Juhi Babbar, who made her Bollywood debut in 2003’s “Kash Aap Hamare Hote” opposite Sonu Nigam, was advised to play “stupid characters” in a few movies to establish herself as an actor. However, this idea did not appeal to Babbar, who instead decided to step away from film acting. Babbar said, “Unfortunately, I never got good work in Punjabi or Hindi cinema.
‘Kash Aap Hamare Hote’ didn’t work at the box office. Still, girls used to get movies then. Like, the typical three hero and three heroine movies, where you are doing stupid, dumb characters. People told me, ‘2-4 aise role kar lo, tum achi actor ho notice ho jaogi’ (Do 2-4 such roles, you are a good actor, you’ll get noticed.) I said, ‘No’.”
Prioritizing Happiness and Her Son
Juhi Babbar explained that while she is unsure whether her decision to reject those “stupid, dumb characters” was a good professional move, it made her a happier person. She said, “I don’t know whether it made for a good professional decision or not. Nonetheless, it made me a happier person and at least today there are no tapes that I have to hide from my 12-year-old son.”
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Juhi Babbar’s Successful Theatre Career
Now a well-known name in the theatre circuit, Babbar is currently busy with her play “With Love, Aap ki Saiyaara”, which is celebrating its 100th show in Mumbai. Babbar, who is married to actor Anup Soni, said “cinema is finally being kind” to her as she got to play interesting roles in Hansal Mehta’s “Faraaz”, and her student Alizeh Agnihotri starrer “Farrey”.
Balancing Theatre and Film
Though busy with stage productions and her theatre group “Ekjute”, founded by her parents, film actor Raj Babbar and theatre veteran Nadira Babbar, the 44-year-old actor is warming up to doing more meaningful roles in movies, especially for her son Imaan.
Juhi Babbar’s Son and His Perspective
Babbar shared a conversation she had with her son Imaan when he was 7-8 years old at the airport. He asked her, “You are also an actor, why don’t people take your autograph?” Babbar replied, “Son, I am not in a famous medium, your father is in a famous medium.” Imaan then said, “Ya, nana is in the famous medium, Mamu is in the famous medium.” Babbar added that Imaan feels very proud and happy about her doing movies and keeps asking about her future projects.
The Success of “With Love, Aap ki Saiyaara”
Babbar’s play “With Love, Aap ki Saiyaara” was initially conceived as an online performance during the COVID-19 lockdown, but as she celebrates its 100th performance, Babbar said it just shows that theatre can also create this kind of impact. The play, which she stars in and has also written and directed, is a sweet and spicy take on “men, marketing and more” and represents the different identities of the modern Indian woman.
Resonating with the Story of Saiyaara
Babbar explained that the play “talks about the atrocities women go through, it doesn’t matter whether you are educated or you belong to the affluent society or you are good looking. There are some societal and religious norms that you have to surrender to and succumb to. People would resonate with the story of Saiyaara.” The play has been performed in over 35 cities in India and in five cities internationally.