Dilnaz Irani: I am greedy for good roles

Dilnaz Irani, a versatile talent in the Indian entertainment scene, with a repertoire spanning films, theatre, and television, is back with Sukhee, which also stars Shilpa Shetty as the main protagonist. She has played important roles in films like Heroine, Jodha Akbar, Aarya and Sir, to name some.
Speaking about her role in ‘Sukhee’, she says, “I am playing the character of Mansi, who is a part of Sukhee’s (Shilpa Shetty) girl gang. She stays in London and works in the corporate sector. She is not married, but an independent, career-oriented woman. She has her own frustrations in her professional life. After 20 years, when the gang meets-up for a reunion, that's where the fun and masti begins. The film conveys that you should put yourself first, before thinking of others.”
Speaking about her mom, who is a teacher, Dilnaz shares that she has hardly seen her mother enjoying a simple parlour visit or going out with friends. She has mostly been busy in raising her children and her job.
When asked, how much time Dilnaz takes out for herself, she replied, “Luckily my husband, who is a music composer, keeps reminding me that one should take breaks in between their work. I am lucky to have him.”
Dilnaz is known for her serious roles. So does she have any regrets? “Right now I am doing a lot of other stuff. A theatre person like me is doing a typical Bollywood film, Sukhee and then I have played the role of a police inspector in the Tamil webseries ‘Mathagam’. My recent plays, Afterlife and Pink Is the New Black, are also fun filled. So, I am experimenting with comedy now-a-days, which is a welcome change for me. I am a greedy actor and I need more work.”
On her theatre plays, she shares, “Theatre unfortunately is not a platform where we are getting paid handsomely. I wish more people come to watch a play and more producers invest in theatre plays, and also more venues for it as well. So we can make a good living out of it.”
Dilnaz also shares, how luck is important in the industry, to mark your presence and to get good roles. She says, “I have never compared myself to my peers. It is a vicious circle. Many times I have seen how luck plays an important role in your work.”
On asking about her Tamil webseries ‘Mathagam’, Dilnaz says, “I am playing a Bengali police commissioner who stays in Chennai. She is one of the youngest IPS officers. Mathagam is based on real life incidents and it’s a thriller series. This was the first time, I have worked in South, and had a great experience.