Tabu is naturally thrilled with the Best Actress National Award she has bagged for her searing performance in Madhur Bhandarkar`s Chandni Bar. After all, this is her second National Award. "I think God is very kind to me. And I am very clear about my road,`` the gifted actress was heard saying.
While meaningful cinema is Tabu`s forte - she has been penciled in to play Sharmila Tagore`s daughter in Bengali cinematographer-director Gautam Ghose`s upcoming sequel to Satyajit Ray`s celebrated Aranyer Din Ratri - she is not averse to making forays into out-and-out commercial Hindi films. But with each award she wins, she moves further away from the plans of mainstream directors. Most Bollywood filmmakers are intimidated by Tabu`s image as a serious, no-nonsense actress, and distributors don`t see her as a saleable star anymore. Such a pity!
Will Tabu, then, have to make do with more of the same - films such as Maachis, Hu Tu Tu, Astitva and Chandni Bar? Her fans would love to see the one-time Ruk Ruk girl in the Saajan Chale Sasural and Biwi No 1 mode. Says David Dhawan, who directed her in the two successful comedies: "She has tremendous talent, even in comic and light-hearted roles. But she should learn to relax. She is too much in control." Clearly, Tabu seems to be in the wrong industry. It`s a dream factory that simply does not like actresses who know their minds. Not everybody in tinsel town is a Gulzar or a Madhur Bhandarkar!
