Age is just a number

Himani Shivpuri who has been a part of numerous movies and serials in the past, will now be seen in a short film titled Blossom in Love. Directed by Swati Semwal, the film throws light on how love can be found in the most unlikely places. It also touches upon how lonely seniors need compainionship.
  
Talking to Himani we find out about her experience of shooting for an online medium and her take on roles being made for mature women in the industry. 

“The reason I wanted to work with Swati was because the storyline is based on one of Ruskin Bond’s short stories and he has been a close friend of my father so there was no way I was going to turn down the offer,” Himani says, adding that what caught her eye was the fact that the story highlighted a very important issue. 

Himani, who plays the role of an ageing woman in the movie shares that even though actors in the industry say that it is difficult to pull off a single-starrer project, she had it rather easy due to her strong theatre background. Her character in the film is seen dealing with urban loneliness and unrequited love.
  
The movie was released online, but for Himani its not really about the medium, as it is about the meaty role she has to play. “I love roles that mean something and draw attention and eventually have a potential of growth in the movie itself,” she says, adding that the role has to be challenging for her as an actor and provoke her to bring out her best. 
  
She adds that it is because of these online platforms that audiences now are always on the lookout for something that is new and fresh. “Gone are those days when it was all about masala, now it is all about generating good and engaging content,” she says pointing out that this is the very reason movies like Badhaai Ho and Andhadhun did so well. 

The actress says that because of such off-beat movies, new avenues have opened up for many matured actresses. “Neena Gupta stole the show in Badhaai Ho and so did Tabu in Andhadhun. They showed their potential that matured actresses still have it in them to play good lead-worthy roles rather than just supporting characters which often don’t even have a name.”
 
“For me as an actress who has been in the industry for a long time now, I feel its unfair that mature actresses now are often offered the role of either the mother or the notrious mother-in-law. There is much more that they can do if they are given the space and the role is developed based on their age,” she says. 

Coming back to Blossom in Love, Himani says that it is a short film that every son or daugther should watch to experience what their parents go through when they are abandoned, “Through the movie I hope I am able to make a change in the mindset of the people who abandon their parents for their own comfort,” she ends.