Karisma Kapoor opened up on the changing times and the positive shift in the audience when it comes to actresses returning back to work after sabbatical.
Talk about some of the most sought-after leading ladies in the 90s and you simply can’t miss Karisma Kapoor’s name! Having worked with some of the biggest superstars in Bollywood, the light-eyed actress left millions swooning over her.
In the midst of her illustrious career, Lolo took a sabbatical from acting. Following special appearances in Bombay Velvet (2013) and Zero (2018), the Bollywood diva made her web debut with Mentalhood. This year, Karisma made her comeback in films with Homi Adajania’s murder mystery, Murder Mubarak.
In a recent interaction with ETimes, Karisma addressed the changing times and how tags like ‘comeback’ and ‘hiatus’ are no longer prevalent in the industry.
Lolo said, “I am so glad that times have changed for the better in so many ways. People’s thoughts have changed. As I have always said, taking a break was a choice I made. I was happy being away from the limelight, and 1 am always happy to be away from the limelight – that’s just my nature, even though I am an actress. If you ask me what’s next, my answer is that I really don’t know. I don’t plan things, so I don’t feel that pressure. Maybe I will act again, maybe I won’t. That’s the way I want to work, and I am happy doing that.”
Emphasizing on how she has always believed in striking a balance between commercial and off-beat cinema, Karisma admitted that it came with its own set of challenges. The actress recalled being dissuaded by her well-wishers to take up films that were generally termed as ‘parallel cinema’, ‘art films’ or ‘arthouse films’ in those days.
“Of course, being in the top position and delivering hit films was part of the game But for me, it was always about being recognised as a good artiste. This is why, at the peak of my career, when I was delivering blockbusters with top actors, directors and producers, I chose to do these films (Fiza and Zubeidaa) because they satisfied something within me. It also validated the fact that you can be at the top of your game in commercial cinema and also do alternative cinema. So, if I have contributed a little in showing the path, I am happy and grateful,” the actress told the publication.
Karisma continued, “If I may say so, I have been fortunate to headline projects at a time when hero-centric films dominated the industry. I have been part of heroine-oriented movies like Biwi No.1 (1999), Fiza (2000), Zubeidaa (2001) and Shakti (2002). Yes, such opportunities may have been few and far between, as compared to today with the rise of OTT platforms. This generation of actors is, of course, far luckier.”
Speaking about work, Karisma has been roped in as one of the celebrity judges for India’s Best Dancer 4. She also has her second web series, Abhinay Deo’s crime drama, Brown lined up for release.
