Neetu Singh talks about her comeback in the movies, getting slim to inspire her husband to follow suit, and how she’s still best friends with Zeenat, Shabana, Rekha and Hema

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 20, 2010)

• You did a blink-n-miss appearance in Love Aaj Kal. What makes you come back with a full-fledged role in Do Doni Chaar after 30 years?

Kuch decide nahin kiya tha. In fact, I had decided I won’t do it. I have been refusing films for years. The entire credit goes to the director of Do Dooni Chaar, Habib. My husband (Rishi) was very keen that I should hear him out. Habib simply bowled me over with his narration.

• Were you nervous for the first shot?

I won’t lie. I was nervous on the first day. I even spoke to Ranbir about it. This role is so unlike my personality. I love dressing up and here I was playing a middle-class housewife. I was asked to cut my nails, put oil in my hair and have a choti.

Ranbir explained to me that I should go with the director’s conviction and I’ll be fine. All these years I have been telling Ranbir what to do, and here he was advising me. It was such an experience. When Ranbir finally saw the film, he sent me a text message saying that ‘Mom, you are so cute in the film’. But you know what (pauses)

• What?

Do Dooni Chaar is not a comeback per se for me. I am not going to start signing up movies left, right and centre. I didn’t decide to take a break. I was working from the age of five till I More >