Post by James on Dec 22, 2013 5:11:12 GMT
'Manisha can tell me more about life than most of you people'
Manisha Koirala's health is on the upswing. The actress, who is currently cancer free, continues to do routine check-ups at regular intervals, but her spirit is indomitable. Her tryst with the disease has opened her eyes to things that she was oblivious to before in her charmed life as a busy movie star. Today, in her role as a cancer crusader, her goals are different. Most importantly, she's tackling each day with a new zest. Excerpts of our interview with the actress...
Is acting on the agenda soon? Yes and no. I've been approached by some people. But if I choose something now, it has to be the perfect script.
One read somewhere that you have plans to make a film? Not true. I wouldn't venture into filmmaking for at least three years.
What is a routine day in your life now? I'm enjoying life much more now than I did before my illness cropped up. Just the other day, I stepped out with my girlfriends and we went to a nice place and danced. I do that whenever I can. But everything is different today... my lifestyle has changed. I'm home by 8pm and go to bed by 10pm. If I'm unable to fall asleep even after I tuck myself into bed, I browse the net or watch some television or read. But I have made it a point to discipline my lifestyle. I'm up at 5am every day. I say my prayers and also do my meditation and pranayama. Right now, I'm not doing too much physical exercise because I was down with jaundice recently. I'm slowly getting my physical form back. But life very much revolves around yoga, gym sessions and meditation. During the day, I paint. Twice a week, I go to the Tata Memorial Hospital and spend time with doctors to see what I can do to help improve the health of people there.
So you are taking the role of a cancer crusader very seriously... I would like to say that I'm focussing more on wellness, mind, body and spirit and promoting health rather than getting into the disease aspect. My intention is to try and encourage people to make lifestyle changes. I also plan to start writing my book.
This is such a change from your earlier hectic life. Then, there were many times when you partied so hard that you would arrive home with the milkman. Correct? Yes, that is true. Now I do not want to do anything too hectic. In the evenings, I just chill out either at Deepti's (Naval) home or have an early dinner with close friends. But as I said earlier, I'm anal about coming home by 8pm and getting to bed at 10pm. I've started viewing life with a totally different perspective. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere.
What's running through your mind now? Just the other day I was coming back from Tata Hospital and at Saint Michael's Church in Mahim, there was a message board that read — 'You can always take a U-turn in life'. Well, I have done just that. I have taken a U-turn. I even took a picture of that board on my phone. When you fall ill, you basically realise how valuable your health is.
Do you miss the wild side? I do not miss my drinks at all. I go to the discotheque and dance the maximum. And, I'm happy sipping my water. The only thing that I cannot tolerate is cigarette smoke. I do not wish to stay in that kind of atmosphere. Otherwise, I can dance the night away even now. I have the energy and I enjoy the music.
Speaking of energy, you do recall the phase in your career when you did two and three shifts... The energy I had when I did two and three shifts a day is the energy that helped me pull through my really tough regime of chemotherapy. I thank God each day for the energy he has given me. Believe me, right after my treatment in New York, I was going out for walks. I wanted to hit the gym within a month after my treatment. But, I didn't overdo it. The whole atmosphere would pep me up.
Do you miss the studios? I miss the studios. There is a huge beautiful charm to the life of an actor. When a director says, 'Shot ready,' it's magical. I know sooner or later I will be back on a set. There is no hurry. I love acting so much that I do not want to do mediocre work. I keep myself busy doing things that I love.
How was it meeting the film industry folk at Vishesh Bhatt's wedding reception? It was wonderful meeting people, especially Mahesh Bhatt sahab. He told everyone present, 'Guys, I do not want to talk to any of you. I only want to talk to Manisha. She can tell me something about life that none of you can tell me.' So I turned around and asked Bhatt sahab, 'What can I tell you about? About death?' And he said, 'Yes.' I love Bhatt sahab. He has an inquisitive mind that I adore.
There are others who have not kept in touch with you also right? Yes. Ram Gopal Varma is one of them. He was so much in touch with me before my illness. But after I took ill, there were no messages or phone calls. So one day I asked him, 'Where are you Ramu?' And he replied saying, 'Manisha, you can call me a scared guy but I do not think I can face you.' I understand that. So I told him that we will catch up when he is ready.
Manisha Koirala's health is on the upswing. The actress, who is currently cancer free, continues to do routine check-ups at regular intervals, but her spirit is indomitable. Her tryst with the disease has opened her eyes to things that she was oblivious to before in her charmed life as a busy movie star. Today, in her role as a cancer crusader, her goals are different. Most importantly, she's tackling each day with a new zest. Excerpts of our interview with the actress...
Is acting on the agenda soon? Yes and no. I've been approached by some people. But if I choose something now, it has to be the perfect script.
One read somewhere that you have plans to make a film? Not true. I wouldn't venture into filmmaking for at least three years.
What is a routine day in your life now? I'm enjoying life much more now than I did before my illness cropped up. Just the other day, I stepped out with my girlfriends and we went to a nice place and danced. I do that whenever I can. But everything is different today... my lifestyle has changed. I'm home by 8pm and go to bed by 10pm. If I'm unable to fall asleep even after I tuck myself into bed, I browse the net or watch some television or read. But I have made it a point to discipline my lifestyle. I'm up at 5am every day. I say my prayers and also do my meditation and pranayama. Right now, I'm not doing too much physical exercise because I was down with jaundice recently. I'm slowly getting my physical form back. But life very much revolves around yoga, gym sessions and meditation. During the day, I paint. Twice a week, I go to the Tata Memorial Hospital and spend time with doctors to see what I can do to help improve the health of people there.
So you are taking the role of a cancer crusader very seriously... I would like to say that I'm focussing more on wellness, mind, body and spirit and promoting health rather than getting into the disease aspect. My intention is to try and encourage people to make lifestyle changes. I also plan to start writing my book.
This is such a change from your earlier hectic life. Then, there were many times when you partied so hard that you would arrive home with the milkman. Correct? Yes, that is true. Now I do not want to do anything too hectic. In the evenings, I just chill out either at Deepti's (Naval) home or have an early dinner with close friends. But as I said earlier, I'm anal about coming home by 8pm and getting to bed at 10pm. I've started viewing life with a totally different perspective. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere.
What's running through your mind now? Just the other day I was coming back from Tata Hospital and at Saint Michael's Church in Mahim, there was a message board that read — 'You can always take a U-turn in life'. Well, I have done just that. I have taken a U-turn. I even took a picture of that board on my phone. When you fall ill, you basically realise how valuable your health is.
Do you miss the wild side? I do not miss my drinks at all. I go to the discotheque and dance the maximum. And, I'm happy sipping my water. The only thing that I cannot tolerate is cigarette smoke. I do not wish to stay in that kind of atmosphere. Otherwise, I can dance the night away even now. I have the energy and I enjoy the music.
Speaking of energy, you do recall the phase in your career when you did two and three shifts... The energy I had when I did two and three shifts a day is the energy that helped me pull through my really tough regime of chemotherapy. I thank God each day for the energy he has given me. Believe me, right after my treatment in New York, I was going out for walks. I wanted to hit the gym within a month after my treatment. But, I didn't overdo it. The whole atmosphere would pep me up.
Do you miss the studios? I miss the studios. There is a huge beautiful charm to the life of an actor. When a director says, 'Shot ready,' it's magical. I know sooner or later I will be back on a set. There is no hurry. I love acting so much that I do not want to do mediocre work. I keep myself busy doing things that I love.
How was it meeting the film industry folk at Vishesh Bhatt's wedding reception? It was wonderful meeting people, especially Mahesh Bhatt sahab. He told everyone present, 'Guys, I do not want to talk to any of you. I only want to talk to Manisha. She can tell me something about life that none of you can tell me.' So I turned around and asked Bhatt sahab, 'What can I tell you about? About death?' And he said, 'Yes.' I love Bhatt sahab. He has an inquisitive mind that I adore.
There are others who have not kept in touch with you also right? Yes. Ram Gopal Varma is one of them. He was so much in touch with me before my illness. But after I took ill, there were no messages or phone calls. So one day I asked him, 'Where are you Ramu?' And he replied saying, 'Manisha, you can call me a scared guy but I do not think I can face you.' I understand that. So I told him that we will catch up when he is ready.