Stop treating Pregnancy like an illness, says the 'very pregnant' Lara

By Subhash K Jha Lara Dutta is not planning to take a very long maternity leave. After her baby at the end of February she will start a film in May for her production company Bheegi Basanti which may or may not star her. Says the “very pregnant” Lara, “I am definitely producing another film in May 2012. Yes it will have me in the lead. And again, like Challo Dilli where my co-star was Vinay Pathak the pairing would be very unconventional. In case I can’t get before the camera I will produce another film without me in the cast in May and then do the film with me in the lead from August. ” Lara says this is a crucial time for the couple. “Mahesh has the Olympics. I’ve motherhood to look forward to. So we’ve other important commitments. But I most certainly plan to remain an actress and a producer. It’s something that I learnt from Shah Rukh Khan during Don 2. He told me he was happy to see the actresses turning producers and advised me to continue with my career. ” At the moment Lara is all charged up for motherhood, “It’s by far the most important role of my life. But there are other roles too. Those cannot be marginalized. I don’t do anything half-heartedly. I never became an actress to enhance my bank balance. The zeroes in my cheques never mattered. All the work that I’ve done so far as an actress is what I really believed in. ” Lara’s next release and the only one for a while until she returns after motherhood is Don 2. “It’s a small role. I did it because I wanted to work with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani and with Shah Rukh Khan. ” Lara’s part is credited as a “special appearance” in Don 2. “It’s a very special film for me. Farhan and Ritesh had offered me two films. I couldn’t do the first one and I couldn’t resist being in the second one. Don is a huge franchise. It’s very exciting to be part of it. And I’m so happy people have appreciated my song in the gold dress. Here I am heavily pregnant while people out there are talking of as being this hot temptress in the number. I like the feeling, ” she laughs throatily. On a more serious note Lara is all set to produce a pre-natal yoga video. The actress feels there’s an urgent need in our country for women to come to terms with their pregnancy and how to conduct themselves before motherhood. Says Lara, “Pregnancy is treated almost like an illness in some sections of our society. I’ve been my normal self during pregnancy. I want other women who get nervous and anxious to experience the same comfort level as me and to not feel awkward about their weight or baby bump. Have I been conducting myself with dignity and grace? I don’t claim any exclusivity on the condition that I am in. I just feel motherhood should be a happy stress-free period for all women. ” Ask Lara about whether she wants a boy or a girl and she says. “Mahesh and I have no preferences. We’re just happy we’ll be parents. ”