Becoming TABU

SHE ALWAYS SAYS 'YES' TO CHAI. SHE NEVER SHIES AWAY FROM MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF THE LEMONS LIFE THROWS AT HER. SHE HAS SOME VERY INTERESTING THOUGHTS ABOUT THE THEORY OF RANDOMNESS. AND, AS SHE SWITCHED ON AND OFF FOR THE CAMERA, SHILPA DUBEY, LUCKILY, GOT TO UNRAVEL SOME OF THE ENIGMA THAT IS TABU

- SHILPA DUBEY

She tiptoes barefoot on to the shooting floor before the camera rolls. She checks all the frames and asks questions about where she should stand and pose - she's very happy with our photographer's vision. It's a delight to watch Tabu in her zone. There's a certain sexiness that she exudes, and it stems from how acutely self-aware she is. Watching her switch from one outfit and look to another is like taking small sips from a cup of the best tea, freshly brewed. You relish the experience until the last drop and, more often than not, end up craving more. Nonchalance and spontaneity are the gifts she keeps on giving. You also cannot escape her vigilant eyes. They don't follow you, but they know where you are.

It is an awareness of her simplicity that you take home with you, from a shoot set, from a movie, from anywhere you meet her. That's just Tabu. "There has rarely been a cup of chai I have rejected," her laughter rings out, as she takes a swig from her cup on a rainy day - the last Friday of June.

Sipping chai is often an experience that transcends taste. For her, it is a moment suspended in time, where conversations - whether with herself or others flow effortlessly, much like her talent on screen. Sometimes, that moment evokes nostalgia, awakens the senses; sometimes, it marks a time of solace. Tabu says, "It's not just love; I have a fascination with tea. There are so many people in different cultures of the world who enjoy chai as an emotion." She loves trying out different kinds of teas just as much as she likes versatility in her roles. Chai is not just a drink and Tabu is not just another actor.