Khushboo
is
poised
to
return
to
Hindi
cinema,
after
three
decades.
After
the
historical
verdict
of
the
Supreme
Court
in
defence
of
her
statement
on
premarital
sex,
Khushboo
has
never
felt
freer
and
more
liberated
from
gender
biases.
“I
now
know
I
can
speak
my
mind
freely,
that
freedom
of
speech
does
exist
in
our
country
and
we"ve
a
completely
dependable
judiciary." she
said
from
Chennai
on
Sunday
afternoon.
There"s
more
a
sense
of
relief
than
triumph
at
Bollywood
child-
star
turned
Tamil
superstar
Khushboo"s
residence
in
Chennai
after
her
much
–misconstrued
comments
on
pre-marital
sex
which
in
2005
provoked
22
criminal
cases
against
her,
were
defended
by
a
special
bench
of
the
Supreme
Court
last
week.
In
a
historic
verdict
the
honourable
Supreme
Court
opined
that
two
people
living
together
are
not
an
offence.
Speaking
from
Chennai,
Khushboo
is
elated
but
guarded
to
begin
with.
“My
family
has
seen
what
I"ve
gone
through.
Though
I
remained
calm
and
collected
throughout
.Till
the
judgement
is
not
given
I
can"t
speak
too
much
on
this.
But
yes
it
has
been
a
trying
time.
I"d
like
to
say
the
whole
controversy
erupted
on
a
very
wrong
statement
attributed
to
me.
I
never
said
it"s
okay
to
have
pre-marital
sex.
My
statement
was
that
if
two
people
have
consensual
sex
they
must
use
protection.
The
statement
was
twisted
and
distorted
for
the
convenience
of
whoever
chose
to
make
an
issue
out
of
my
genuine
concern
for
the
health
of
youngsters
today."
Says
Khushboo
defensively,
“I
stand
by
what
I
had
said.
What
was
wrong
in
my
saying,
if
you
have
pre-marital
sex
you
have
to
safeguard
yourself?
I
never
said
its
fine
to
indulge
in
pre-marital
sex.
My
words
were
twisted,
and
padded
up
to
suit
the
purposes
of
various
individuals
and
political
organizations.
I
didn"t
try
to
correct
the
distortions
because
those
were
misrepresenting
my
words
wouldn"t
have
listened
to
me."
Khushboo
things
it
was
a
gender
bias
that
generated
a
sense
of
outrage
at
her
harmless
statement.
“They
probably
don"t
expect
Indian
actresses
to
have
a
mind
of
their
own
and
the
courage
to
express
themselves
freely.
Just
because
it
was
Khushboo
and
she
made
sense,
they
couldn"t
take
it."
Khushboo
was
present
at
the
Supreme
Court
hearing
for
the
latest
verdict.
“So
far
I
had
only
seen
courtroom"s
in
films.
I
was
there
for
five
hours
for
the
hearing.
At
the
end
of
it,
what
a
relief
it
was
to
hear
what
the
honourable
Chief
Justice
and
his
honourable
colleagues
had
to
say.
I
realized
there"s
an
absolute
sense
of
justice
in
this
country.
It
was
heartening."
Khushboo
now
feels
she
has
an
extra
social
responsibility.
“I
feel
now
I"ve
to
be
even
more
careful
in
my
conduct
and
statements.
People
are
looking
at
me
and
up
to
me.
What
I
say
has
to
make
sense
and
in
public
interest.
As
for
those
who
attacked
me
they
were
just
some
self-motivated
people
paid
by
a
few
political
parties
to
malign
me.
And
those
who
protested
against
me
were
definitely
not
my
fans."
Contrary
to
reports
Khushboo
says
the
temple
in
her
honour
built
by
her
fans
still
stands
in
Tiruchirapalli
in
Tamil
Nadu.
“The
temple
is
very
much
there.
My
well-wishers
don"t
need
to
worry.
Lately
I
haven"t
been
doing
too
many
movies.
Since
I
got
married
ten
years
ago
I"ve
been
rather
laidback
about
my
film
career.
Now
I"ve
my
own
television
production
company
and
we
also
produce
movies.
Our
production
house
has
to
its
credit
one
of
the
longest-running
game
shows
in
Tamil."
Says
the
actress,
“I
make
sure
I"ve
time
for
family.
In
the
last
ten
years
I"ve
done
just
3-4
films.
Ghar
mein
do
betiyan
hain.
And
I
wouldn"t
like
to
travel
for
outdoors
away
from
home
for
too
long.
I"m
happily
married,
touchwood,
with
two
growing
daughters.
They
are
prettier
than
I
could
ever
be.
Yes,
it
has
been
quite
a
journey
from
being
a
child
artiste
in
Hindi,
to
a
leading
lady
in
Mumbai
then
Chennai…I"ve
never
had
time
to
look
back
except
to
take
stock
of
my
mistakes.
I
started
looking
after
my
entire
family
at
the
age
of
16
because
my
parents
separated.
I
took
care
of
my
mom
and
three
older
brothers
and
that
too
on
my
own
terms.
So
being
uncompromising
in
my
thought
and
actions
comes
naturally
to
me.
Of
course
I"ve
made
mistakes.
But
I"ve
learnt
from
them."
Khushboo
says
very
few
of
her
colleagues
from
Mumbai
have
kept
in
touch
with
her.
“Except
of
course
dear
old
Govind(Govinda).
Me
and
Govind
are
bum-chums.
I
turn
around
to
his
wife
Sunita
and
say,
'I"ve
let
you
have
him
for
26
years.
I
can
still
run
away
with
him."
We"ve
kept
up
our
long-distance
relationships.
We"re
just
a
phone
call
away
from
each
other
I"ve
also
kept
in
touch
with
Madhoo
and
Rajeev
Kapoor.
Not
many
people
know
about
my
friendship
with
Rajeev.
From
the
time
I
was
a
child
till
today
we"ve
kept
in
touch.
I
never
did
a
film
with
him.
I
was
supposed
to
when
I
started
playing
a
heroine.
But
he
felt
I
was
too
young."
And
now
Khushboo
is
all
set
to
return
to
Hindi
films
with
a
film
to
be
directed
by
Revathy
Varhma.
Says
Khushboo,
“I
can"t
remember
the
last
Hindi
film
I
did
…Oh
yes,
it
was
Deeewna
Mujhsa
Nahin
with
Aamir
Khan
and
Madhuri
Dixit."
Adds
Khushboo,
“My
husband
Sunder
has
been
a
pillar
of
strength
throughout
my
fight
for
justice.
The
main
reasons
why
I
stood
up
and
fought
against
elements
who
distorted
and
attacked
my
statements
on
pre-marital
sex
were
my
daughters.
I
cannot
show
my
girls
I"m
weak.
I
didn"t
want
them
to
feel
that
their
mother
caves
in
during
times
of
pressure.
I
had
to
tell
them
that
their
mother
is
strong
and
they
should
be
proud
of
her."