'I'd love to be directed by Aamir some day!' - Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is basking in her air-conditioned vanity van.
"My Gawd! How things have changed," she tells me with that charming laugh of hers, "I remember how we had to face the sweltering heat. Now it's all aaram ki zindagi." At her busiest best? "Yes, I've been working on and off. When something nice comes my way I am tempted to do it. Stepping out and going back to the studios and working at something is fun."
So there are films, ads, singing, cricket... all winning wickets! "Everything is an experience in itself. I remember when I had to step into the studio to render a song for Bhoothnath, I was unnerved, but then I gathered myself. I have my experience at acting, but at this age I'm still a rank newcomer in singing. And about cricket and the cricket field, let's not talk!"
Ok, never mind her association with Shah Rukh on the field, weren't they supposed to produce movies together, too? "As you may have noticed, Shah Rukh very sweetly doesn't leave us out of anything, but ropes us all in to do little guest appearances in his films, and that too free of cost. But yes, we haven't produced a film together in a long time. I have no clue when we'll get down to doing that."
Talking about actors turning producers and directors, Juhi is most taken in by QSQT co-actor Aamir's efforts in Taare Zameen Par. "I spoke to Aamir and congratulated him for the wonderful film that he made. I'd love to be directed by him some day! Half my life I was directed by him. He was an assistant director before QSQT, so I think that part of him never really went away." The director calls for her. The shot is ready. Juhi disembarks from her AC vanity van and into the sweltering heat...
Shiv Shakti
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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