Forever young: Aroona Irani

I'm fine, and rocking!

Aroona Irani counters rumours of her illness, playing favourites with Sangeeta Ghosh and describes her passion for work

Reena Thapar Kapoor

There were rumours about your being unwell. Is that why you've been keeping away from the media?

I started my career at the age of nine and have been working non-stop for the past 50 years. I've done it all, from scripting, to editing, to designing clothes, to direction and even acting… All these rumours about my ill-health are baseless. I'm fine and, to use contemporary language, rocking (laughs). I may not be young any more but I have as much energy as any young actress.


You work only with a few actors like Sangeeta Ghosh and Varun Badola. Why?

I'm a professional. When I decide the cast for my shows, I make sure that the actors fit the bill.

I do not make shows for Sangeeta Ghosh or anyone else. It's the audience that I want to entertain. I do not have any camp nor do I believe in favouritism.


Does it bother you that Rabba...hasn't garnered half the response as Des Mein...?

It does, but what can one do about it? For Rabba..., I'd first blame myself, and then anyone else. I've realised that trends in both, films and television, change every five years or so. Why are we only talking about Rabba...?

Name one show on TV today that is doing really well? Every show today is monotonous and repetitive. The only genre that seems to be working is comedy.


Your contemporaries like Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore and Dimple Kapadia have made their comebacks on the silver screen. What's stopping you?

There is dearth of good roles in this industry. I don't know if I'd be able to a Baghbaan, but I'd definitely want to do a role similar to the one I did in Beta.


How much have you seen yourself changing over the years?

I haven't changed much. I'm still a young actress at heart who gets excited over her a new outfit or a good role.

I still fight and scream over a bad shot. I still giggle and blush when I receive a compliment. Above all, I'm as passionate about my work as I was when I started off.


• I'm fine and, to use contemporary
language, rocking. I may not be young any more but I have as much energy as any young actress
—Aroona Irani