What's the purpose of participating in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon this year?
A year ago, when we launched The Foundation, we had nothing tangible. Our first effort was the Andaman Nicobar Scholarship Initiative where we selected six children from over 100 schools in the islands and awarded them scholarships to facilitate their studies in Rishi Valley. I want these children, Bindu, Jinu, Matrena, Pratima and Rukhsar, to share their experiences with the media. That's why we dovetailed it with the Mumbai Marathon.
What's the feedback that the children have given you?
Children don't give feedback, really. But yes, they told me that they love the open spaces in Rishi Valley, the friendly atmosphere, though they complain about the food sometimes. I'm also glad that they will participate in the marathon with celebrities like Aparna Sen, Amitav Ghosh, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma and Teesta Setalvad, all of whom have supported our efforts.
How do you manage to raise funds for The Foundation?
I usually invest Rs 25 lakh of my own every year into The Foundation. Around 40 per cent of it is received by our founders. We are spending around Rs 20 lakh every year as part of the Andaman Nicobar Scholarship Initiative and over seven years we will raise Rs 1.7 crore specifically for this initiative. I'm very casual about fund-raising and approach only some of my close friends. Till date, only one person has turned me down and that came as a shock.
Besides doing social service, you are an actor and the face of Indian rugby. How do juggle everything?
I'm not very spontaneous by nature. I am extremely organised and every single day, every single hour, is usually plotted for a year. I recently completed a certified course in scuba diving from the Maldives too. I love acting, public service and rugby, so obviously I don't feel pressurised at all.
What about films?
I'm awaiting the release of Before the Rains, Kalpurush, The Whisperers and Japanese Wife in 2008. I have commercial films like Shaurya and Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam. There's also Mumbai Chakra. By June 2008, I will stop acting for a year and start directing my film based on Mohsin Hamid's novel, Moth Smoke.
