She might not be seen in Bollywood anymore, but that's because she's got her hands full with other 'meaningful' things.
She might not be seen in Bollywood anymore, but that's because she's got her hands full with other 'meaningful' things. For one, Swaroop Rawal has just released her first book, Learning Disabilities in a Nutshell (which looks a little less intimidating than her Phd thesis), she's been super busy teaching children in Gujarat and MBA students in Narsee Monjee College and thanks to theatre, she hasn't lost touch with acting. And even as we're about to start the interview, she tells us that she has a jazz dance class to run to in a bit, where she is the oldest student. She tells CS about how she's changing the world in her own small way: 
WHO: Swaroop Rawal
WHAT: Talking about all that keeps her busy
WHERE: At her home-turned office in Juhu
Write move
After winning Miss India decades ago, I was on a magazine cover and I remember going to Delhi to do a couple of shows. In one such event, I spoke on learning disabilities and a publisher who was present there suggested that I write a book on the subject. Since this happens to be such a sensitive and controversial subject, I put off the idea for the longest time. Then, some years ago, the absurdity of the situation hit me, I was being chased by a publisher, when it usually is the other way round. So I got down to writing. Moreover since this is a subject very close to my heart, I wanted to do justice to it, which is why the book got delayed.
Subject matters
There needs to be greater awareness of learning disabilities in India, and this is just a step in that direction. People say that Bollywood can play a role in sensitising the audience to the subject, but I think that our film industry is all about entertainment (and this isn't a subject that most people will find entertaining) and making money. So you can't blame them if they're not drawn to subjects like these. Only an Aamir Khan could have pulled off a film like Taare Zameen Par and made it work. I'd rather that filmmakers stayed away from this subject than mess it up.
Class apart
I wouldn't mind making a comeback with a film based on this subject, or anything else for that matter. For me acting is all about having fun. If people tell me that I was terrible in a certain role or that I looked fat, I take it with a pinch of salt because for me, it was all about having fun. So since I operate on that principle, I have no qualms doing small roles. But this is a controversial subject at home.
My husband (Paresh Rawal) seems to think that I'm such a good actor that I shouldn't accept small roles. So out of respect for him, I've stayed away from cinema. But frankly speaking, if cinema were a part of my life, I wouldn't have had the time to make a difference to children's lives around the country.
I teach drama in education and life skills to kids in rural Gujarat. Sometimes I think that our modern Mumbai schools are lagging behind. We have a democratic class -- OBC kids learning microfinance. If that isn't progress, then what is!u00a0
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