Twinkle Khanna reveals how she researched on TN activist Muruganantham first for blog, then novel and finally, maiden production venture starring hubby Akshay Kumar
Twinkle Khanna
ADVERTISEMENT
After a not-too-impressive acting stint that both she and hubby Akshay Kumar often joke about, Twinkle Khanna is gearing up for another shot at Bollywood, as producer this time round. Her upcoming biographical film Padman, starring Akki, is inspired by Tamil Nadu-based social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised sanitary hygiene in rural India by creating a low-cost sanitary napkin machine.
Twinkle, a celebrated columnist and published writer, reveals she stumbled upon Muruganantham's story in the midst of research for her column. "When I went through it, I realised it was a wonderful story to write. I fictionalised it in my book, The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. I want the story to reach every nook and corner of India. Making a film is an assertive way of doing so. It's not about converting the converted, but my motive is to raise awareness about sanitary hygiene," she tells mid-day at the launch event of L'Oreal Professional's new line.
There's little that Twinkle holds more sacred than humour. In that vein, she says the term 'star wife' puzzles her. "Am in a constellation somewhere?" she chuckles with a hint of sincerity in her voice. "Is there an entity as star wife? I don't like that tag." While sha has dabbled in different professions, Twinkle asserts that she has always a working woman. "I have been working consistently since the age of 15. People perceive me differently because sometimes my work comes into public awareness and often it doesn't need to. This year isn't any different."