“In marriage it is the differences that help us grow” – Twinkle Khanna

By Subhash K. Jha -

February 6, 2018 - 11:06 AM IST

Twinkle Khanna speaks to Subhash K Jha on her charmed life & her new challenges as a producer in 2018

Okay Twinkle…Tina…to begin with, let me ask you how has 2017 been for you as a daughter, wife, mother, author and entrepreneur?
As a daughter I feel, even more than before, I am now mothering my mother (actress Dimple Kapadia). As a mother of a teenager (son Aaarav) I am learning to loosen the strings that tie me to him because if I don’t let go then all that rope will just tangle around me and trip me over.

“In marriage it is the differences that help us grow” – Twinkle Khanna

And as a wife to the most unassuming superstar?
This month I will celebrate my 17th wedding anniversary and the only thing I know about marriage is that, while it is comforting to look for commonality it’s the differences that help us grow.

Besides all these roles you are also a successful author and entrepreneur?
And the author and entrepreneur, have both decided that I need to pencil in a little bit of ‘nothing’ time in my to-do lists because at this point I am definitely overworked but luckily not underpaid.

Something new is always happening for you. This year you begin 2018 by turning producer. How did that happen?
Nothing new happens accidentally. It’s my penchant for taking sometimes foolhardy leaps, luckily I make the jump often enough but sometimes I land splat on my ass in the middle of a muddy puddle(laughs). Am I allowed to say that?

Oh absolutely. Go on?
I did not plan to turn producer. In fact I didn’t even know if I will produce another movie. Murugnantham’s story was compelling and my only intention with this project is to ensure that it reaches as many households as possible. I began by writing a fictionalized account of his life in my book, The legend of Lakshmi Prasad and then I decided that the only way to reach more people was through the medium of cinema.

What are the takeaways for you from the experience of producing Pad Man?
That production is a lot more complicated than it seems and each time you think the job is done, unexpected juggernauts show up on the horizon.

What are your thoughts on the film? Now that it’s ready for release? Has it shaped up the way you had imagined it would?
Balki is a fine director and it’s a movie I am very proud to be part of. It touches upon a taboo subject completely unapologetically and without being preachy in the least bit.

As an author, columnist and just an individual with strong opinions, you are very active on the social media. What are the advantages/ disadvantages of the social media, for you?
The advantages at least of being on twitter are that I get my hands on all kinds of news quickly and I get to read about varied viewpoints regarding the same subject and then can form my own opinion. I don’t see too many disadvantages if you are slightly thick-skinned, which thanks to being born in this fishbowl, I am.

As parents our concerns about the children's safety and welfare grows by the day. How as a mother do you cope with the anxieties about your children and what is the best advice you can give to parents who worry constantly about their kids?
There is just one thing I tell myself, I survived and so will they. As parents we must lead by example. Kids are always watching what we do and are not interested in what we say.

Your children are growing up into lovely human beings. How would you rate yourself as a mother?
You can only rate your performance on a job when it is complete and you tell me when does parenting end? I am in my 40s and my mother still thinks she has to nag me about the way I run my house.

Your daughter was born a long time after your son. How different is the experience of watching Nitara grow from the earlier experience with Aarav?
I don’t think I have as much physical strength to carry, run and play as I had with my first but I do have a lot more patience. My little one is a lot like me. She loves books and I love how feisty she is.

Aarav seems to have inherited the best of both his parents… Would you like him to be an actor (you hated being one yourself)?
All I would want for him and from him is to focus on his natural talents and make a career based on them regardless of whether he picks acting or astronomy.

Tell me about your plans for 2018? Are there any books on the anvil?
I am halfway through my third book and as usual I have plans to try yet another new thing, so ask me again in a few months.

Have you thought of writing a book on your father the only male star I've ever idolized, the great Rajesh Khanna?
It would be too personal and certain things are meant to stay that way. So no, I wouldn’t want to write about my father.