Soni Razdan on playing Alia Bhatt’s mother in ‘Raazi’: It’s a powerful and important movie

Actress Soni Razdan who will be seen playing Alia Bhatt’s reel mother as well in ‘Raazi’ expressed that she is happy with what her daughter is doing right now. Further speaking about her projects she said, “I have also acted in Ashwin Kumar’s film set in Kashmir, which is yet to release. When asked if she wants to direct Alia Bhatt in a movie the actress said, “Honestly, I’m not thinking about that right now. If she suits the role and agrees to do it, then that would be great. I’m just happy with what she is doing right now.”


Talking about ‘Yours Truly ‘ Soni Razdan said, “The producer contacted me and I spoke to the director on the phone as he’s based in Kolkata. He explained the story and it sounded intriguing. I was amazed to find that somebody actually wanted to make a film on a woman who is — I don’t want to use clichéd terms like ‘past her prime’ — not in her first flush of youth, but is still hoping that she will find love in this rather cynical world. I thought that was unique. The other thing is that nobody really offers you a role at this age where you’re playing the central character. You’re always playing the mother or being some prop somewhere. That was the most obvious thing that attracted me — a film to myself. I felt privileged to be even offered something like this. There was no question of me not doing it. It also took me into a completely different intellectual space again after a long time. So that was refreshing for me.”


Further talking about her character she said, “Yes, it doesn’t. I asked Sanjay why he was making a film like this and he replied that he wanted to attempt it as nobody else was doing it. I don’t understand why this whole section of women in society is neglected completely? It’s like you’re not supposed to exist, have feelings and are definitely not supposed to fall in love after the age of 40, so how can you be important enough to make a film about it! It’s quite shameful that we have become such a youth-oriented society that’s just not interested in people other than 25-year-olds. What a sad reflection on ourselves! The very fact that everybody is so surprised is a statement about what we are as a society today.”


Speaking about playing Alia Bhatt’s mother in ‘Raazi’, “Yes, I’m playing her mother. Firstly, it was a privilege to work with director Meghna Gulzar and be with my daughter in the same frame. Another privilege was to work with the wonderful cast and act in ‘Raazi’ because it is a powerful and important movie. It says many things and I feel happy that Alia will be seen in such a human story.”


Talking about her journey she said, “There was a period initially when I did stop for a couple of years after my first child. But that was only because I was busy with my baby and I didn’t want to cut myself into 20 pieces. I used to do small roles in Mahesh’s films where I could take my child to the sets. Then I went back to television. Everybody uses the word ‘comeback’, but I never really went anywhere.”


She concluded by saying, “There is no dearth of possibilities for me as an actress. There are so many interesting roles being written. I’m dying to be cast, but I’m not keen on doing roles that don’t have any substance. I’m quite good at comedy as I have good comic timing.”