How has life been after TZP?
You would know better (smiles)! There has been a lot of appreciation from people I never knew before, professionally and personally. It has been special to me since I was able to portray a sensitive subject aesthetically on the big screen.

Did you know what was coming when you signed the film?
I knew the role was that of the boy’s mother. But I never knew that it would leave such a great impact on the people.

Were there any special preparations needed for the role?
There is something that actors call the ‘what if’ factor. In other words, it is the possibility of whether something like this can happen to you, or someone close to you. So being a woman, I put myself in a mother’s shoes and imagined something like this happening to me. Although I don’t have kids, I have young nephews and nieces. I took care of them when they fell sick and took the same to the screen.

Being nominated for the Best Supporting Role at awards must be special.
Obviously, but it was not something I expected. As an actor, I give my 100 per cent to any role. I treat any script as the world’s best script and believe in giving it my all. The way I am on the screen is the same as I am in real life.

What was it like acting with Darsheel Safary?
Oh, he is a naughty boy and a cheat (laughs). He and his friend taught me how to play UNO, but with all the wrong rules. And we would play the game off the sets.

What has this movie taught you?
It has been special because I was able to bring out the beauty of the human spirit. I moved hearts and brought people closer to their mothers. I had 30-year-old men coming up to me and weeping, telling me how they could relate to the movie. I also learned that the Indian audience enjoys any film that comes straight from the heart and has values attached to it. We are an emotional lot.