Tees saal baad...Hema Malini

Looking Back: Hema Malini

Actress Hema Malini is excited about the Bangkok International Film Festival (BIFF) where she will honoured with a retrospective. This is a first for her in 30 years of her career.

"When they asked that would I be able to attend the festival because they wanted to pay tribute to my contribution, I jokingly said, 'I am yet alive!'

I think I have contributed in my capacity to Indian cinema and it's my privilege and honour to be a part of such a prestigious film festival," she says.


Hi-five on display

Hema Malini's daughter Ahana will accompany her, while Esha is busy shooting in Pondicherry. "I think by showing such films abroad we can showcase our culture and tradition.

I have always believed that cinema reflects a lot about the country. I am glad that they have selected five different kinds of cinema which will be a visual delight for my fans," says Hema.

The festival will screen Ramesh Sippy's Sholay, Sushil Majumdar's Lal Pathar, Basu Chatterji's Dillagi, Gulzar's Khushboo and Ravi Chopra's Baghban.

Festival preps

Before leaving for Bangkok, she says, "I am looking forward to interacting with my fans and watch films with them. It's been ages since I have seen my own films," says Hema.

The actress has been instrumental in helping the organisers get the subtitled prints for the festival. "They wanted my help in getting subtitled prints. My brother helped them in getting some of the prints from Delhi."

No initiative

"It's a pity that no one even takes the initiative in making an archive and preserving all Indian films. We are only relying on DVDs. I think it's high time that we have our own library," she says.

More than 100 films from 30 countries will feature in BIFF that is scheduled from July 19-29. The festival will screen Rang De Basanti, Omkara and also the debut film of US-trained director Rajnesh Domalpalli's Vanaja.