I was born in India and consider myself Punjabi by heart Goldy Notay

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May 8, 2010 (Sampurn Wire):Subhash K Jha Speaks to It’s A Wonderful Afterlife’s Goldy Notay

What was it like working with Shabana Azmi and Gurinder Chadha? A bit like 3 generations of women bonding over the same film, wasn’t it?

I was an aficionado of both, so it’s been a double dream to work with them. Shabana put my nerves to rest from the start. We hugged, and then off we went eating jalebis together and talking about feminism, relationships, politics and love. She’s jaw droppingly amazing as an actress, scrupulous in her work ethics and very, very funny. Gurinder has such incredible stamina and is a formidable woman. She linked arms with me on this journey and I’m ever so grateful!

Were you somewhat apprehensive about playing an overweight marriageable girl with a hyper-concerned mom?

Any apprehensions I had were more about me as Goldy, not me as an actress. I knew it was important to find Roopi physically and I delved into the role (and my plate) with a hearty appetite. I’m normally a carrot juice drinking, organic food eating, gym loving kind of girl, so of course, the prospect of my body shape changing was rather daunting. I have a hyper concerned mom, so having one on screen wasn’t as difficult as having one in real life (sorry mom)!

Shabana had a lot of trouble shedding all the weight she had put on. What about you?

Well it’s taken about 10 months, but I’ve kept myself working out on the treadmill along through sheer determination (and with a picture of what I wanted to look like on the ‘Red Carpet’ firmly planted in my head)! I went to the gym about 6 times a week, several hours a day, ate pigeon portions of food, and slapped my hands every time I reached for something sweet! I do however miss having frappicino’s with extra whipped cream!

Do you see It’s A Wonderful Afterlife as an opportunity to familiarize yourself with an Indian viewership?

Well, I had a small role in London Dreams opposite Salman Khan which was my foray into Bollywood. I was born in India and consider myself Punjabi by heart, so yes, would love to have further exposure in my place of birth.

How comfortable are you with your cultural and cinematic identity?

Culturally I’m a mixed bag really. I think that whilst growing up I really wanted to assimilate as it was easier that way. But now, I appreciate my cultural colours and being Punjabi has helped a great deal in the roles that have come my way, especially with Roopi. I’m not really sure what my cinematic identity is at this stage. I quite like having anonymity, which with Roopi was a delight as no one recognises me on the street. So, I can sort of have my cake and eat it too!

–Subhash K Jha / Sampurn Wire