Tamannaah Bhatia: Love, relationships, lust, all of it, is variable; it’s not a permanent equation

Tamannaah Bhatia has been dominating the headlines and looks like there’s no stopping her. In a candid conversation with Cosmopolitan India editor Nandini Bhalla, the actor talks about not letting her achievements overwhelm her, her desire to portray a complex character that is less defined by social norms, wanting to go global, and more. 

Nandini Bhalla: What is your current state of mind?

Tamannaah Bhatia: “I’ve been great…currently caught up with a lot of promotions—people have responded really well to my show [Jee Karda] that just came out, and Lust Stories 2 also released today. I’ve done many feature films in the South and have had a mainstream career. However, because of the way we are consuming content today, there is so much variety that one has an opportunity to play [different roles] as an actor. Therefore, I’m leveraging that and putting out my creativity in different forms. I am not trying to curb the outcome…I’m just taking the opportunities that excite me. 

I was also waiting for the rains to kick in as it is my favourite season of the year. Ever since I was a kid, I have been staring out of the window [when it rains] and it makes me happy for no reason. I am grateful at this point as there's a lot going on for me at work and in life. About four or five years ago, I had, consciously and intentionally, decided to take my career to the next level. I am glad that I am able to do that. After working for 15 years, a sense of boredom had set in and I was in a phase where I really needed to do something else. Last year, we released Babli Bouncer. I believe that was quite an uncharted path, because I haven't seen a female actor play the role of a bouncer. So it was an interesting one for me.

Also, something like Jee Karda, which was the portrayal of urban Mumbai life, is quite relatable owing to the circle of friends and the lifestyle [people have], but I never really got to present that on screen before. So this opportunity, and even the short film based on the theme of lust, it's all quite new for me, and I haven't done anything like this before in my career. The whole idea was to do things that excite me and get me supercharged.”

NB: What were you like as a little girl, Tamannaah?

TB: "I was very self-assured, extremely confident and perceptive as a 13-year-old. I had clarity about what I wanted to do, which is strange. For instance, I always knew I wanted to be an actor. And I think it is that clarity that my parents saw in me and helped me pursue my dreams. Apart from being fairly good at academics, I had this longing to be an actor, and I was putting in the work because I started doing theatre at an early age. I have been someone who is hardworking and consistent. Even as a kid, I did not run away from responsibility, whether it was mine or not. I like it! It is natural for me to take that [responsibility] on.”

NB: Life seems busy at the moment. Do you thrive in a state of busyness?

TB: Yes, I think I enjoy that. I thrive in a chaotic environment; it is not something that throws me off, it actually fuels me. I am the worst at taking holidays. That's a thing that I would like to change about myself. I enjoy what I do and I want to do more of it. However, it is important to take some time off when physical fatigue sets in, and that tends to take me into holiday mode.

NB: And what kind of holiday-goer are you?

TB: “I'm a ‘potato kind’ of holiday-goer. I don't do anything on vacations…I just exist. I want to be well-fed, and I cease doing anything. I love nature, therefore I end up choosing places that are scenic to have a vacation.”

NB: What brings you calm, Tamannaah?

TB: “The awareness that my sense of happiness doesn't lie in my achievements is what keeps me grounded. In all fairness. I think I have achieved so much, but yet I am not overwhelmed by it. Because, I think somewhere, life is all about ups and downs. Your ability to be joyful has to come from you, it can't come from any other place. And, of course, it is not something I've always known, it's something that I had to work towards realising. That is one benefit of being an actor—self-discovery is required to be able to play different characters or even attempt them. This has also helped me get rid of many self-destructive patterns.”

NB: Tell me more about these self-destructive patterns…

TB: “There was a phase in my career early on, where I felt I had a little bit of impostor syndrome—I just wasn't happy. I didn't feel like I have done enough or achieved enough. Many actors go through this; I think it's the constant quest for growth. But I also realised that while I'm at it, I can't wait for something to happen to me. It was the simple things in life such as enjoying my morning cup of coffee or spending time with my puppy, Pebbles that would really bring a sense of calm. I am someone who thrives on the mundane. I think it's very underrated! 

NB: Where does your sense of achievement come from?

TB: “It's the equations. I have worked with so many different people till now because I started working at a young age. I've known many for 16-17-18 years. Which is why I say that I have made some really strong bonds. When people come back to me, is when I know that I've made an actual human connection. I feel bad for this generation; with the Internet and social media, they get instant gratification that they forget to work towards building relationships even at work. In the kind of field that I am in, we share a very intimate space even at work. I don't think you can work with people you don't bond with. Or even if you do, your optimum [performance] doesn't come out there. The development of an understanding is very important when you collaborate with them [crew] in a true sense. Hearing each other out and actually creating something together feels like an achievement.”

NB: How would those closest to you describe you?

TB: “I think loving!? However, I would have liked to be a better friend, because I am never around. I don't fall into the category of people who my friends would call first when in trouble, because I will, probably, be in the middle of a shoot. But when I am with my closest people, there isn't any filter or baggage of who I am or what I do. They know me as the person that I am and do not judge me for what I do for a living, as it is so easy for everything to get mixed up. With them, I am mostly a liability, almost like a small kid who has to be taken care of. I guess they don't mind cause I am cute like that!”

NB: When you look at all the work you’ve done, what are you most proud of?

TB: “I think what I am most proud about would be consistency, regardless of hits and failures at the box office. I’ve constantly progressed, even in terms of the characters that I’ve played, I never let my good days and bad days come in the middle of my growth. My growth has been consistent and my biggest achievement is my self-awareness. I think what I have earned in all these years is just being able to spot it myself, and being completely objective of it.”

NB: And how close are you to where you want to be professionally?

TB: “I realise my endeavour is a never-ending quest—it's only going to multiply. So I am nowhere close to where I want to be. In fact, there is a strong feeling of having almost started off again (for some odd reason). I have the hunger of a newcomer, but the experience of someone who's been around in the industry for long. I have been self-taught, self-understood, and have learnt many things on my own, as I didn't have any guidance or support when I came into the industry.”

NB: Tell us a bit about your role in Lust Stories 2.

TB:  “It is an anthology film where there are four stories by four different filmmakers. It’s a thriller in which the style depicts the theme of lust. It was an interesting part to play because even though it's a short film, it has the impact of an entire feature.

As an actor, what really got me excited was the character graph that I have. The ups and downs, the layers that I have in the film…it is equivalent to what I have played in a long format, and it is very rare for an actor to get to do so much in just 26 minutes. Also, when you collaborate with good actors and filmmakers, such as Sujoy Ghosh [director] and Vijay Varma [co-star], it is an amazing experience.”

NB: Talking about characters, what kinds of roles truly excite you?

TB: “From an audience point of view, I think I've been an action movie buff. It has also been a dream to do an out-and-out action film as a woman. I feel it's not been attempted as much as it should be, and the ones who've tried to attempt it have not done justice to it. Hence, it is as important to do it right as it is to venture into it. They [action films] are also expensive to make. As a female actor, we're yet to have that market where that kind of expenditure can be made on an action film based on a woman.”

NB: Going back to love and lust, what does love mean to you now, and how has that changed from what it meant to you 10 years ago?

TB: “I think love is something that is unconditional. It is not a transaction based on materialistic things. And if that's not the case, then in my understanding it has no value. Then there’s nothing that’s left of you that is human. I think the ability to let someone be free and the lack of judgements is what love essentially means for me. Just treating somebody like you would treat yourself.”

NB: And how do you think lust can be kept alive?

TB: “I think love, relationships, lust, all of it, is variable; it’s not a permanent equation. It has to be constantly worked upon. The moment you stop working on it, it is going to fall flat. Love is a response to a certain kind of behaviour—if someone is loving to you, you are loving to that person right? But, if someone just starts behaving nasty with you, then you, of course, won’t have that feeling anymore. It is not on autopilot, you can’t expect it to run on autopilot.” 

NB: What are your hopes for the upcoming future?

TB: “I hope to play parts that people do not associate with me. And, I hope to simply create. I have been lucky to work in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Malayalam films. I feel like there’s power in being able to work in multiple languages, reaching out to a very large audience base. So I just want to eventually go global. As an actor, one should not restrict yourself to a certain place. Especially with the way technology has brought us today, I think we have the potential to take our work global. So why restrict it to a certain geography? There is too much definition that still exists when female characters are written. Which is why, it is the biggest hindrance for us to play interesting characters. I would like to play a character with less defined social norms. Human beings are complex. So just to be able to play a complex person, without really being slashed by judgement, would be a huge achievement. That is definitely something I want to do as I move forward.” 

On Tamannaah Bhatia 

Image 1: Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle velvet Red Sandals, Bodysuit and cargos, both Polite Society; Reversible hoops and Lilian necklace, both San Studios; The Seeker Necklace, Moonray; rings, Love Letter

Image 2: Pants, Rajesh Pratap Singh; Jacket and Corset set, Bodements; Gold Toned Textured earrings, Rhea Kapoor X Pipa Bella; Rings, Sna Studios; BIRKENSTOCK Arizona Chunky Suede Leather Sandals

Image 3: Sand Dune Mercury Blazer, and Sand Dune Mercury Skirt, both Moonray; Vintage Versace enamel earrings, Viange; BIRKERNSTOCK Arizona Big Buckle Natural Leather Patent High Shine Black Sandals 

Image 4: Pants, Rajesh Pratap Singh; Jacket and Corset set, Bodements; Gold Toned Textured earrings, Rhea Kapoor X Pipa Bella; Rings, Sna Studios; BIRKENSTOCK Arizona Chunky Suede Leather Sandals

Shoot Credits:

Styling: Zunaili Malik; Photographs: Taras Taraporvala;Hair and Make-Up: Tavleen Manchanda; Fashion Assistants: Jill Poladia; Junior Fashion Assistant: Krisha Dedhia; Artist Reputation Management: Raindrop Media