Jaya Prada: Amar Singh is my mentor

Veteran actress Jaya Pradaisfocusing on her acting career now, but she says her stint in politics has made her ‘trauma-proof’.
You were among the top heroines of your times, and were still acting when you decided to join politics. Why?
did not completely disappear, I think Dasavathaaram (2008) is my last film. And then, I wanted to explore other languages as well, and now, I have a few things at hand, let’s see.
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All right, but we were talking about you joining politics...
have been asked this question at many points in my life, and each time, I have discovered, that I have read the situation differently. At this moment, I have realised that it is because I am an artist, a film star, that I managed to last in politics. My recognition as a politician was just an extension of my recognition as an actress, which, in a way was good for me, because thanks to Bollywood, I had already gained the ground that a core politician would have taken half a decade to achieve. So, had I not been a Hindi film actress, I, a girl born and brought up in Andhra, would never have reached Rampur. So, yes, riding that crest of popularity, I joined politics, because I, too, like everyone else, thought I can do my bit. But, I’d say I am a fool for not having planned, or mapped out my political career as meticulously as I have done my film career. How I would prepare myself for each film! From the sort of character I wanted to play, to how to enact a scene. But I didn’t prepare for politics at all, since it wasn’t planned. I did not think it that demanding, and then I realised that you have to face, time and again, ‘situations’ in politics that demanded immediate decision, and somewhere in all that mire, I started keeping films one rung below on my priority list, and I started saying no to roles, and slowly they stopped coming. I kept thinking I am a star, and whenever I wish, I will come back to films. I thought in politics, I had a good platform where I could reach the common people for a change, but what happened was…
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But you are coming back to films now…
Yes, I have expressed a desire to many, and yes, many in the industry have come up with something for me. And in the past two years I have been involved in the film industry, I am back to thinking and planning films. But I discovered the atmosphere in the industry has changed. I am the same face, I am the same Jayaprada who has acted with the likes of Kamal, Rajini, Amitabh and NTR, but when I returned, I felt like a newcomer. How to explain this? Let me quote Rajinikanth for this, I remember he had said this to a magazine, ‘I am an icon, I am the star of the industry, but every time, I have to prove a point, in each film I have to prove I am Rajinikanth’.
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Are you saying since you’re no longer an icon, you’re having to struggle?
I can’t say that I am an icon any longer. But it is not that. Technology has changed, the pattern of filmmaking has changed, the method of acting has changed, the method of shooting, the raw materials available for shooting, each and everything has completely changed. All my producers, directors have also changed. So, I feel like a newcomer. Now, I have to hunt for my own characters, seek out films I want to do. Also, I can’t run around trees any longer; I don’t want to do it either. But I do want to do proper musical roles where I can be centrestage, roles that test my skills. For instance, I really love the way Amitabh Bachchan has adapted himself to the changing needs of the industry even as he aged and did roles that still went with his image along the way. I think I still have time to do those very-old-woman roles. I am doing a Bollywood film — the subject is paranormal, and I am playing an ethnic, yet contemporary queen in it. It’s a glamorous role, not a teeny-bopper one — that is what I am looking for. I am also doing a Malayalam movie. And I have realized that the cinema industry still respects me, I’ve always got what I have asked for here. They haven’t asked me why, or what. Whatever I have done, they have accepted. In that respect, the industry is like my mother.
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What is the one thing being a politician has taught you?
Bravery. I was a very shy, timid girl earlier, to a large extent, even when I was doing films. I didn’t even know the spelling of politics when I became a politician. I repeat, I was a fool to go for politics in the first place
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But for 16 years, you’ve been in politics...
But still, I am not a core, or let’s say, a ‘true’ politician in that sense. I can’t chop someone’s head off, murder someone… I still do not fit into that slot, because I am very emotional. It’s better to curse myself… (pauses) I am a fool, really.
When mired in controversies, how did you brave yet another day?
used to cry initially — I used to rant, ‘Why me, I am not all that you are writing about.’ I wanted to clarify each time something cropped up. But realised soon enough that that did not help. See, nobody supported me when I wanted to become an MLA/MP. But everyone did try to pull the rug from underneath my feet. But still, when I made it, won, nobody could digest it. Now, I am very bold. I have learnt to take things in my stride, I have a fair idea of what to do. If there is a rape in my constituency, or somewhere else, and if I feel I can help, I go there. I can speak loudly, shout, scream. That Jaya Prada, who at one time couldn’t speak one sentence in 10 minutes because she used to be so tongue-tied and nervous, can now shout at the top of her voice in and outside the Parliament, for hours, if needed. I can face anything now. After my second election, and the immense trauma that surrounded it, I now feel that nothing in life can be more traumatic than that period. So, after my stint in politics, I am trauma-proof, now.
Actress, women… how much are they heard in the Parliament, even if they are politicians?
trange you ask, because when the Nirbhaya rape case happened, I spoke on the issue, I spoke about the Anti-rape Bill (Nirbhaya Act). At that time, in our constituency, two little girls got raped, and so, it was relevant for me. I took this case to Akhilesh (UP CM), I went to the President of India as a sitting member of Parliament, but I couldn’t get any response. I realised that I can only raise my voice in the Parliament. More than an MP, I am a lady first. And I have always maintained respectability — there is no one in the industry who can refute that. And I maintained the same in politics.
Rumours linking the two of you apart, every controversy of yours did feature Amar Singh in some way.
I just don’t care. I am an actress, I know that it takes just a minute to spread a rumour. If I do four films with a hero, they will automatically link me with him. Amar Singh is my mentor. If he says something, I will do it. I couldn’t even speak Hindi at one point — and I had been labelled Gungi Gudiya (dumb doll) at one point. After I joined the party, Amar Singh wrote my first speech — I was to speak in Lucknow - and he told me how to speak, pronounce, everything. Like I said, there was no one on whom I could rely on for decisions, I had no political background. I had to fightback all alone. So what is wrong if I took Amar Singh's support? He also supported Amitji (Bachchan), and Anil Ambani. He has supported many. But because I am a beautiful lady, his supporting me became an issue. They wondered why is he doing it, there is something behind it… What can I do about people’s minds? If I had to give a speech in the parliament, I needed a proper office, a proper agenda, research material. When I need to speak about Nirbhaya, or 33% reservation, I need a place to prepare my speeches. So I used to use Amar Singh’s office. Even if I tie a rakhi on his wrist, people will say, ‘Oh…’. My beauty is my curse, what can I do?
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Any political ambitions, now?
Right now, my focus is on films, and I want to show a good body of work hereon. I am light-hearted now, and right now, I don’t feeling like going back into that sorrowful world I was in a few years ago.
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