I8217;m a regular ghati

I can't stand comedies,'' says the forthright Anju Mahendru, that familiar face seen in many a serial on television. She is of the opinio...

I can8217;t stand comedies,8221; says the forthright Anju Mahendru, that familiar face seen in many a serial on television. She is of the opinion that Indian humour, especially the kind portrayed on the telly, 8220;is just the pits.8221;

8220;I love emotional subjects, I never act in comedies. Hindi doesn8217;t have that flavour, it8217;s a rather straight and bland language, unlike Marathi and Gujarati, which have inherent wit and humour,8221; says the lady. Which is probably why one sees her in melodramas like Hasratein, Aashirwad, Swabhimaan and Neeyat.

Mahendru was in Pune recently, shooting for a film titled A Pocketful of Dreams, based on the Indian influx to the United States of America. The story revolves around a couple who arrive in the USA with high expectations, which only get shattered subsequently. Did she identify with the subject? 8220;Well, it happens, doesn8217;t it? Everyone thinks America is the place8217;, if you are lucky then you can make it good, otherwise you have to struggle,8221; she says philosophically.

Mahendru is an ardent cricket fan, and she is a constant fixture at the Sharjah matches. 8220;I think my passion for cricket started in school itself. I studied at a convent. Some of us girls used to play cricket and it would upset the nuns no end,8221; she recalls with a smile. Mahendru also made news during her involvement with the West Indian cricketing genius, Gary Sobers, something she doesn8217;t really care to remember now.

She was later engaged to superstar Rajesh Khanna. And after a tumultuous marriage to Imtiaz Khan the late Amjad Khan8217;s brother, she is off relationships for good and concentrates on her career today. What has she learnt from her past experiences? 8220;To be a good and helpful human being, that8217;s what matters most at the end of the day,8221; she says.

Mahendru is very much involved with societies like Ahimsa and AIWA in Mumbai, which care for stray animals. 8220;Mumbai has a lot of stray animals and as many organisations, but does Pune have any?8221; she wonders.

When she is not into looking after stray animals and her own 11 doggies, she prefers gardening or watching television. 8220;I shed my so-called mamata on my dogs, as I don8217;t miss having children. To unwind, I feel gardening suits me best. We don8217;t have a maali at home, my mother and I do the cutting, pruning and planting ourselves,8221; she says. However, cooking doesn8217;t figure high on her list of must-dos.

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Mahendru is a typical Mumbaiite at heart. 8220;I8217;ve been born and brought up in Mumbai, I8217;m a regular ghati,8221; she says smiling. 8220;The best thing about Mumbai is the people; Mumbaiites are always ready to accept nice and interesting persons, however, the traffic there is killing,8221; she lets out.

And she endorses the Mumbai philosophy in her own life 8211; live and let live. 8220;It8217;s the right attitude,8221; she asserts. Well, it certainly seems to have worked for her.