Mumbai: Veteran actor and politician Khushboo Sunder is returning to Hindi cinema with a cameo in the upcoming film Subedaar, marking a special reunion with actor Anil Kapoor after more than four decades.
Speaking about her return, Khushboo said it was Kapoor who personally reached out to her with the offer for the film. She said she immediately agreed because the role carried significance within the story, even though it was a cameo appearance.
“For me, it’s not the length of the role but the importance of it,” she said, emphasising that meaningful characters matter more than screen time.
The film is directed by Suresh Triveni, known for the critically acclaimed film Tumhari Sulu.
Reunion after four decades
Khushboo described working with Anil Kapoor again as a surreal experience. The two actors had previously shared the screen in the 1985 film Meri Jung, directed by filmmaker Subhash Ghai.
Reflecting on the reunion, Khushboo said Kapoor remains as energetic and passionate as ever.
“Nothing has changed. He is still the same enthusiastic child, the same eager learner,” she said.
She added that Kapoor’s dedication to his craft has only grown stronger over the years.
“Not even an iota of his will to give his best has diminished. In fact, it has grown with time,” she said.
The reunion is expected to be a nostalgic moment for fans who remember their earlier collaboration in Hindi cinema during the 1980s.
Praise for director Suresh Triveni
Khushboo also spoke highly of director Suresh Triveni, saying she was confident about working with him because of his ability to portray strong women characters on screen.
She said she had been impressed by his storytelling style after watching Tumhari Sulu.
“I had seen Tumhari Sulu, so I knew this man cannot go wrong in depicting his women on screen,” she said.
Triveni’s work has often been appreciated for its nuanced portrayal of female characters, and Khushboo expressed confidence that Subedaar would also reflect that sensitivity.
Comfortable working across languages
Over the years, Khushboo has worked in several Indian film industries, including Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema. When asked about crossing language boundaries in her career, she said the concept of linguistic crossover is no longer a barrier in modern Indian cinema.
“In today’s times, there is nothing like crossover. It’s all under one umbrella now,” she said.
The actor added that she enjoys working across different film industries and is open to projects in multiple languages.
Her last Hindi film appearance before Subedaar was in a project featuring actor Nana Patekar.
Selective about roles in recent years
Despite her long and successful career, Khushboo said she now chooses her projects carefully and prefers meaningful roles rather than appearing frequently on screen.
“I don’t want to do many films only to be lost in a crowd,” she said.
According to the actor, the story and the character are the most important elements when deciding whether to accept a project.
She acknowledged that her recent weight loss has also led to some confusion among filmmakers regarding the types of roles she should be offered.
Khushboo described herself as being in a transitional phase where directors sometimes feel she looks too young for mature roles while simultaneously being considered slightly older for traditional leading parts.
“I personally feel I am at a very awkward point,” she said, comparing it to the stage when child actors transition into adult roles.
Avoiding stereotypical roles
Khushboo said she consciously avoids stereotypical characters, particularly roles that confine actresses to repetitive portrayals.
She explained that turning down such offers has been her way of maintaining creative satisfaction.
“I simply say no. I have done enough of those,” she said.
The actor emphasised that she would rather wait for a role that genuinely excites her than accept projects that do not challenge her as a performer.
Upcoming projects across industries
Looking ahead, Khushboo revealed that she has several projects lined up in different languages.
She confirmed that she will appear in a Telugu film directed by Prashanth Varma, titled Mahakali.
In addition to that, she is also working on another big-budget Telugu production and a Tamil film alongside actor Harish Kalyan.
Khushboo said she is also open to exploring opportunities in digital entertainment platforms.
“OTT is also on my wish list,” she said, indicating that she is interested in working on streaming projects in the future.
No regrets about career decisions
Reflecting on her journey in the film industry, Khushboo said she has no regrets about the choices she has made over the years.
She believes every decision—whether successful or not—played an important role in shaping her career and personal growth.
“Every good, bad, right and wrong decision was necessary to teach me something and bring me to where I stand today,” she said.
Conclusion
Khushboo Sunder’s return to Hindi cinema with Subedaar marks a nostalgic reunion with Anil Kapoor and signals her continued presence across multiple Indian film industries. With several projects lined up in Telugu and Tamil cinema and potential OTT ventures ahead, the veteran actor appears ready to explore new creative avenues while staying true to her selective approach to storytelling.
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