There’s nobody like Our desi girl

The gorgeous actress who felt out of place in her initial days in Bollywood has now firmly entrenched in the industry having her own entity as the most promising star in Indian film industry. A tête-à-tête with Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra who is riding high with the success of her recent films…

Realising that you had four back to back flops last year (Chamku, Love Story 2050, God Tussi Great Ho! And Drona) we could say that the last quarter of 2008 has been quite lucky for you with smash hits like Fashion and Dostana. Congratulations!

Thanks a ton! After God Tussi Great Ho and Drona, I was truly heartbroken. Fashion and Dostana seem to have given me rebirth of sorts. These films were much more successful than my expectations.

We hear that you had a tough time losing weight for Dostana after having to put on a few extra kilos for Fashion.

You could say that. I am not at all diet conscious. I had to put on some weight for Fashion since I was playing a small-town Punjabi girl who eventually becomes a super model, but for Dostana, I had to lose the seven kilos that I had put on. And I had to get in shape as well. Moreover I had a hard core diet, I had a proper workout schedule.

You were seen flaunting a range of clothes from designer wear, while sashaying down the ramp, to t-shirts and jeans while portraying a model’s normal life in the movie Fashion.

To cut the long story short, I would say that I wore 137 costumes in Fashion. It was required as my character goes through a huge journey in one-and-a-half years. And we had a lot of montages in the film, a lot of ad commercials and of course fashion shows. This is why the requirement of costumes was so high for my character.

Which films of yours can we look forward to this year? And which film are you most excited about?

This year I am going to have only two releases. One is Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kameenay opposite Shahid Kapur and the other one is Ashutosh Gowariker’s What's your Rashi opposite Harman Baweja. Both of them I am very excited about because my roles in both of them are extremely interesting and very different to something I have ever done before. I really can't take a pick for there's only two.

Is it true that you are playing 12 different characters in What's your Rashi?

That’s true. It's one of the most difficult films I have worked in. What is so difficult about it, why is it difficult, I can only speak when the film is closer to release.

Let's move on to Kameenay.

I play a Maharashtrian college-going girl. The role is very different for me for sure because I don’t know Marathi at all and I did not learn it. The language is beautiful. It’s so rustic but it’s very difficult for a Punjabi to get the Marathi accent right for sure. But I worked on it and I am hoping it will come out right.

You wore skimpy outfits in Fashion and bared your cleavage in Dostana. How do you take skin show in Bollywood as?

See, where there’s a demand, there’s a supply. Had films with skin show not been doing well, we would have stopped making them. People want to watch such films.

Kameeney too is said to have many intimate scenes.

I can’t really reveal all the details to you, but yeah, I have done a little bit more than usual in this film. I do have a kissing scene and a few love making scenes with Shahid. Because this is what the script demanded, I agreed to do it.

You are termed as a workaholic in film fraternity. How true is that?

Very true indeed! As a matter of fact, with six movies having released in 2008, I haven't had the time to either mourn or enjoy the fruits when a film released. I did not get the time to mourn the failure of any of my films. The moment one got released, I was into promoting the next, so on and so forth. If I am not filming, I would be found reading scripts or selecting outfits for my next movie.

Ambitious, are you?

I would rather describe myself as someone who’s honest and straightforward, but not indiscriminately ambitious. The day I realise that I don’t want to get up and put on make-up for a shoot, I will give it all up!

Given your busy schedule, how could you manage to do a song alongwith Kareena and Deepika for Shah Rukh’s upcoming movie, Billu Barber?

Undeniably, I am Shah Rukh’s biggest fan on earth. I don’t see myself saying no to him for anything. He simply has to tell what I am supposed to do, and I would be on. In fact, people ask me why I wasn't there in the song featuring all the heroines with Shah Rukh in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

In this short career span you have portrayed a wide range of characters.

I strive hard each day to grow as an actor. I have always been experimenting on my roles. I just hope that when people look back in the history of Indian cinema, they admire my work and versatility as an actress. Besides, all other genres, I have also been part of the special effects cinema like Krissh, Drona and Love Story 2050.

So, no time for love in 2009 as well?

(Laughs) Well, I have always believed that true love will find you and so will the right man. I just make sure that I do not close my mind to possibilities and do not work on the 'he-must-be-like-this' list. Being a die-hard romantic, I believe that when love happens, there will be church bells that will go off in my head. I believe that when I meet the person that I am meant to be with, his face will be constantly in front of my eyes. I believe I will hear violins and orchestra. I really believe all that. And I don’t look for it. I am a big believer in destiny. So when it’s meant for me, it will happen.

You have never been very candid about your relationships.

I am a celebrity, so I guess it’s justified that people are curious about what goes on in my personal life. But I don’t need to give any justification about what’s happening in my life to anyone. You could say that I know where to draw the line. I would hate the world to know about who I am seeing or where I eat or sleep. That’s nobody’s business for sure.

How do you define your success journey so far?

Euphoric! I feel that my strategy of not resting on the laurels of my being a former Miss World has paid rich dividends. Today whatever I am is because of my hard work. I may have got my first couple of films because of my title, but it’s ultimately your work that will speak for you. I could have easily been chucked into the dustbin if I was bad. I am so grateful that it did not happen to me and that I was welcomed so lovingly by the film industry.

BOLD & Beautiful

No need to wait for a Hrithik Roshan or Akshay Kumar starrer movie if you want to enjoy some breathtaking stunts and action. Evidently, Bollywood actresses don’t want to just dance around trees or sing in the rain any longer. With an aim to add some substance to their role, our sexy sirens now intend to do some action-oriented roles. Glamorous action if we may call it…

We caught Bipasha performing some awesome stunts in Race and Dhoom II and Aishwarya Rai swinging the sword in the historical epic Jodhaa-Akbar, not to forget her action-oriented role in Dhoom II. Koena is playing a superwoman in Karna.

“It’s only after doing it that I realised how exciting doing action is,” Aishwarya Rai Bachchan says. Besides Jodhaa Akbar in which she wielded the sword, the charming beauty also did several stunts for the Hollywood film, The Last Legion. “Now that I have got a good taste of it, I just can’t wait to do action stunts again and again. It is truly thrilling to do sword fights or for that matter jumping off from a cliff.”

We had a dialogue with some actresses who have recently taken up action-oriented roles:

• Priyanka Chopra for Drona

Ex-Miss World Priyanka Chopra now seems to be pining for a new title — Bollywood’s Action Diva. She harks back to the comic book heroine of yore in Goldie Behl’s Drona, a la Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. Priyanka learnt a special strain of the martial arts for her role in the action drama. “I had learnt some kung fu for Don. But this is different. It is a full-on action movie for me, with kicks and somersaults galore. I quite enjoyed the cuts and bruises. I did,” says Priyanka beaming bright.

She adds, “Before the shooting I took training for Gatka, which is a focused form of fighting from Punjab. A trainer was called from Ludhiana for the film to assist me during the shooting of Drona. It was a phenomenal experience learning this special art.”

Priyanka agrees that her Drona-look and body language are unlike anything she has done before. Grapevine has it that she decided to do all the action sequence on her own despite doctor’s warning. While performing the stunts, she even ended up hurting her leg again. “If we can pull off dramas, comedies - then why can’t we do action films?” she justifies, when asked why drove her into action movies.

• Neha Dhupia for Singh is Kinng

Neha Dhupia has been commended for her stunts by critics in this mega-hit. As per the actress, performing the stunts never frightened or upset her. “It’s no big deal, really,” she says, “People thought they were breathtaking stunts but I just took a deep breath and did them. I had to be on a yacht, sailing and beating up bad boys, and then I had to step out of a limousine and shoot them down. All this was easy, except that I had to do it wearing a gown!”

All we would say is, well done!

• Deepika Padukone for Chandni Chowk to China

Famous badminton player’s daughter Deepika Padukone might not be a sportsperson herself but she does have that spirit. Quite new to tinseltown, the actress wants to prove her mettle in all genres, including action.

“For Chandni Chowk to China, I have learned jujitsu – it’s a form of martial arts which is very famous in China. During the shoot I had started learning it and special trainers had come from China to teach this form of martial arts.”

Quite impressed with her co-actor in the film, Ajay Devgan says, “Heroines are as strong as heroes. Deepika is all set to give a heady rush of adrenaline to audiences with action scenes in Nikhil Advani’s Chandni Chowk To China opposite Akshay Kumar.” Deepika asserts that the trend of more heroines taking up action roles itself shows that with the evolution of the Hindi film industry, women are getting to do more in films than just dance around trees.

You have a point, lady.

• Jiah Khan for Ghajini

Ghajini’s shooting getting stalled right now doesn’t stop this young performer from grinning. Jiah Khan is quite ecstatic about the stunts she has done so far for the film. She purportedly has as threatening stunts in the movie as Aamir. Ask her about the movie and prompt comes the reply, “I am really sorry. I am not allowed to talk about the film. But yes, you will find me doing a lot of action in Ghajini. What else do you think I had to lose my weight for?” She adds, “For the first time I have done stunts and it was great fun. From day one I started practice. It has been really exciting and working in this film is definitely the most special phase of my life so far.”

Action In Vogue

Many Bollywood heroines seem to have been inspired to take up action. Even a newcomer like Shruti Hasan is doing action sequences in the film Luck starring Imran Khan and Sanjay Dutt.

As per cute Ayesha Takia, she has already worked in most genres and now wants to prove herself as an action star. “Action movies are all set to make a comeback. And I would be more than happy to be a part of it,” says she. Probably, she wants to dodge out of her cutie pie image.

Commenting on the trend, Amrita Rao said, “I would love to do an action flick. In fact I find myself fortunate that I entered the film industry during a phase when actresses are doing so much and have longer terms.”

But some commentators feel that Bollywood actresses are being forced to experiment with the action genre as films are still written keeping the hero in mind. In fact, even films like Chak De India and Bheja Fry did not have a leading lady.

“We are in an era when the role of the conventional Hindi leading lady is fast getting marginalised,” says Bollywood historian Derek Bose. He adds, “Today, it is either a comedy or an action flick that can assure you a box-office draw. If an actress has to find employment she has to choose between the two.”

Fearless Nadia

Hunterwali, Pahadi Kanya, Miss Frontier Mail, Lutaru Lalna, Punjab Mail, Diamond Queen, Bombaiwali, Jungle Princess and Hunterwali ki Beti used to run houseful. In the 1930s and 40s, Bollywood heroines did not have important roles in action films. Thanks to Mary Evans, the supposed first stunt-woman of Hindi cinema — who was popularly known as the Fearless Nadia. Mary’s odd roles and stunts made her quite popular with the audiences.

Riding a horse with a whip in hand, fencing with villains atop running trains, swinging from chandeliers and doing stunts without resorting to stuntmen — Mary Evans gave a new look to Indian cinema, hurling the myth of the docile heroine into air.

She undoubtedly had gets out of the ordinary and did believe in what she did. As she once said, “I walk my own road. And I can never get lost on my path. Acting is beyond dancing around the trees and singing to the moon, fully-clad in a sari.”

A theatre artiste and an actress who had worked in foreign films, Nadia entered the Hindi film industry in 1933 by debuting in Wadia Movietone’s Lal-e-Yaman. Two years later, she donned tight pants, high boots, a revealing shirt and a whip in her hand to become synonymous with the title of her movie Hunterwali.

Whatever be the reason, the good thing is that Bollywood has now finally started thinking out of the box. Indian heroine will no more be a coy and faint-hearted doe-eyed beauty (that we were quite bored of seeing), but a bold and beautiful charmer who is now a rescuer and no more the rescued.

Shilpi Shukla   

Lost In Oblivion

A dream debut does not guarantee success. Bollywood has many newbies trying their luck ever year while some get lost among reels of the films, others shine through. But no one can point out what makes a newcomer click with the audience. Each year, we are introduced to many wannabe heroines who come to tinsel town with high hopes and beautiful dreams. Not all are successful in making a mark and become a name to reckon with in the industry. At times, even those who get noticed fade out of the limelight soon after for they are unable to charm audiences again and sustain the competition and challenges that this industry offers.

We profile for you some of those aspiring movie stars who blazed across the Bollywood firmament with a runaway debut hit only to experience darkness at high noon thereafter.

Mandakini

Remembered for – Ram Teri Ganga Maili

One cannot miss out on the woman in a white sari sans the bra from the hit movie Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Mandakini…. One never saw her again in any big banners after working with the RK Banner, except for a few B-grade movies. She will still be remembered for her dare bare act under the waterfall.

Vijeta Pandit

Remembered for – Love Story

Most of us couldn’t remember her after Vijeta sang the song ‘yaad aa rahi hai’ in the mega blockbuster Love Story. Rajendra Kumar cast her alongside with his son Kumar Gaurav. Though the film was a hit, it couldn’t secure the future of the stars. Vijeta had another hit four years later in the form of Mohabbat. But after this, she was never seen onscreen as the main lead. She final got into playback singing.

Bhagyashree

Remembered for – Maine Pyar Kiya

She became a star overnight. This sweet, innocent and beautiful actor was the dream girl of every guy. Even today, when one sees Maine Pyar Kiya, the film that went on to become the highest grosser after Sholay, one craves for having such a soft-spoken and loving partner for life. Bhagyashree bagged the Best Actress award for the MPK thereby outshining co-star Salman Khan’s performance that was quite unnoticed. However, destiny had other plans for Bhagyashree.

She was flooded with offers but the lady who tied the knot with Himalaya soon after the release of Maine Pyar Kiya refused to star against anyone else but hubby Himalaya. This proved fatal for her career that could otherwise have been quite enterprising. The two movies, Qaid Mein Hai Bulbul and Paayal, in which she was paired opposite her husband, were super-flops. This marked the end of her film career.

Zeba Bakhtiyar

Remembered for - Henna

Zeba Bakhtiyar stole the heart of millions with her Bollywood debut in Henna under Raj Kapoor banner. Henna was a huge hit on both sides of the border about two decades ago. Zeba should have made it really big in tinselville but to the great surprise of one and all, she is just recalled as a one-film Bollywood wonder from Pakistan now.

Anu Agarwal

Remembered for - Aashiqui

The promos of Mahesh Bhatt’s ’s Aashiqui claimed — this face can stop a crowd — when he launched dusky damsel Anu Agarwal in the 90s. However, little did he know that Anu will soon relegate to the archives after a series of forgettable films thereafter. Aashiqui did well and the music was a massive hit. However, luck did not favour the long legged beauty who was once compared to dusky sexy siren Smita Patil.

Pooja Batra

Remembered for - Virasat

Virasat got this Former Miss India (1993) the Best Supporting Actress Award in 1997 but not the kind of success one could have expected thereafter. After trying her luck in the film industry with movies like Haseena Maan Jayegi, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya and Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye, she packed her bags to settle down with her orthopaedic doctor husband in California.

Sandhali Sinha

Remembered for – Tum Bin

A cute and fresh face, Sandhali Sinha made her debut against Rakesh Bapat and Priyanshu Chatterjee in Tum Bin, probably her only film in the lead. The music of the flick went on to make record sales and the film was a runaway hit too but did not help the careers of any of the leading actors in anyway.
Though the central character of the movie was Sandhali and her work was appreciated, she never starred in any other movie after that in the lead role.

Mayuri Kango

Remembered for – Papa Kehte Hain

This light-eyed beauty looked fresh as a daisy amidst her other counterparts. The innocent looking Mayuri Kango made her debut in Papa Kehte Hain against child actor Jugal Hansraj. But Mayuri's acting skills and dialogue delivery was a complete turn off and her Bollywood career never really took off.

Chitrangada Singh

Remembered for – Hazaaraon Khwaishen Aisi

Chitrangada Singh ,who debuted in Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi was never able to firmly place her feet in tinsel town. The movie was critically acclaimed and did help the careers of most people associated with the movie, but could not help this young and pretty actress anyway.

Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani

Remembered for – Mohabbatein

Mohabbatein was a big hit. So much so that it was considered to be a dream debut for actresses Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani and actors like Uday Chopra and Jimmy Shergil. However, none of them could actually hit the top bracket of Bollywood. Preeti knew that her career as goody-two-shoes was short-lived unless she joined the bare dare brigade. So, like her co-stars Kim and Shamita, Preeti also joined the brigade of bare-it-all. However, nothing could help the career of these starlets from sinking.

Gracy Singh

Remembered for – Lagaan

Gracy Singh was the object of envy for many actresses when she was chosen to play the lead opposite Aamir Khan in Lagaan. Her performance was liked by the audience as well as the critics. Not just that, she found a bigger hit with Munnabhai MBBS. But the actress was stuck with a behenji image and could never break away from it. A few flops like Aarman, Wajahh: A Reason to Kill, Shart and Muskaan ensured that Gracy was forgotten by all.

Gayatri Joshi

Remembered for – Swades – We, the people

“Well, we just have to wait and watch for that. Your guess is as good as mine,” Said Gayatri Joshi soon after the release of her one and only film, Swades, We The People when asked whether she might just be a one-time wonder and be in danger of slipping into the oblivion once the euphoria of Swades was over. After gainig name and repute in the world of modeling for seven years, Gayatri entered Bollywood with high hopes. Getting introduced in Bollywood by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowarikar and being cast opposite Shah Rukh in the very first film is a dream start for any debutante actor. But her luck was as unfavourable as was Gracy Singh’s.

Bhoomika Chawla

Remembered for – Tere Naam

Bhoomika too had similar fate. With a huge hit like Tere Naam under her belt people felt Bhoomika would be perfect as the girl-next-door. But the actress couldn’t repeat her success and despite working opposite actors like Salman Khan and Abhishek Bachchan she couldn’t make it big!

Shilpi Shukla