I like reading gossip: Konkona

B-town is replete with examples of actresses who after establishing themselves as the latka-jhatka-masala-queens, try their hand at offbeat cinema in a bid to let the actor in them surface, and take charge over their glam-doll image.

But trust Konkona SenSharma to swim against the tide. Starting off with parallel cinema up her way to the commercial rung (read bigger banners), the actress has off-late ditched her non-glam avatar to metamorphose into a glamourous butterfly. From the sari-clad mom in Mr and Mrs Iyer to the more recent Luck By Chance and now Wake Up Sid, Konkona’s transformation is there for all to see. But mention this to the actress and she rolls her eyes in amusement.

“I’ve really never bothered about all that. I do films for fun, not to prove any point or show off my acting abilities,” she says. “My recent films are a pick of what was offered to me. I never intentionally went hunting for either types. If a story attracts me enough, I am on, irrespective of the banner, budget or genre!” adds Konkona, quick to defend her recent choice of glam-roles.

Going the glam way, she may be, but Konkona’s absolutely unfazed by the pressures of looking or acting in the conventional Bollywood heroine mould. “I just don’t see the point in becoming something that I am not. And I don’t feel the pressure of adhering to any such norm simply because I don’t feel like I belong to Bollywood. I feel like an outsider with one foot always out of the door. And I really like it that way,” she says.

Happy with the films that she has on her platter, Konkona unlike her peers, also revels in the fact that she’s ‘not at all ambitious’. A fact that Konkona admits worries her mom, filmmaker Aparna Sen, no end, but ‘that’s just the way I am.’ “I am very boring a person. Not at all passionate, very unlike mom. I am always looking for short cuts. In fact, I didn’t even want to be an actress. I’d have rather become a journalist or do something in advertising,” she reveals.

Ad world’s loss is filmdom’s gain? “No, no. I think there are some very talented actresses out there doing a fabulous job.” But now that she is a part of the ‘glam-race’ are there any filmmakers or roles hot on her list. “I would never go hunting for roles. The day I have to do that, I’ll just retire! But I’ll definitely love to work again with Mira Nair and am also looking forward to doing a film with ma later this year.”

And does direction ever figure on her list any time soon? “Well, I have directed a 15-minute short film in Bengali, but I am not ready for that kind of responsibility yet. May be in another 20 years, who knows?”

Definitely, not the types to plan out an agenda, Konkona reveals that she believes in taking life as it comes. “Life rarely goes according to plans, so I never plan anything for myself, professionally or personally.” Talking about personal life, does the constant intrusion in her private life offend her. “No, it’s just a part of being an actor, na. Even I am curious about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s personal life, so I understand. As for me, I don’t like to talk about my private life and I think people do respect that.”

Mother's day plans of B'wood divas

Bipasha Basu: “One day isn’t enough to celebrate the joys of the mother. It is Mother’s Day every day for me. At the moment, I want to get my mother a new home. My favourite screen mothers are Farida Jalal and Reema Lagoo. They look so loving and warm.

Deepika Padukone: “I love my mother every single day. But my gift to her would be to spend more time with her. I’m sure she’d cherish that more than anything else.

Anoushka Sharma: “Each day one must appreciate all that a mother does. Mother’s Day is dedicated to showering your love and appreciation for the unconditional love she has provided. This Mother’s Day, I’d like to spend quality time with my mom over a nice meal. My favourite cine-maa: Jaya Bachchan. She never fails to come across as extremely warm, lovable and relatable.

Raveena Tandon: One doesn’t need a Mother’s Day to tell your mother you love her. Say it to her every day because you owe your existence to her. My mother’s birthday and Mother’s Day are a day apart. So, I get away by giving her one present and by throwing one party, ha ha! I realised the truth of the adage that a child gives birth to a mother when my own daughter was born. I spent the first night she was born gazing at her. She was so angelic and fragile that I wanted to protect her from the whole world. And then it occurred to me that some day she’ll grow up, rebel, perhaps answer back and break my heart. I realised how my mom must have felt whenever I fought with her. I caught up with her at 2 am and apologised to her a thousand times.

Urmila Matondkar: Mmmm....other! It’s a day like no other, a day to thank god he has given us the gift of a mother. It’s the day when I’ll tell her how much I love and appreciate her and also ask her forgiveness for all the time I take her for granted. My favourite cine-maa: Nargis in Mother India — loving, giving, forgiving and super-strong like my own mother.

Konkona Sen: On Mother’s Day, I’d like to present lots and lots of love to my mom for giving me the gift of life, so I could see life on earth. My favourite cine-maa is Rekhaji in Koi Mil Gaya.

Esha Deol: “Mother’s Day means a lot to me because my mother means the world to me. My world is my ma. The gift I’d like to give her is to try to be the best daughter in the world and never hurt her in any way and to look after her to the best of my ability. My favourite cine-maa? Jaya (Bachchan) aunty.

Vidya Balan: “I don’t really make a big deal about Mother’s Day. But this year I want to take mom out. My favourite cine-maa would be Nargis in Mother India. She embodies the mother-figure in every sense. She kills to protect her child and kills her child to protect him from himself. Wah!