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Hat-trick!

Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Master juggler Jayaprada

Jayaprada is never short on surprises. Just when critics thought she had had her innings as an actor, and was concentrating only on her Lok Sabha constituency Rampur, she decided to walk the ramp for Ashima-Leena at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi. Of course, her choice of designers and attire raised a few eyebrows, but the subject ‘Go green, go Delhi’ touched a chord.

Then, just the other day, when one went to meet her at her Delhi residence, she pulled off another surprise.

Far from her image of a traditional Indian woman dressed in unending yards of a sari, there she was flashing a figure-hugging black jacket to go with a long skirt that kissed her ankles, and a black hat that teased her brown hair! If she is 47, she hid it gamely! Balancing on her six-inch black boots, and striking poses that would do a model proud, she came up with another surprise.

She makes her debut as producer with a Bengali film, “Sesh Sangath”, directed by Ashok Viswanathan, and also plays a tribal insurgent in it. Says Jayaprada: “It is my Bengali debut. I am happy the film is getting a good response.”

However, with “Sesh Sangath”, she is also being accused of trying to make money out of the burning Naxal issue. But, Jayaprada says that “the film was ready in December; but, I did not have the time to promote it. I play a tribal woman at the receiving end of the feudal system.”

But, there are whispers that she is eyeing a National Award with such films.

“If a National Award comes my way, I will be happy, but personally, I am challenging the artiste in me. I have always done docile women’s roles in commercial cinema. Now, I want to try out something different. I want to work with different directors too. After this Bengali release, I intend to dub the film into Hindi and release it in metropolises. I also have to wrap up the Indo-Chinese film ‘The Desire’. In the public’s mind, I am a commercial actor; now, I want to be recognised as a performer.”

But, did she have to reinvent herself at a time when her political career was taking fine shape? “I am first of all an actor. A few years ago, when I left the TDP, I found myself alone in Bombay. The film industry had changed. People had forgotten me. Public memory can be very short. I decided to be strong and independent. Today, I can produce films and do meaningful roles in them. I can do something for the oppressed women of Rampur. I can raise my voice for the poor.”

And, walk the ramp too! “Oh! That was fun. It was again meant to challenge myself.”

But, other causes beckon. Member of Parliament. Social activist. Actor. Dancer. Singer. There are so many hats in Jayaprada’s life. She wants more.

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