Exclusive! Urmila Matondkar: Even now, I see men getting very uncomfortable at the thought of me getting to the forefront

Her contemporaries may be doing films and exploring the world of OTT, but Urmila Matondkar is in no hurry. She will take up a project only if it's very exciting for her, she says. In the meantime, she is gearing up to be a judge on the reality show DID Super Moms. In a chat, the actress speaks about her acting plans, political journey and six years of marriage to Mohsin Akhtar Mir.Excerpts:
You have been missing from showbiz for a while now. So, would you say that DID Super Moms marks your return to the screen?
I have always disliked words like 'return'. Having said that, yes, I have been missing, for the simple reason that anything that I have done or I would want to do has to be interesting. I want to be extremely excited about it. Otherwise, there is no point, there never was, and there never will be. As time passes, your patience level with many things is not the same, so you want it to be worth it!

What prompted you to take up this show?
We have seen dance shows with kids and younger people. But this one is a celebration of womanhood and I loved the concept. I was one of the first judges on a dance show (Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in 2007). At that time, it was a one-of-its-kind show, and now this one too, stands out. Indian women top the chart when it comes to multitasking, but when it comes to themselves, that's last on their priority list. With this show, they will embark on a different journey. It will celebrate that courage, willpower and dream to do something that they always wanted to. Look at any household, rarely is the focus on a woman's role. I am not talking about the big cities. Of course, in big cities, women are fighting their own battles to make a place for themselves; they need to prove themselves again and again. I know it because I am fighting it even today in another field.
Clearly, you are referring to the political arena. So, how would you evaluate your political journey so far?
It's been fascinating and I have chosen the word very carefully. When you say fascinating, it's a lot of adjectives together. Not just nice, good and great, but interesting and intriguing as well, and difficult, too. I'm not one who would want to highlight my issues or struggles; I never have and don't intend to. I'm one of those who likes to fight it out in their own way. Even today, there is a huge battle that a woman has to fight, and God forbid, if you happen to be decent-looking or if you happen to be an actor, it's tough! There are so many stereotypes in people's minds that at the beginning of your journey, they give you zero marks and then they are busy slandering you, calling you a pretty face and even referring to the 'sexy' tag.
How have you managed to deal with it?
It has been fascinating because it has been exciting and also kind of challenging to break each of those stereotypes and make a mark. When I started a few years ago, I had exactly four weeks to do that and then there were the elections. But the response that I got from the media and the public was very positive and encouraging. I know my job and have gone about it with extreme dignity, grace and self-respect. Never have I used words or done things that have brought down my image or brought anybody else down, and yet I have managed to make my point loud and clear. Even now, I see men getting extremely uncomfortable at the thought of me getting to the forefront. As I said, it's a long battle that one has to be ready for.
So, you are here to stay?
Of course. I got into politics to do my bit of social good and I have been busy with that. I have travelled across the state and my work continues.
This is considered a great time for actors and many of your contemporaries have got into the digital space. Do you feel you are losing out on that?
Absolutely not. The one thing that I can say is that whenever I come on an OTT show, which will be very soon, I will make a splash. I will make sure that it's something that's never been seen before. Yes, it's a fantastic time for actors, and I'm very happy to see some of their work, like Tabu in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Shefali Shah in Delhi Crime. These were such fine performances. It doesn't have to be me, it can be any other woman; it's about applauding good work and cheering for them.
They say once an actor, always an actor and you also started your career early as a child artiste. Do you miss the arclights?
I don't think like that. My personality has never been one-sided; it's multifaceted. That's why people were taken aback when I got into politics. They didn't expect me to know so much, have socio-political and historical knowledge. I come from an academically-oriented background, I was a good student and have always loved reading.
The pandemic has changed people's outlook towards life. What's the one change in you?
Suddenly one has realised that there is not much time, so let's use that time to be positive and nice to each other. Human beings have this misconception that we run the world, but that's not the case. We are so far away from nature and the little things of life. I hope we now embrace all that life has to offer.

On the personal front, you completed six years of marriage some time ago. How would you describe these six years?
One should enjoy every phase of life, and I have done that with all my heart and mind. Luckily, Mohsin and I like the same things; we love travelling, the outdoors, cooking and our pets. He has been very supportive of everything I have done. I am extremely blessed as a person. As a daughter, I have had a great life, my family took such good care of me, they treated me like a diamond. And now I have married a man who has physically, mentally and emotionally stood by me, and with politics, that has not been easy.