The unassuming Aroona Irani
Taru Bahl

WHAT can you say about a girl who was born in a family of 10 and made it in the world of films without the ambition, drive or connections which could have assured her a place at the top?

Well, it can certainly be said that after nearly five decades in the industry, Aroona Irani has finally found her own place under the sun. The taste of success and acclaim along with job satisfaction has come to her at a time when most of her contemporaries have hung up their boots and called it a day. She, on the contrary, is not just brimming with new ideas, having created a successful brand with her television production house AK Productions—- the Aroona-Kuku combine being her lucky mascot— but has also never looked so fresh, vivacious and young. Behind it is a tale of struggle, one in which the heroine has finally triumphed, both on a personal and professional plane. The woman in her is aglow with love, contentment and creativity and the artiste in her is evolving as she adds new roles to her repertoire.

Dressed in a light pink shirt and stretch jeans with light make-up, Irani looks cool and in command sitting in her office in Oshiwara, Mumbai, sipping herbal tea with biscuits. Managing her "baby", AK International Pvt Ltd, has come naturally to her. She has used her numerous experiences in the film industry to develop a set of skills which can be handy and effective in the present state of flux when the entire concept of entertainment is undergoing a massive churning.

Leaving the film business to her husband Kuku Kohli, she is focusing on television. Though she did help him in the making of Yeh Dil Aashiqana, last year’s moderate hit starring a fresh lead pair, she is more comfortable with television. Her directorial innings began with Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, one of the early family soaps on television, and she has now honed her skills with Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, which continues to hog top TRP ratings. She is currently working on Zammen Se Aasman Tak which will be telecast on Sahara from September.

Ironically, for a person who had her share of health problems when she was into films full time, television, despite its hectic 18-hour-a-day shift, has enhanced her sense of well-being. She has quit all medication, finds herself fitter and more energetic and is frankly, looking better than ever before. She claims this to be her golden period.

Back in 1976, on the advice of a swami she had substituted the ‘u’ in her name with a double ‘o’. She is also very steady in her approach, believing in realistic and achievable targets. She is happy to climb one step at a time, pause, reflect, thank God and accept his blessings before moving on.

Had she been desperately ambitious she would have inched her way up in the film industry too. Despite having been around for more than 48 years in theatre, Gujarati cinema and Bollywood, if she could not rise beyond being a character artiste it was simply because she was " too shy, reticent and content". Starting off in her father’s Gujarati drama company in comic roles, she was spotted by Babubhai Mistry who offered her a part in a forthcoming movie. She says, "Those were C-grade miniscule humorous roles in Gujarati films."

She made her debut as a child artiste in Ganga Jamuna. A spate of movies followed wherein she played the roles of sister, spurned lover, bar girl, cabaret dancer and later mother. Her favourite roles were in Beta and Carvan.

That she is modest and unassuming can be judged from the fact that even in her own home productions she assigns to herself only tiny roles, which may be significant to the storyline but are not dominating. Instead of cornering the meatiest roles, she likes to enact characters who befit her age and experience, allowing the younger lot to light up the small screen with their passionate intensity. However, she has her favourites. Mihir, nee Amar Upadhyay, owes his screen debut to her and is now back in Des Mein`85 as the lead actor. Meanwhile, it is Govinda who commands the maximum respect from her as a genuine friend, especially after Anari No 1, which was her home production and marked Govinda’s transition from a mass actor to a class actor.

She takes her role as filmmaker and script writer seriously. She feels that the audience looks up to actors as role models, espousing the words they pen and trying to ape their lifestyles too. Which is why it becomes imperative that they project values and concepts which can make a positive difference to the common man’s life. She feels that as public figures they have greater responsibility.

At the end of the day, even after a tough and arduous journey Aroona harbours no misgivings, complaints or rancour towards anybody. Her strength is her family of eight brothers and sisters, whom she supported when they were young. She counts herself lucky that they acknowledge her contribution and bestow her with respect. Even in the unenviable role of Kuku Kohli’s second wife, she has reconciled to her situation and feels blessed with what she has.