For Niki Walia, more than three decades in showbiz have come with their share of choices, challenges and moments when she had to put her principles before professional opportunities. From making her film debut with ‘Mr Azaad’ to moving to television and now taking on characters that challenge her familiar image, the actor says she has never been comfortable simply playing by the industry’s rules.In a conversation with Mid-Day, the veteran actress reflected on her journey, her latest film ‘Bhai Tera Star Hai’, comparisons with Madhuri Dixit and her continuing effort to convince casting directors that she can go beyond urban and elite characters.
A role that pushed her into unfamiliar territory
In ‘Bhai Tera Star Hai’, Walia plays Mandy, the wife of Sanjay Kapoor’s character. She describes Mandy as loud, unapologetic and badass, a combination that offered her a chance to step away from the kind of parts audiences have traditionally associated with her. After spending nearly 30 years in the industry, the actor considers the opportunity a blessing, particularly because it allowed her to experiment with something different. However, she was disappointed that the film did not receive the response she felt it deserved.“It’s such a shame it did not get the due it needed. I also feel really, really, really bad for Vivek [Agarwal] and Raghav Juyal.”
Choosing dignity over professional opportunities
Walia’s willingness to speak up, she says, dates back to the beginning of her career. After making her debut in ‘Mr Azaad’ alongside Anil Kapoor, she eventually moved away from films and ventured into television. Looking back, the actor believes her decision was closely linked to her refusal to accept situations that made her uncomfortable. She says she was outspoken even as a newcomer, despite knowing that doing so could affect her career.“I was one of those anomalies, a rebel. But if you remember, when I had done my films and I had left my film, and left the industry, I had also left the industry because I knew that I would not tolerate nonsense. And I was very vocal about it,” she said.Walia recalled an incident from the sets of ‘Mr Azaad’ that reinforced her decision to stand up for herself. At a time when she was still new to the industry, she chose to publicly express her discomfort rather than remain silent.“When I was not treated well on the sets of Azaad, when I was approached as a newcomer by the movie magazine, I had gone ahead and voiced my discomfort back then when I was 20. I chose my dignity over my career path,” she said.She also spoke about the social expectations that were sometimes placed on newcomers, particularly when it came to maintaining relationships with people who could influence a film’s business.“It wasn’t pleasant for me. I wasn’t willing to go out for dinners with distributors just because my producer thought it was the right thing and he might sell a few more territories,” she said.
Why she kept her distance from Anil Kapoor
Walia also remembered her experience of working alongside Anil Kapoor in ‘Mr Azaad’. Given the seniority gap between them, she admits she was conscious about maintaining boundaries and never developed the kind of informal equation that some co-stars share.“He was much more senior than I, and I didn’t have that kind of rapport. I always kept my professional distance. I have not really had a mad ride with Anilji on Azaad. I was always too nervous,” she said.
The Madhuri Dixit comparison that never went away
Another recurring part of Walia’s career has been the comparison with Madhuri Dixit. According to the actor, the resemblance has been pointed out to her so often that it has become something she continues to encounter even after decades in the industry.“There wasn’t a passing day of my life that I was not made aware, or someone told me, or I have read it somewhere. It is happening even today,” she said.
Walia wants casting directors to see beyond her urban image
If there is one perception Walia is determined to change, it is the idea that she can only play sophisticated, urban or elite women. The actor says she has repeatedly tried to convince casting directors to give her opportunities that require a completely different physical and emotional appearance.“I have really struggled to make people understand that you cannot put me in a box. I am willing to do the auditions, I am willing to change the colour of my skin if I have to,” Walia added.To make her point, she referred to Amitabh Bachchan’s transformation for ‘Paa’, arguing that actors can undergo significant changes when a role demands it.“I repeatedly keep telling all the casting directors that if you could make a six-foot man like Amitabh Bachchan into a Paa, who is a dwarf, yes, you can definitely change my elite and urban look to a rural look, that’s not hard.”