You have struck a phenomenal chord with the youth, especially Gen-Z. What is your advice to them on using social media purposefully?

First of all, I think the current generation is more aware and knowledgeable than any generation of my time. As a septuagenarian, it has been wonderful for me to be associated with him. I recently discovered that 60% of my Instagram followers are between 25 and 44 years old. It’s a delightful, unexpected and exciting situation I find myself in.

My only advice to young people is that they should look at the internet as a place to do more than just upload selfies. They should educate themselves about DEA – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Since this generation is so involved, it’s important for them to find a cause, campaign or organisation they love and find a way to support it.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In India, there are still many misconceptions about seeking help.

If any person in this world is feeling overwhelmed with life, he/she should get support. There’s no shame in seeking therapy, and there are lots of avenues open now, both online and offline. I have noticed that youth have a lot of peer pressure, especially on the internet, which affects their mental health. They need to be kind to themselves as well as others.

Parents, too, should be supportive of their children, no matter what they are going through…be it at work, school or in their personal relationships. Families in India have very high expectations from their children. Everything from their career to marriage is often determined by the family. We must allow a young person to discover themselves and live their life according to what makes them happy.

You’ve spoken before about the gender pay gap in the film industry. In the near future, with increasing awareness, do you anticipate positive changes towards paying women equally?

I think talks have started but there is still a lot of time left. Basically, it’s a patriarchal society, and films are largely written for men and about men. The business of cinema still revolves around who is the leading man, and so pay checks are much larger for men. it’s just that. Women all over the world are fighting for equal pay. This is not unique to India or Hindi cinema.

Even in your heyday, you challenged the image of the traditional Hindi film heroine. Where did you get the inspiration to play such roles?

Some of it has to do with the fact that I come from an unconventional background. I was born to a Hindu mother who was previously married to a Muslim man. When they separated, she married a German Protestant. As a young girl, I excelled academically and eventually won a scholarship to go to Southern California, which was the epicenter of flower power, love, and hippieism at the time. All of these experiences helped shape my worldview. So when I was given roles that were unusual or had gray shades – in films like Hare Rama Hare KrishnaWhere I was a troubled drug addict who commits suicide, or bread, clothes and houseWhere I leave a poor man for a rich man, but ultimately sacrifice my life for the rich man – I can take them with conviction.

Your Instagram posts regularly make news. Essentially, they are polled and asked for feedback from other celebrities. Does it take you back to the tabloid circus that revolved around you in the 1970s?

I know I know (laughs(It takes me back to the days when everything was in its place. But I have learnt to come to terms with it.) I realised that it is all part of the journey. As the saying goes, ‘logon ka kaam hai kehna’. In the digital age, everyone has the right to their opinion and so do I. Whether someone agrees or disagrees with me, it is okay.

Tell us about your upcoming film ‘Bun Tikki’ with Shabana Azmi and Abhay Deol.

Shabana and I worked together Ishq Ishq Ishq (1971) and disturbance (1982). We had a lot of fun in those films. the same thing remained true Bun Tikki. The story is not really about Shabana and me – it’s about Abhay and the little boy who plays her son. Shabana plays the grandmother and I…. well, never mind, it’s a surprise! I’m playing a special role in the film. At this stage of my career I don’t want to prove anything to anybody. Because I’ve been there and done that. I just want to do small parts that make me happy and that don’t tire me out.