Just Juhi

The actress,however,admits to changes in her life post her brother Bobby’s illness. She has moved from her Malabar Hill residence to her suburban pad recently. “It is easier for me to be with him (Bobby) this way,” says Chawla. She was completely taken aback by her brother’s illness three months ago. “It is now that I have started to smile and started to even look outside my window,” says the pretty actress who has just completed a photo-shoot for I AM Megha. “It is a brilliant film. Not just my story,even the other three tales in this ensemble movie are quite breathtaking,” says the 42-year-old. She plays the role of a Kashmiri pundit woman who has to go back to Kashmir after 20 years and confront her past; a past of losing trust and faith in humanity.

Over the years,Chawla has formed a team with Onir and co-producer Sanjay Suri. After My Brother Nikhil and Bas Ek Pal,this one’s their third venture together. “Our first film was like a college project done on a shoe-string budget. Everyone did everything. But I had an awesome experience,” says the veteran actor,who feels that each time Onir sketches out the perfect role for her. “I feel they suit my age,” says Chawla. “After a point you like to do roles that mirror your real life. When you are looking after children in your real life,it is easier to handle them on screen too,” she tells us.

Her drawing room—which is crammed with trophies of her past achievements,and photographs of her early days—reminds us of the cherubic young girl who made the audience happy with her trademark giggle and comic timing on screen. “Comedy was the easiest thing to do. Everyone has their forte,I think that was mine,” says Chawla,recalling her sunshine moments in various films. “I was very iffy about doing intimate scenes or being a seductress on screen. I tried to avoid it as much as possible.” In recent times,her comic skills have been best captured in the Kurkure advertisements.

A star since she won the Miss India crown in 1984,Chawla’s slowing down on her career front was quite surprising to many. “It was a gradual progression. I am not the kind who will go out and proclaim,write scripts for me. I have been okay with the work that has come along,” she says. Next,she is preparing for an animation film Main Krishna Hoon and a kids show with puppets on TV.

It is not just children’s shows,but her daughter Jhanvi (9) and son Arjun (6) who have kept her on her toes for the last last few years. “They don’t like me playing mother to other kids on screen.” says Chawla,recounting the time when she had taken them to watch Bhootnath. “When we returned home,they were so upset. They kept asking me why they couldn’t play my kids in the film,” she laughs.

Busy Bee

* Learning Hindustani music for the last five years

* Managing her IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders

* Doing advertisements on television

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