SHARJAH – A packed hall at Sharjah International Book Fair (2017) on Friday welcomed veteran actress Asha Parekh, with enthusiastic applause as one of Bollywood’s original stars entered for a session.
Attired in a beautiful green sari, Parekh, 75, was attending the 36th edition of the fair for a session to discuss her autobiography titled The Hit Girl, written by cine-writer Khalid Mohammed.
After the session had started with a classical dance performance from a young dance troupe trio, Parekh charmed the audience with her candour as she spoke on a myriad of topics, from her beginnings as a child actor to the idea of there being a biopic about her life. The actress is known for films that include Do Badan, Main Tulsi Tere Angan Ki and Kati Patang.
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“As a child actor, my first signing amount was 11 Rupees. I originally wanted to be a doctor and then an Indian Administrative Services officer, but I ended up acting.”
When asked about the penning of autobiographies she said, “I think autobiographies should be written after a certain point of time in one’s career and age.”
From the love story of her parents, her relationships with co-actors and the depression that she has fought, Parekh shared the episodes of her life that are discussed in The Hit Girl.
On her battle with depression, she said, “I lost both my parents in a short span of time. I was feeling lost and empty. It was a difficult time and my doctors asked me to consult a psychiatrist. I refused to take any medication, but I was willing to talk about it. I now have the philosophy of ‘live life and be happy,’” she said.
Taking up questions from the audience, she was asked about her possible return to Bollywood. “No come-back plans!” she jokingly replied. “However, I would love to be Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s heroine, but not in the role of a mother or a sister.”
Parekh also mentioned that if her biopic is made of her life, she would want Alai Bhatt to play her.
SIBF 2017 is hosting an array of celebrities and famous personalities from across the entertainment industry. The fair runs until November 11 at Expo Centre Sharjah.
