Hema Malini photographed in Mumbai.
New Delhi:
Actress Hema Malini said that there is a dearth of opportunities for older actresses in Hindi films unlike Hollywood, where quality roles are written for female stars of all ages.
Hema Malini, who has starred in more than 150 films during her glorious career, said that she can still play a variety of characters onscreen but feels quality roles are hard to come by.
"Internationally, such beautiful films are made with elderly actresses but that doesn't happen here. They don't want to invest money because filmmaking is too expensive, so why would they risk it with me? That's the problem. No one comes to me with good roles," Hema Malini told PTI.
"Meryl Streep is doing fantastic work. She is of my age. I can also do so many things but I need opportunities for that," she added.
The actress, who is the BJP MP from Mathura, was last seen in a guest appearance in Amitabh Bachchan's 2011 film Aarakshan.
She will now be seen in Ramesh Sippy's upcoming film Shimla Mirchi, which also stars Rajkummar Rao and Rakul Preet Singh.
"It is a sweet comedy and I had fun doing the film. I say yes when interesting roles come up and I thought that this part was really nice. So I agreed to be a part of it," she added.
Recently, the actress also launched her music album Dream Girl, which has been composed by Babul Supriyo and features his duet Aji suniye to zara, kya hai manjra with the actress.
The album also has two Bengali songs, which Hema Malini had originally recorded for Kishore Kumar.
"I never thought that I would sing professionally but it so happened that I made Babul hear a Bengali song, I had sung many years ago. He thought I should sing and bring out an album. I readily agreed. I don't let any opportunity go," she said.
"My family also liked the tracks. Dharamji (Dharmendra) was surprised to hear me sing. To impress him, I even recorded a ghazal and made him hear that. He said, 'I never knew you sing so well'. I said that now whenever you write a ghazal next, I will sing," she added. (Also Read: Hema Malini Launches Music Album, Says Dharmendra Should 'Write a Song')
Hema Malini, who has starred in more than 150 films during her glorious career, said that she can still play a variety of characters onscreen but feels quality roles are hard to come by.
"Internationally, such beautiful films are made with elderly actresses but that doesn't happen here. They don't want to invest money because filmmaking is too expensive, so why would they risk it with me? That's the problem. No one comes to me with good roles," Hema Malini told PTI.
"Meryl Streep is doing fantastic work. She is of my age. I can also do so many things but I need opportunities for that," she added.
The actress, who is the BJP MP from Mathura, was last seen in a guest appearance in Amitabh Bachchan's 2011 film Aarakshan.
She will now be seen in Ramesh Sippy's upcoming film Shimla Mirchi, which also stars Rajkummar Rao and Rakul Preet Singh.
"It is a sweet comedy and I had fun doing the film. I say yes when interesting roles come up and I thought that this part was really nice. So I agreed to be a part of it," she added.
Recently, the actress also launched her music album Dream Girl, which has been composed by Babul Supriyo and features his duet Aji suniye to zara, kya hai manjra with the actress.
The album also has two Bengali songs, which Hema Malini had originally recorded for Kishore Kumar.
"I never thought that I would sing professionally but it so happened that I made Babul hear a Bengali song, I had sung many years ago. He thought I should sing and bring out an album. I readily agreed. I don't let any opportunity go," she said.
"My family also liked the tracks. Dharamji (Dharmendra) was surprised to hear me sing. To impress him, I even recorded a ghazal and made him hear that. He said, 'I never knew you sing so well'. I said that now whenever you write a ghazal next, I will sing," she added. (Also Read: Hema Malini Launches Music Album, Says Dharmendra Should 'Write a Song')
