Here are excerpts from the conversation:
Shagun, Taapsee has said that you are more mature than her…
Omen: Yes, that’s perfect, even though I’m 4 years younger than him. But now he has started giving me competition. She’s changing. She is learning to be more patient. Now, I have to sharpen my skills (laughs).
Shagun, what were Taapsee’s immature habits?
Omen: He used to get angry, very fast. She didn’t think much before speaking. Now I think she knows how to manage her anger. And, she knows what to say to whom.
Shagun, you often accompany Taapsee on her outdoor shoots. Who likes to travel and see places- Taapsee or you?
Omen: We both love to travel and see places. But I didn’t often accompany him on the sets. In fact, I do not feel like going to most of the places where Taapsee has shot. Yes, I am here on the sets of ‘Blur’ (in Nainital) because the places here are really exciting.
Shagun, you are a wedding planner by profession. Have you decided in your mind what you will arrange for Taapsee’s wedding?
Omen: Yes, anyway I have seen a lot of places and so this is tried and tested. The recce has been done.
Taapsee: Ab decide yeh karna hai ki shaadi karni hai ki nahi karni hai (It remains to be decided whether to get married or not).
Omen: Haan, yeh decide nahi hua hai (That hasn’t been finalised). Aur iske toh plans hain hi nahi duur-duur tak (She doesn’t have any such plans at all for now). Lekin mere dimaag mein mujhe pata hai ki kahan karni hai (But I know where to get married).
Then Shagun, you may get married before Taapsee gets married…
Omen: Our parents are waiting for one of us to say ‘yes’ to the marriage. They are saying ‘koi to karlo, ye na bol rahi hai to tum toh karlo’ (They are saying that at least one of us should get married, and since she is still not saying yes, I should ).
Taapsee, who is mom’s favorite and who is dad’s favorite?
Taapsee: Our father has always been a tough guy trying to do both of us equally. Mother is the exact opposite. As kids, Shagun was her sweet child as I was crazy about both, hyperactive and always giving her trouble. But as we have grown up and I hardly get any time to spend with her because of my shooting schedule, she gets really happy when I am with her; She is very happy to see my interviews on paper and she saves the clippings too. So now Shagun feels that I have become closer to him.
Shagun, you have taken a course social media. Do you advise Taapsee on what she should and should not do on social media?
Taapsee: Shagun believes that her Insta game is the best.
Omen: (laughs) yes, I remember he drew tedhe-medhe Posted and reposted (incorrectly) hearts on Blur’s Insta story. I called her and asked if she knew she could undo and redo it but she said everything she drew was so cute. Well then, I’ve tried to help her with her Insta game. To be honest, I didn’t learn as much about social media as I could in that course; I was bunking a lot of class (smiles).
A few days back, Taapsee got upset on a special review of ‘Haseen Dilruba’. Lastly, does it augur well? Should you have taken it personally?
Taapsee: It was written personally. I didn’t take it personally. The critics should have a good idea of my filmography. The reviews I received in my early days were embarrassing to the extent that one would even think of leaving the profession. I have always said that I am not a trained actor but someone who has learned on the job. I never claimed to be the best actor in the industry. I never said that I am the best choice for a film. But when you give a national platform to write a certain review, should that person make it a personal blog? Delete my display if you wish; I have made a career out of speedy performance. But if one writes that Taapsee is only changing clothes in every film and nothing else, then it is a personal dig. That’s what I called. I thought I should stand. People have seen me stand up for social causes and many other things. But I also need to stand up for myself. If I don’t do this for myself, who else will stand up for me? Those who think that I haven’t taken that review in my stride, need to go back and read reviews of my previous films; I have the worst things written about me. If I hadn’t taken a review into my progress, I wouldn’t be where I am.
Social media expert Shagun, did you call him and say ‘leave it, it’s just a review’?
Omen: No, I didn’t tell him because I was with him at the time it was happening. He told me exactly what he had just said. I was fine with this. I thought she knew what she was doing. He has better knowledge of it; If it was affecting her and if she wanted to deal with it that way, then so be it.
Who plays the music and starts dancing in the room?
Taapsee: omen
Omen: I started dancing because of him. He forced me to dance and I started learning dance.
Taapsee: She is my guinea pig. Whatever I wanted to do in my life, I first tried on it. When I wanted to do some choreography, I used to make him dance. I got his hair cut, tattooed, nose pierced… (laughs).
So, is Taapsee more fashion conscious than Shagun?
Taapsee: No, I am not so fashion conscious. But, it is an omen.
When you were a teenager, did you hide each other’s secrets from your parents – like going on a date or getting low marks in a subject?
omen: Not necessary.
Taapsee: There was never a deal between us that you will not tell anything about me and I will not tell anything about you. Whatever discussion happened between us, it remained with us only. It was like an unspoken word between us.
Who was better in studies?
Taapsee: (smiling) Me.
Omen: (shakes his head and looks at Taapsee)
Who got the most attention from men in college?
Omen: I was in girls’ college (laughs).
Taapsee: I was in an engineering college where the ratio of girls to boys is so shaken (number of boys is more than the number of girls). So, it was me!
Do you exchange clothes with each other? Sisters do this…
Taapsee: Our wardrobe is the same. We share clothes, accessories, shoes… everything.
Omen: But we have another unspoken rule. Whatever is new, Taapsee wears it first.
Taapsee: Yes, but that’s because whenever I bought anything new in the past, I noticed that it was always worn by him before.
Taapsee, have you ever told Shagun that he should also become an actor?
Taapsee: This is not a family business (smiles). But to answer your question, no, I didn’t. I don’t want him to go through the trials-n-tribulations and pressures I’ve gone through; There are people all around to tell you what you should and should not do. I’ve always told her that she should go about her career the way she wants it to be for herself.
Shagun, you have seen every film of Taapsee and sometimes you are on the sets – like you are shooting for ‘Blur’ right now. Do you sometimes imitate him behind his back?
Taapsee: There’s no need to copy. We sound very similar on the phone. Our parents are often unsure of who is on the other end when we call them from where we are together. Hmm… Shagun will narrate the events of my BTS to her friends, but no, she doesn’t mimic.
Which movie of Shagun, Taapsee did you not like?
Omen: wild heart.
And which one did you like the most?
Omen: Normally, nowadays, it is always the last. So, ‘Haseen Dilruba’. But here let me tell you that ‘Thappad’ is what has been with me for the longest time.
Which scene of Shagun, Taapsee impressed you the most?
Omen: Climax scene of ‘Thappad’ where Taapsee is telling her mother-in-law how she felt. I cried seeing that scene.
Taapsee, tell us one thing about Shagun that you would like to change? She has already spoken about your anger…
Taapsee: Her reactions to people and things she doesn’t like are not subtle. Someone needs to save the situation by covering up in some way. I’ve tried to make it subtle.
Is there a fight? Taapsee, your fight with Shagun where you beat her head with a glass is famous. But have there ever been situations when you didn’t talk to each other for days?
Taapsee: We still have our share of arguments, earlier it used to be chilam-chili (shouting) but now there is a feeling that we will have to come back to the same room after sometime. I can’t hold grudge against Shagun for long.
Omen: As far as saying sorry is concerned, I think we both have huge egos and know that the other will not apologize. So, we finish it and move on.
Shagun, which actor would you like to see opposite Taapsee soon?
Omen: Vicky Kaushal. I love Taapsee and she together. Their chemistry in ‘Manmarziyaan’ was very good.
Taapsee: Yes, many people have told me this. Vicky is also a good friend. I share a very smooth equation with him on screen. If I am doing a film with him again, I will feel very confident on the sets throughout the film.
Tell a movie that you both liked but it didn’t work…
Omen: ‘Manmarziyaan’.
Taapsee: Absolutely.
Omen: I liked that movie. I think people will realize after a few years how cool it was.
Taapsee: If I get a chance again, I will choose that film.
Your parents are clearly reading this interview. Tell us about an example where one of you impersonated the other on the phone…
Taapsee: We have not managed to spread very far. Till then the parents start saying ‘Who is speaking, tell me’.
Omen: (laughs).
Taapsee: So, mom prefers to join us in a video call.
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