People failed to slot me as an actress: Soni Razdan

 Filmmakers were not as willing to experiment as they do today, says veteran actress Soni Razdan who feels she got "stuck" somewhere as she was as "different" as being a "grain in rice".

Soni, who will soon be seen sharing screen space with her daughter Alia Bhatt in Raazi, says though she is eager to do more work, she does not get offers often.

She says, "People do not come and offer me roles. Maybe they don't think of me at all. Like my audience, even I wonder why I do not get offers more often. I think my career is of a big perception of others.

"Once Alia became a successful actress, people started thinking that I am only travelling around the world with her. In my young days, people failed to slot me anywhere as an actress. When I started the difference between the commercial cinema and art-house cinema was pretty distinct. The industry was ruled by beautiful actresses like Hema Malini and talents like Smita Patil among others. The fact is, I neither look as glamorous as a commercial heroine did back then nor like a conventional village girl of an art-house film. People were not ready to experiment as they do it today. So, I got stuck somewhere," says Soni Razdan.

Born to a German woman and a Kashmiri man, Soni grew up in Mumbai. She says she has culturally deep roots in India.

"I am very much of an Indian by heart. My mother is a German who was brought up in the UK. So, I had so much cross-cultural exposure as a child. But Mumbai is my city. India is my country, and it fascinates me all the time to discover something new," she adds. 

In the forthcoming thriller spy drama Raazi, releasing on Friday, Soni will essay reel mother to her real-life daughter Alia.

Describing it as a nice and emotional experience, she says, "I am very proud to be associated with the film because it is a  story that the world should experience. Though others might think me and Alia had great a mother-daughter time together, it wasn't the actual scenario. But yes, after the shooting was wrapped, we had an amazing quality time together."