them up to a certain age: Rambha

As a mom of three who is married to a businessman, life is so different. In the movie field, we’re like princes and princesses; we’re pampered and spoon-fed. But the outside world is entirely different,” begins Rambha, who is planning a return to films after a 15-year-gap. As the first step, the actress is now a judge on the TV reality dance show Jodi Are U Ready season 2.
In an interview, the dream girl of the ’90s, who had settled down in Canada post marriage but is now back in India, opens up to us about her break from cinema, her family and why she’s decided to get back to acting. Excerpts:
‘MY FAMILY TOLD ME TO BE PART OF THE SHOW’
“As a mom, I felt that kids needed at least one parent beside them up to a certain age and stayed away from films. But my husband knew of my interest in acting. Our son is six now, and my husband felt since our daughters are also older — 14 and 10 — he’d be able to handle them. It was at this time that the TV channel reached out to me to be part of their show. I was hesitant as I’d have to shift my son’s schooling. But my family literally forced me to take it up,” she says.
‘I was scared to even step out of the van on my return to shoot’
About her return, the actress reminisces, “It felt like a dream until the first day of the show’s shoot. And on that day, I was terribly nervous. I was scared to step out of the van. And the first shot I had to do was the Azhagiya Laila song. Sandy Master, who I’ve known since Manada Mayilada, gave me the confidence. And when I finished the first shot, everyone clapped, and said I recreated what I’d done 30 years ago! From there on, I slowly gained confidence.”
‘I WAS A BIT OUT OF TOUCH WITH FILMS IN CANADA’
“After our marriage, we settled in Canada, where my husband runs an interiors business. There, we hardly went out for movies, except for big ones like Rajini sir’s films. Even with outings, we’d go to places nearby, and those that had something for kids. We had a home theatre set-up, so we’d sit together and watch films at home. Every Friday night was Tamil movie night. I was a bit out of touch with films. In fact, I didn’t know Yogi Babu sir. Only when watching Beast, I realised he is currently the top comedian, like Vivekh sir during my time.”
‘AFTER MARRIAGE, I WANTED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM FILMS’
“When I got into films, I wanted to focus on one thing at a time, and gave acting my complete attention. But after marriage, I wanted to take a break from films. I’m also a foodie, and wanted to indulge myself. But that was also where I made a mistake. I started eating quite a bit after my first delivery. I was putting on weight, but it was all OK until my kid started going to school. There, my daughter was seeing moms of other kids dressed stylishly. ‘Why can’t you be like them and wear such stylish clothes?’ she asked me, and that’s when it hit me. I was a movie star, and here, my daughter was saying I was not a pretty mom! I broke down. That comment spurred me to get back in shape. My husband, too, encouraged, saying that it would be good for me health-wise, and also to show people that I was still a movie star.
‘I MAY HAVE NOT DONE FILMS FOR 15 YEARS, BUT CINEMA IS IN MY BLOOD’
“My husband had opened his business here in India, and though it was not planned, thanks to Kala master’s insistence, I, too, came down for the inauguration. Putting on makeup, getting on to the stage and seeing the response from the crowd… they all kindled an interest in me to return to films. My kids, too, were thrilled by the reception that I received. I may have not done films for 15 years, but cinema is in my blood. And I’m seeing a lot of colleagues from my time still acting now. So, I, too, got that desire. But I wanted to ensure I kept my reputation intact, and didn’t want to return just for the sake of it.”
‘THINGS HAVEN’T CHANGED WHEN IT COMES TO SHELF LIFE OF ACTRESSES’
“Even today, only a handful of actresses are surviving after 10 years in the industry. Now, who apart from Nayanthara ma’am and Trisha ma’am has managed to survive for long? Maybe Rashmika Mandanna, because her films have become huge hits in the north. In every era, heroines have faced such problems. The world is like that. A woman undergoes physical changes once she has a baby. Take Deepika Padukone. She had such a craze during the time of Padmaavat, but once she became a mom, that seems to have come down. Women undergo changes physically and mentally after delivery, and it becomes hard to fit ourselves into younger characters. At the same time, we, women, should feel proud of ourselves.
‘Now, you can become world famous with just one pan-Indian film’
“Back then, we’d start in Telugu and after becoming popular, we’d enter Tamil, then go to Kannada, Hindi, and so on. We got a different type of recognition in each language. But now, you can become world famous with one pan-Indian film. I appreciate this change because you have recognition coming in from everywhere. The industries have become one.”
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