A lot of typecasting happens in Bollywood: Ira Dubey

I play Jayshree Bose who is a Bengali girl. She is very quiet, grounded and sensible. She is not flamboyant, is extremely understated but very strong. She believes in something. The reference given to me by my director for the part was that of Joan Baez who is a very private person and is known for her angelic voice. She was on and off in a relation with Bob Dylan. Joan also did a lot of humanitarian work. She was the inspiration for this part.

Theatre guru Barry John is a part of the film. How was it working with him?

Barry John has known me since I was born. He, my mother(Lillete Dubey), father, Shah Rukh Khan and some others were all part of the same theatre group called Theatre Action Group(TAG) in Delhi. Barry was the doyen of theatre in Delhi. So Barry and I go way back. When I realised Barry has a part in the film, I was like, ‘Wow life has now come a full circle.’ Then I when I read his part, I had a good laugh. Mother had a good laugh too. It was a nostalgic and fulfilling thing to have been able to do a film with him. It was a great opportunity. I don’t know if it will ever happen again.You have been doing theatre for a long time now. As an actor, how would you differentiate theatre and films?

You have been doing theatre for a long time now. As an actor, how would you differentiate theatre and films?

Theatre is an actor’s medium. It’s a one-time thing. Being in front of a live audience gives you a rush and you go through the journey of your character only once in that single performance. The film is more of a director’s medium. Film also involves a huge machinery. Every project needs a large number of people to take off and conclude. A lot of work happens offsets.

Coming back to Bollywood, why don’t we see you in too many lead roles? Also, why did you choose a movie like Dilli Walli Zaalim Girlfriend?

I was the lead in that as well. But I must say this, without being bad to anybody, my eyes opened to how Bollywood works through that project. I will be honest about it. What I signed up for was not what happened finally. I learnt a lesson. I grew up. When people come with the kind of a lineage like I do, you feel protected at some level but that doesn’t always fly or hold water. And with that film I made some good friends but it wasn’t the best of experiences for many reasons. And the final product was very different from what it looked like on paper. But that happens and it’s okay. You win some,you lose some. After that, I did a film called Aisa Yeh Jahaan which I am proud of as an actress.

What is the lesson that you have learnt?

I have learnt my lessons as far as working with newcomers go. I have learnt that it is good to work with a solid banner, or have a very strong director or know exactly what you are getting into because people otherwise will exploit you. That is the nature of the beast. But it’s okay as one learns eventually. I will give you examples of two people. One is Randeep Hooda who I remember seeing in Monsoon Wedding (2001) because my sister and my mother were in the film. Seeing him, I was like what a good looking and talented guy he is. And after that I never saw him for the next 10 years. And look at him today. Another example is that of Nimrat Kaur who has been around in theatre for 10 years. I remember seeing her on stage and thinking of her as a very talented actress. Suddenly nothing for many years and then The Lunchbox happened and everything changed. So things will happen for me.

So you are waiting for your right time?

See, I am a little lazy. I don’t push for projects because I believe my work will speak for itself. I am very idealistic in that sense. And in today’s day and age, my friends laugh at me because I am pathetic at Twitter. I just got used to Instagram a little bit. Today actors even those who are not doing mainstream stuff are on Twitter and they have a massive following. I guess that is is the order of the day, So yes, I am not aggressive enough on that front. Also, I truly believe my work will speak for itself. I am of that belief system like it happens in the west. Actors, there can lead normal lives and acting is just a job for them. They are not out there to be stars. They are not out there for a quick buck, They are out there to build their careers as performers which are what my intent has always been. So I hope people recognise that and I hope I don’t have to ever grovel for a part.

Do you think it’s tough for a theatre actress to break into commercial cinema easily?

Yes and no. People have said stuff to me that you are a theater actress and you can only do ‘this’ kind of work. So that perception is there. A lot of typecasting happens here. But then a Kalki (Koechlin) did it and she has managed to do it successfully. However, she has also taken time. It’s not happened overnight. She was married to somebody (Anurag Kashyap) who was making a certain kind of film and who had a certain voice as a director. She started doing a lot of films of that oeuvre in the beginning and then she started coming into her own as an actress and started doing a lot of different films and people started seeing her in different ways. In my case, I feel there is a little bit of complacency and maybe I don’t have a lot of qualities that other young girls who come from all over the country have.

What do you lack as compared to other girls?

Like a lot. I am not going to name them. Maybe I don’t have those qualities but it’s fine. I have been brought up in a certain way with certain sensibilities. I believe in my work and I do believe I will have my time soon.