The one thing that she taught me by example was simply the fact that even if you are not spending the whole day with your kids, the time you spend with your kids should be quality time — on tips fromMom Tanuja

Rarely are telecons (involving a reporter and a star) on time. More so if it’s a leisurely Saturday and at the other end of the line is a Bollywood biggie. But Kajol is different. For her, 11am means 10.55am. She chatted with t2 over the phone from Mumbai about the new Lifebuoy campaign (Help A Child Reach 5) that she is the face of, her kids and Bollywood’s next big pairing after Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.

Do you feel more for the cause of child mortality now as a mother of two (daughter Nysa and son Yug)?

Definitely as a mother I think you would feel that, but even if I wasn’t a mother, it’s just something that strikes you, hits you and is something completely unnecessary. Anything that harms somebody… because we are not making the effort to do something about it seems useless somehow. If I can do something about it, then definitely (I would). It is my social responsibility, whether I am a celebrity or not, to take a step forward and try. We won’t be able to eradicate the entire problem, but if I don’t step forward and try, I will never know. What is shocking is that the maximum amount of child mortality occurs in our country. We claim… 60-odd years of Independence and we have done this and that, we’ve gone to the moon, we’ve got nuclear reactors…. Have we ever considered the fact that in our country there are so many children dying simply because of neglect? Simply because they do not have the right knowledge about it? It is not a question of being well read. It is not about them not being able to go to school or not being able to read a label on a bottle. It’s as simple as basic hygiene and what it can do for you and how many lives it can save. I find that shocking.

So, what would your message be?

I would tell people to go online and see the video for themselves and share it with everybody. It is called www.youtube.com/helpachildreach5 .(The campaign Help A Child Reach 5 by Lifebuoy targets the eradication of diarrhoea.) For every rupee that you donate, Lifebuoy will match the donation. The most important thing is just to be aware. Jaise humaare maa baap kehte thhey puraney zamaney mein, ‘Beta haath munh dhokey baith jao khana khaney ke liye’… simple! We have forgotten the importance of it. In this day and age with pollution, global warming and weird viruses coming out, we need it more than ever. And you know, when children are below the age of two-and-a-half especially, their immunity is so low. They need that special care. So, whether you sound mad or whether you are not doing the socially correct thing by insisting that everybody wash their hands… I don’t know… I think it’s necessary for your child’s safety and well being. And, not only for your child’s safety, everybody… your driver, maids, servants. If you could just teach them that it is important to wash your hands with soap every time you go to the loo or have a bath.

I called up my doctor and he said it’s true that diarrhoea and pneumonia are the top two killers. It is shocking. I mean we have much bigger problems on our hands like cancer and AIDS. We don’t know the reason for all these things. We don’t have a cure for a tsunami or an earthquake. But these are things that you can do something about. You are being asked to change a habit and share it with everyone around you, most importantly. And it happens slowly.... It is not as if I am going to wash my hands today and my kids are going to be fine tomorrow. Yes, they will fall ill, but not as ill. They will recover faster. Their immunity is better. Small things for which every parent thanks God.

Do you follow these rules at home?

Yes, I do. I am absolutely anal about it. When my kids were small, I used to insist that whoever came to meet my children… I have hand sanitisers all over my house… the first thing I used to tell them is, ‘Please take off your shoes when you are entering the room, wash your hands up to your elbow and use the hand sanitiser if you want to pick up my children’. May be that helped me.

My son (Yug) has not. My daughter (Nysa) is 10. She has categorically sworn to me that, “Mom you cry too much on screen! I cannot take it. So, I am not watching any of your films! Why cannot you be like Papa (Ajay Devgn)? Why cannot you do a Golmaal?” I was like… ‘Eh, I don’t think so. Somehow, Golmaal doesn’t pick me’ — on her kids watchingher films

So, your kids keep you the busiest!

They do, they completely do. No two ways about it. There is a constant demand for attention. I am basically like a referee at home!

What do the three of you enjoy doing the most?

We do a lot of stuff actually. My son and I like to play a lot. Then he likes to dance. He likes to put on music and shake his bum… so lots of stuff.

Have they seen any of your films?

My son has not. My daughter is 10. She has categorically sworn to me that, ‘Mom you cry too much on screen! I cannot take it. So, I am not watching any of your films! Why cannot you be like Papa (Ajay Devgn)? Why cannot you do a Golmaal?’ I was like… ‘Eh, I don’t think so. Somehow, Golmaal doesn’t pick me’.

Have you picked up any work-family balancing tips from your mom Tanuja?

You know, the one thing that she taught me by example was simply the fact that even if you are not spending the whole day with your kids, the time you spend with your kids should be quality time. Spend that time concentrating wholly and solely on them. Make that time as special as possible for them. That makes up for a lot, I’d say. You need to spend as much time as you can with them. They need a parent at the end of the day regardless of however good the maid is, as a security blanket, as a back-up, as a line drawn so that they know that so far and no further. So, I think they need you around to let them know that you are there. That’s how they grow up to be the most confident of all.

But we also need you around! It’s great that you have confirmed doing a film (in hubby Ajay’s next venture)...

It’s too soon right now. We’ve chosen one script. We haven’t worked on it or finalised anything. Let us come a little closer to the stage….

As an actress what excites you about a film now?

I think it is the script itself that excites me. It has to be tight and really, really good. I love to read and if a script does not read like a fantastic book, it’s no use. You should have that feeling that you will be able to work some magic off it. I think that’s what matters.

Do you watch a lot films these days?

No, you know… I am really bad! I’d rather go for a workout.

No wonder, everyone’s raving about how fit you look!

I have just been working out. I am dieting hard, but not starving. I eat good food. I don’t eat my chocolates very often! I do very heavy weights.

Your beauty secret?

Nothing but feeling comfortable with myself. Nothing and no one can help you to look beautiful if you don’t believe that you are beautiful. You have to like yourself in the mirror whether you are a size eight or 16.

Finally, have you watched Satyagraha?

I have watched the film. It is a really good film, very thought-provoking. Amazing performances from everybody!