Aspiring to be a role model - Raveena

Aspiring to be a role model for the girl child

In the Capital for the release of the book 'The Girl Child', actor Raveena Tandon shares with Madhur Tankha her concern for the discriminated lot.

After focusing on the box-office for 17 long years, Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon is now devoting all her time and energy to bringing up her two bundles of joy.

Releasing P.R. Laxman's book 'The Girl Child' at Oxford Book Store here in the Capital this past week, Raveena said: "Earlier, I enjoyed being a career woman, then a wife, a daughter-in-law and now a mother of two adorable kids . I don't socialise, but do lend support to a number of social causes and hope to become role model for the girl child."

Raveena fervently hopes that the topic chosen by the author will serve as an eye-opener to women and families who prefer a boy over a girl because of deep-rooted prejudices. Describing the book as simple, unpretentious and engrossing, Raveena says the writer has chosen a burning and emotional issue. "I could identify myself with the story of a Western-Indian woman fighting for survival of her baby while learning to understand the root causes of female foeticides in modern India. Through this book I could relate to the challenges faced by women from the time they are born to the time of their departure to their in-laws home."

Expressing concern that female foeticide is still prevalent in some parts of the country, Raveena says she recently learnt about a baby girl found abandoned on a rail track in Mumbai. "Even in Punjab, baby girls are abandoned on rail tracks and orphanages. This is horrendous. Women who leave their children to die don't deserve to become mothers. They have 'shakti' to procreate and if they bring them into the world, then surely they must look after them. I don't mind being a role model for the girl child."

Stating that women are making a difference in the world despite obstacles and family pressure, Raveena says the late astronaut Kalpana Chawla, Suneeta Williams who has set the world record for the longest space flight, and Aishwarya Rai who was crowned Miss World, have caught the imagination of the people and are role models.

Raveena may have taken a sabbatical from Bollywood after her marriage with Anil Thadani, but she is still keeping a tab on what is happening in tinsel town. About Madhuri Dixit's upcoming film 'Aaja Nachle', Raveena says she is thrilled that the senior actor will once again make a comeback on the silver screen.

"Even an accomplished actor like Madhuri took a hiatus for four long years. So what is the big deal if I have taken a break for three years. For 17 years I acted non-stop in Hindi films. And I am proud that I gave 100 per cent to my career in movies whether it was 'Mohra' or other films of mine. I don't believe in half-measures."

Raveena is contemplating acting in films again and is going through some scripts. "In another six months I will make a comeback. But the film's storyline has to be suitable. It has to be according to my taste, personality and age. Moreover, the script should excite the artiste in me. I was all set to do a show on the tube but my second baby put all my plans on hold."

A voracious reader, the actor reads whatever she can lay her hands on. "Besides novels by Somerset Maugham and other authors, I also love comics like Tintin, Archies and Asterix," she says.