New Interviews

All set for Vivah

She exudes that proverbial `touch me not' aura. She has a child-like chuckle in her laughter. Her smile is never bereft of coyness. Her eyes define innocence best, and her demeanour reminds you of that traditional small town Indian girl, just the kind Sooraj Barjatya wanted for his latest film Vivah, ready for release. So he chose Amrita Rao, that much-grounded girl of Ishq Vishq who thinks loyalty in a relationship is not a passé. That tomboyish collegiate hankering after her class fellow Zayed Khan in Main Hoon Na, and that seductive neighbourhood girl singing "Piya Bawri" in Deewar. Vivah takes her back to her first film, as a girl who values tradition and enjoys every bit of it. And Amrita as Poonam from a small town of U.P, also relished it as it was like reliving her life back home in Madhya Pradesh, except that she wasn't engaged there. Admits Amrita, "There was nothing about Poonam that didn't meet with my agreement. I could never question why Poonam was doing this or that in the film." This is because the film is about the celebration of traditional values and how love becomes more beautiful when it follows set norms of family life and society. Agrees Amrita, "People must be thinking that because it is named Vivah, it must be about those long-drawn shaadi songs, lavish bridal dresses, elaborate celebration of rituals and all. But it is not about that. It is about a journey from engagement to marriage, a courtship period between me and Shahid Kapoor who plays my fiancé in the film. It is very simple and elegant. It is an inevitable phase in the life of those engaged through an arranged family meeting. It defines the period from the first meeting to the second one and how different things happen: after the mystery follows interest, interest is followed by curiosity, curiosity gives rise to questions and then fascination dominates everything." The film, Amrita says, also conveys a beautiful message without being preachy. Not that everything about shooting was as good as the film looks in promos. It had its share of problems. For Amrita, after flowing smoothly, "a very different climax" came as a shock, as much as it was difficult for her to "graph emotions properly, as we were not shooting in continuity." Innocence works The film has a lot to do with her pairing with a naive looking Shahid Kapoor, her co-actor of the hit Ishq Vishq. They are still regarded a great on-screen pair. "Since I have already shared the screen with Shahid, I know him as an actor and we have a beautiful working relationship. For any of the scenes together, we would come prepared from home. Neither of us would tell each other how to react in a particular situation and yet it would come out so beautifully in the end. People on the sets used to clap on our just-perfect performance," chuckles Amrita. It has also to do with "diamonds that are lucky" for her. Hence she wore a D'damas diamond ring throughout her shooting. The company incidentally has also prepared engagement ring and necklace for the film. Now Amrita is endorsing their jewellery too. For this film that needed a young, classic traditional face, Sooraj's choice for Amrita seems apt. But these looks, Amrita says, have often threatened to limit her roles after Ishq Vishq. "But my tomboyish character in Main Hoon Na, an irritating woman in Masti and a flirtatious girl in Deewar have helped me not get typecast." And being in the industry without a godfather is not easy, she says. Not believing everyone in filmdom, she still brings her mother along to most of her shootings, especially outdoor ones. Her next "selective, not choosy" ventures include one T-Series film in which she is playing an assistant director and one untitled film. Now apart form "eagerly awaiting the response to Vivaha," Amrita is working on her Hindi language and literature. "I am reading Prem Chand to begin with," she confesses.

Amrita Rao: Vivah is my first love story with Shahid Kapoor

She is bubbly, cheerful and yet intense and thoughtful in her own way. And what strikes you is that she is so essentially Indian in her character and mannerisms. Actress Amrita Rao is the prefect choice to play the coy, shy Poonam in Sooraj Barjatya’s Vivah. We catch up with the actress on the eve of her release and get her talking… How does it feel to be a Rajshri heroine? It is a privilege. My mother, in fact, always wanted my first film to be a Rajshri film. Today, I am playing the lead role in the film and am very excited about the same. Tell us more about how you found the role… Well, when I got a call from Rajshri, I was very excited. I met Soorajji and Raj Babuji (Sooraj Barjatya’s father) and it was a simple introductory meeting. It lasted six hours and it was not even a narration. We bonded instantly. As for the role, it was every actresses’ dream role and yet, they wanted me to think and then say yes. I mean, I was given the choice to choose whether or not I wanted to do the film. And that by itself was a great honour. What was most interesting about the meeting? That Soorajji chose me after seeing my role in The Legend of Bhagat Singh. He said, he liked me in the film and wanted me to be the Poonam of Vivah. How was it during the shoot of Vivah? It was beautiful. Soorajji is a treat to work with. He does most of the preparation for us actors that we only need to go by his instinct and perform. He takes so much care of us that the last day of the shoot was a difficult one to believe. Yes, we heard that you sang on the last day? Yes, I did. It was one of Soorajji’s favourite songs. I did not want the moment or the shoot to end. The shoot was a beautiful experience. In fact, most of the days, even if none of us had any shoot, we would still go and sit on the sets. This is your second love story with Shahid after Ishq Vishk… I would say this is my first. In Ishq Vishq, he discovers in the end that he loves me, while in Vivah, our relationship grows with the love that blossoms between us post-engagement. Vivah is a beautiful classic love story tracing the sanctity of arranged marriage. And yet, it is so much a film of today. That is what I love about Vivah. How was the shoot experience? As I said, very touching. In fact, when I skipped meals and felt ill, Soorajji saw to it that I was eating every time with them there was a break. I got so much to learn from Raj Babuji. It was a beautiful experience. What do you like the most about Vivah? Vivah is a film of beautiful moments. And there is so much intensity in the interaction between the two characters that comes out. Only Soorajji could have made Vivah.

Meethi Meethi Baatein

I think the best thing about Diwali is the glitter part of it. I just love the lights. Even as a kid I loved putting diyas and kandils in my verandas. I think Diwali is one festival which the entire society celebrates in a very grand way. If you see 10 kandils in 10 houses, you really feel great. Besides the lights, I also like the colours. I love making rangoli outside my house. As a kid I remember get ting up early in the morning and having a bath with chandan. We usually begin the day with a small puja. I like to wear traditional clothes on Diwali and I make it a point to wear lots of jewellery. For me, Diwali has always been a close family affair. We invite our close relatives for lunch on the day of Diwali. I hate noise. Ever since I was a kid, I was petrified of crackers. Even now, I just hate the noisy bombs. I prefer the anar , chakri and phooljhadi. I personally feel children should be kept away from noisy crackers. It’s just a festival. Why have accidents because of sheer carelessness? Let’s celebrate a quiet and pollution-free Diwali. I think sweets are the best part of Diwali. I love eating all sorts of sweets. Though the only sweet that I can probably make is the besan laddos! But I don’t shy away from eating sweets!

'Shahid is a live-wire'

Good things come in small packages. And the petite Amrita Rao's big dreams and bigger confidence make her a strong contender in the glamorous world of Bollywood. Three hits in less than two years — and the girl has generated ripples with her innocent looks and sweet smile. So how does she take the girl-next-door image? "Images change with the kind of roles you do. I respect viewers' opinions, but yeah, I wouldn't want to be typecast," she replies. From a college-goer in Ishq Vishq to a rebel in Main Hoon Na and now a coy bride-to-be in Suraj Barjatya's next, Rao has undergone a complete metamorphosis. Was that a conscious attempt? "It's not at all conscious. It just depends on the kind of role you're doing. When I did Ishq Vishq, I was very young and with time the look and performances has improved," she reasons. But in an industry where sensuality rules the roost, how comfortable is she among all those hot divas? Rao has her answer ready: "You don't need to be voluptuous to be a good actor. At the end of the day, it's your talent that counts. Moreover, the industry needs more young faces. Gone are the days when Rajendra Kumar could be convincing playing the role of a college-goer." Her forthcoming film is about commitment in marriage. Sharing the lessons she learnt from the film Amrita says, "Whether it is an arranged marriage or a love marriage, doesn't matter to me. All that does is knowing a person well enough. Sometimes one doesn't really know the would-be life partner even in case of a love match, and at times even arranged marriages work well. So I think one has to be very mature and understanding and not let one's infatuations carry one away." At a time when low budget films are doing quite well, Rao is happy and content in her safe cocoon. "I don't want to start experimenting yet," says the actor who has to her credit a Best Debut award for Ishq Vishq. She has been paired with Shahid for the fourth time now. Mention that and she starts laughing, "Shahid has a great sense of humour. We share good tuning. He's a very sincere actor and when he's around, all the other actors too get energetic. He's a live-wire," she gushes. Guess this should make Kareena, who incidentally is pals with Rao, smile too!

"Vivah is not going to be like Hum Aapke Hain Koun!" - Amrita Rao

Just ten-films-old and a promising young talent Amrita Rao waits for her marriage but not literally. While inviting us to November release of Vivah, her forthcoming film, based on a journey from engagement to marriage, Rao shares her experience of the courtship period with costar Shahid Kapoor in the film. Here, she gets candid about her character in the film and opens a few doors of her personal life. How did Poonam, the character that you portray in the film come into existence? Poonam is Soorajji's (Sooraj Barjatya, director, story and screenplay writer) baby. He has written the character with all goodness and purity in his heart and has done with this characterisation. I hope I have done justice to Poonam depicting the character. You look very simple like a village-girl in the film. The look is very Indian for me. I play a very small-town-girl from the village Madhupur which is actually supposed to be Mathura, lord Krishna's land. Mathura was originally known as Madhira or Madhupur. Her upbringing is extremely simple and she resides with her uncle due to which her behaviour is a little different. So it is a good opportunity for me with different characterisation and I hope I have lived up to it. Dressing up and putting on makeup and costumes would have been challenging tasks. I had a very senior and experienced designer Anna Singh by my side for costumes. She has designed for all the top rung actors from the fraternity. It wouldn't be an exaggeration if I said I had blind faith in her. And she has given me a very nice look. I didn't have too many elaborate costumes in the film because the background from where Poonam came was not such. It was a very small town backdrop. So there was hardly any occasion where I really got to dress up. Otherwise it had generally been salwaar-kameez for me and I actually enjoyed doing it. Living in Madhupur she had to travel by cycle-rickshaw and had to talk from the phone-booth. All these things have been unusual experiences in different ambience for me. Looking at the rushes it feels like a family film. Do you think it will live up to the expectations of Hum Aapke Hain Koun? Vivah is not going to be like HAHK. Because HAHK, I think, had elaborated wedding ceremony, mehandi, sangeet and the likes. Vivah is actually a journey from engagement to marriage. So the festivities and marriage ceremonies are not given importance here. Essence of the film is the courtship period which invariably is the best phase of a married couple. But coming back to your question, it should bring a different glory altogether. The unique selling point of Vivah is the purity with which Soorajji has depicted a man-woman relationship. What's unique about the film that you stressed on its tagline, 'a journey from engagement to love'? The whole concept is that one person walks into your life and your future is changed forever. He makes the girl feel so special or the girl makes him feel so special. What you eat and drink becomes more of that person's concern than yours. And above all that, special right that you give that person to care for you is the highlight of this film. Are we going to see another antakshari setup? Not really, like I said earlier. Of course, in most of Soorajji's films, he gives a lot of importance to family. This film is going to be a union of two unknown families who come together because of an arranged marriage. And this happens actually in life that you meet an unknown family, they discover things and they become a part of you. Here, the focus would be on the lead pair because it's their journey. So you are not going to see the typical antakshari setup.

Sooraj Is King Of Subtle Romance’

A mrita Rao is quite excited with her forthcoming venture Vivah. The actress, who has been very selective about her roles right from the start of her career, has no qualms about not missing out on roles which required her to expose. “People whom I have worked with have always been kind and known that I would never do such roles. Hence they have never approached me to reveal or to appear in such shocking attires. At the end of the day, all that matters is the performance,” replies Amrita. But at the same time, hasn’t she been doing very few films? She smiles and says, “This is a precarious line and you cannot plan your future here. What if the best offers don’t come to you? You have to be careful how you tread and I have done it gracefully.” Speaking about Vivah, she says, “I have been a huge fan of the Rajshris. I have watched films like Maine Pyaar Kiya when I was a kid. I have seen Hum Aapke Hain Kaun twice. As a kid, I used to dance on the songs of Maine Pyaar Kiya and my dad used to record me dancing on the camcorder. Working with the Rajshri banner has been a dream come true for me. Whenever I passed by their office and banner, I would wonder when I would be called.” She adds, “Soorajji is the king when it comes to subtle unsaid romance. I don’t have to say ‘I love you’ to reveal my feelings. There are indirect, sweet moments which are better without dialogues.” In Vivah, the petite actress plays the role of a smalltown girl who is engaged to a boy from the city. Amrita feels that very few people have attempted a film on arranged marriage and that is how Vivah is unique. About her plans and views on marriage, Amrita says, “Marriage will definitely happen but not in the near future. Today, I have got a one in a million opportunity to work here. I have to respect this opportunity. I never planned my career. It just happened by chance, so it is my duty to entertain people. About marriage, I feel that it does not matter if it is an arranged one. It is important to know the per s o n first.”

‘i’m A Huge Fan Of Raj Kapoor & Nargisji’

Becoming successful is not as big a task as it is to sustain that success,” says Amrita Rao, who is soon stepping out of her college girl image. BACK TO THE ROOTS: The passion in her life these days – Hindi authors and Bollywood Classics. “I am reading books by Premchand and Shivani,” she says. Also she is a great fan of Raj Kapoor and Nargisji. “I have been hooked onto old Hindi films.” ON SUSHMITA SEN: Did her Chemistry teacher in Main Hoon Na teach Amrita something beyond the ‘how to dress to kill?’ “Sush is an enthralling and enigmatic personality. I was a kid watching her win the beauty titles,” comes the reply. Quoting one incident during the shoot of the song Gori gori, she shares how Sush told them that she came from a proper Hindi background. ON SHAHID: Many feel that Amrita makes a better on screen couple with Shahid Kapur than his girlfriend Kareena. Amrita remarks, “Somethings just happen. I’m not comparing the two couples but at the end of the day, it’s the audience’s choice that counts.

‘The songs are beautiful’

AMRITA RAO, the leading lady, plays Poonam, Prem’s fiancée. She talks about the music of the film. How would you describe the music of Vivah? AR: In most songs today the focus is more on beat and heavy instrumentation, and I feel that they are losing out on melody. The striking feature of the songs of Vivah is that they are very, very melodious and they have an old world charm. Like the songs of the 60's and the 70's. The lyrics really stand out. Some of the punchlines in these songs are very striking. For example, 'Milkar kya bolein' or 'Mujhe haq hai' or 'Milan abhi aadha adhura hai'. We experience these feelings all the time but when it’s put so beautifully in the form of a lyric, I think it’s very attractive. Which is your favourite song? AR: It would be extremely difficult to give priority to one particular song . All the songs are so beautiful in their own way. I think, commercially, a totally entertaining song would be 'Hamari shaadi mein' which is picturised beautifully in an aircraft. In terms of visual creativity, it is something you have never seen before, it’s funny and entertaining. It has entertainment value. Personally I love the song 'Do anjaane ajnabee' because it has a very pahadi, folk feel, a beautiful charm. It’s not like so many current songs which are very hip-hop. Like I said, it has a very old world charm. Even ‘Milan abhi aadha adhura hai’ – it’s such a peppy song. Most of the songs are beautiful.

Decent proposal

Amrita Rao talks to Rachana Dubey on 'Pyaare Mohan', 'Vivaah' and other engagements. Where have you been lately? I do only two films a year. After Pyaare Mohan, Vivaah is coming up. Like all actresses, you’re bound to rave about the Rajshris. Right? I’ve always loved the way the Rajshris have projected women. I wish I’d made my debut with them. Sooraj Barjatya and his father (Raj Kumar Barjatya) work out the most miniscule details of their films. Sooraj does the homework for all his actors and actresses. But please don’t go expecting Vivaah to be another Hum Aapke Hain Koun. Marriage is the only common element between the two. How did films happen? Ken Ghosh and Raj Kanwar wanted to sign me up after seeing the Karva chauth Perk commercial. Ken was still working on the script and finalising the male lead for Ishq Vishq. Raj Kanwar was already ready with his script. He was launching Arya Babbar, Raj Babbar’s son in Ab Ke Baras. That’s how I started off with two films. Don’t you wish you’d completed your graduation? I don’t regret that at all. I was studying psychology at Sophia college. I quit studies because I got an opportunity, which a million girls dream about. Now, it’s too late to go back to college. I’m in a profession where my educational qualifications don’t matter. Are Esha Deol and you on good terms now? (Hesitant) I wish her happiness. I won’t say anything more. I hate bitching about anyone. Didn’t you take a wrong step by doing an inconsequential role in Raj Kumar Santoshi’s The Legend of Bhagat Singh? Let me tell you that what you call an inconsequential role fetched me Vivaah. Sooraj Barjatya told me he loved me in that film. I knew from day one that I had a brief role..but then I found myself appearing at quite a few points of the narrative. Are you comfortable doing steamy scenes? It depends on the situation. I haven’t come across a script where I have to do something like that. I’d certainly avoid doing something that embarrasses me or my family. It also depends on the director – on how aesthetic he makes the scene look. What about all that talk about your impending marriage? (Blushes) That was someone’s idea of an April Fool joke. I’m not wrapping up so soon. You’ll have to wait for a couple of years to see me getting married.

Rao only has Vivaah on the cards

Amrita Rao whose film Pyare Mohan has just hit the cinemas talks about the film, her forthcoming projects and Esha Deol. Excerpts from an interview: You've worked with Indra Kumar, the director of Pyare Mohan earlier in the hit, Masti. Do you think that put pressure on all of you? People shouldn't come to watch Pyare Mohan thinking it's similar to Masti. This film may start on a frivolous note but like Kumar's other films, this too has a message, but it does not preach. I've grown up watching Kumar's films and it is great to do a second film with him. I had fun working with my co-stars, who were very co-operative. But there was some misunderstanding between you and Esha Deol while shooting for the film (apparently Esha slapped Amrita). Is it true? Don't go by what the newspapers say. Esha is a wonderful person and I wish her luck for her future projects. There were also reports that you're planning to quit Bollywood for marriage. Oh, that was an April Fool's joke (laughs). People take everything reported in the media seriously. So, I played a prank. But people fell for it. So there are no marriage plans? No, not at all. The only wedding I'm thinking about is my next film, Sooraj Bharjatya's Vivaah, which is releasing in November. Then, there is E Niwas' My Name Is Anthony.

I would love to visit South Africa again: Amrita Rao

Amrita Rao reminisces about her South African trip. All work and…more play!: It was work as well as play while shooting for ‘Ishq Vishq’ in South Africa. What made the trip more enjoyable was our energetic and fun-loving director Ken Ghosh, who hung out with the cast a lot. South Africa is mind-blowing…: It has fantastic beaches, sand dunes and malls. The sand dunes remind you of Jaisalmer. The table-top at Cape Town is akin to the flat mountains in Mahabaleshwar. A portion of the ‘Dil ko yeh kya ho gaya’ song with me was shot at the breathtakingly beautiful Cape of Good Hope. The places I dined at….: Ken took us out for dinner at this huge mall placed strategically near a waterfront. Since I am a vegetarian, I only remember having soups and fried rice. However, the ambience of the place was to die for. During the shoot we were staying with a Muslim family who would cook for us. I shopped till I dropped…: I picked up a lot of clothes including skirts, tops and some great belts. I also bought this lovely Anne Gebbe sleeping baby doll dressed in tiger skin. Fun and games…: We went to a lot of theatres, malls and even a small club where we played games. I made lots of friends there. When I do visit South Africa again, it’s going to bring back a flood of unforgettable memories of my first visit.

Amrita Rao: “I’m a total romantic at heart…”

Yet another comedy, this seems to be becoming your favourite genre. “Pyare Mohan is not an all-out comedy; it’s a love-story. The backdrop is funny because one guy if blind, the other is deaf. And both of them fall in love with girls who’re diva-like pop-singers. So the premise makes the story very amusing. I know ‘Masti’ kind of flicks are the current flavour of the season, but audiences shouldn’t walk into the theater assuming this is another Masti.” The film says - Love is blind and deaf. Your take? “Yes, I think love is blind and deaf. Love is a state where you like everything and anything about a person. Like Viveik said - love is blind and after marriage it becomes deaf because the husband stops listening to what the wife is saying.” Sounds like you are a romantic? “I’m a total romantic at heart. Well, it’s a different story that I don’t have a boyfriend and I’ve never had one. If I wasn’t a romantic, I wouldn’t be able to romance on screen.” Romance aside, are there funny moments in this comedy? “There’s one scene I can never forget, it is the first scene Viveik and I are in the film. The dialogues are hilarious; I actually called the writer and congratulated him. Every time Viveik spoke, we would burst out laughing. It came naturally. “ The funniest thing that has actually happened to you? “One time was when we were shooting for ‘Main Hoon Na’ in the cold climes of Darjeeling. I wanted to tell Zayed that the weather was erratic; instead I said that the weather was ‘erotic’. Everyone had a great laugh, and ever since then Zayed calls me Ms. Erotica. And the other hilarious thing was the April Fool’s joke I played along with Bombay Times, about quitting the industry. The kind of reactions I got were so amusing, I still can’t get over it. But just to set the record straight, for my only ‘Vivaah’ is the one I’m doing in Soorajjis’ film. And all you guys are invited for it!” Do you see any change in Viveik as an actor? “I worked with him for the second time; our comfort levels were so good. Vivek has worked hard on his character, he had to lip read and know everybody’s lines. In ‘Masti’ you saw a different Viveik; you’ll see a very different Viveik in ‘Pyare Mohan’.” Didn’t you secretly wish you were cast opposite Fardeen too, considering he’s so ‘hot’? “I would love to be cast opposite Fardeen, in some other film of course. Fardeen is a good actor and a lovely human being. I find similar traits in Zayed and Fardeen. They share the same sense of humor, and believe me their humour is fantastic. They always keep you entertained. Fardeen is a little quieter, while Zayed is the naughtier one.” Every actress aspires to be a Chopra and Barjatya heroine, at least once in their career? “The Barjatyas in particular, portray their heroines in the most ideal way any girl can be showcased in a film. The more desirable a director makes you, the more desirable you will be for the audiences. I have tremendous respect for directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Raj Kumar Santoshi, Sooraj Barjatya, Subhash Ghai, Indra Kumar who give actresses their due in the industry - that is famously known as the man’s world.“

Secret behind Amrita’s lissome figure

Amrita Rao registered her presence as the lucky mascot for various films with hits like Ishq Vishq and Main Hoon Na. The lissome lady is now concentrating on fewer projects rather than competing with the bare-dare brigade. Here she shares the secret to her beauty and fitness. My Day Begins with: I am an early riser and am usually up by 7.30 am. The first thing I do is brush my teeth. Since I am a teetotaller, I drink fresh fruit juices and a glass of lukewarm water. Breakfast is light and I prefer eating ghar ka khana. Daily Diet: I am a pure vegetarian. Lunch consists of two chapattis, green vegetables, sabzi and dal with rice! Dinner is again the same. I love to eat mushrooms and cabbage. I am not a party person so I am faithful to my mom's khana. My favorite cuisine is our Mangalorian cuisine and I love Thai food. Before I go to sleep, I drink a glass of milk, which not only provides me with a good, sound sleep, but also supplements me with all the required ingredients! Amrita Rao's approach to health and diet is a very balanced once Binge time: Well! As such I don't believe in fasting or binging. I eat in moderation and I eat to live and not live to eat. It is not good to starve yourself or overstuff your own body. Love your body because if it remains in good shape, you'll always be healthy. I don't tend to put on weight. Workout Schedule: I must confess I am lucky in this regard. I can eat what I like. However, I have a personal trainer, who comes home thrice in a week. I usually work-out to tone my body with dumbbells. I don't work-out on weights. I primarily do aerobics and stretching to keep myself fit. Luckily, I am a healthy girl so working out is not a must for me! Tips on Healthy Living: It is very important to understand your own body structure. Eat what you like, but eat in moderation. Avoid junk foods, cheese and fats. Eating outside home can create lots of complications. So try to eat food made at home. It is not only hygienic but also tastes so well apart from being healthy. Develop healthy habits by jogging and walking that extra mile. Work-out in gym only if you feel it is necessary for you otherwise please don't kill yourself with weights for hours. Beauty lies in being healthy so they say – early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!

Is Amrita Rao calling it quits? (April Fools Prank)

Even as the city buzzes with rumours that the actor is ready to quit films in favour of matrimony. Is it really true that you're tying the knot? Well, there is an astrologer I really believe in. He has predicted almost everything about my life to the T. He strongly believes that I will tie the knot before Diwali this year --in the next six months or so. According to him this is not just a good time, but the only time for me to get married. So are you calling it quits in Bollywood? I've had the opportunity to do a variety of roles very early in my career, and I've been lucky to have worked with some good directors and banners. Post marriage, coming back to films seems difficult. There's a time for everything in life and I want to whole-heartedly enjoy my married life. You're young. Couldn't you have waited a few years before taking the plunge? I believe you should get married young, it's easier to find a partner at this age. Besides, I would love to spend the best days of my youth with my man, instead of being by myself. I don't want to wait till the fag end of my '30s when my youth has passed away. ...This news will come as a shock to your directors and producers... Fortunately, I am completing my films in the next few months, so I am not going to deceive any director, or leave any producer in the lurch. I have enjoyed stardom, now it's time for something new. So who's the mystery man? Well, I am still looking for him. My astrologer has told me that I should look at many prospective men before I settle down with one. I have to go on this man hunt; I cannot marry the tenth man I meet. He's clearly told me that my soul mate is lakhon mein ek. So to find 'the one' I have to meet a whole lot of them. Being an actor makes my search even more difficult. I have always believed in marrying a simple man, not necessarily someone in the same profession as me. So I thought maybe the timesmatri service (www.timesmatri.com) can be of great help, I've heard a lot of people use the matrimony services to search for their lifepartner. Why not a swayamvar? That's like going back to the Ramayana era. I probably won't have a typical, traditional swayamvar like Ram and Sita, where 100 men queue up to impress the lady to be garlanded and wedded, but yes, I will talk and meet numerous prospective grooms before giving my willing nod for the shaadi. Maybe you're getting influenced by Vivaah, the film you are shooting for currently? Ha! Ha! Only if movies were real, but no, I am not influenced by any movie. You'll be missed in tinselville for sure? Yeah, I hope you guys miss me. I will miss you guys for sure!

Oh, charmed...!

Nothing can slow down her pace. Not even the slapping controversy. Amrita Rao is on a career roll. With back-to-back releases— Mahesh Manjrekar’s Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! and John Matthan’s Shikhar, followed by Sooraj Barjatya’s Vivah— all three co-starring Shahid Kapur, her star is clearly on the ascendant It’s a lazy Wednesday afternoon in Mumbai, preparations are on for the Novena at Mahim Church. Sitladevi flower vendors are threading fresh asters into ornate garlands to be offered to the deity. Close by, at the Mahim Dargah, huge biryani pots are simmering. In the midst of this frenetic religious activity, is a quiet colony that houses the petite Amrita Rao. Canopied by trees, the Rao residence sports a spanking clean white decor. The theme is “Harappan civilization,” explains mama Rao pointing out the famous bull motif and the undeciphered Heiroglyphics etched on wall murals and a lamp stand. Dressed in a pretty pink and daimante blue jeans, Amrita walks in. Sans make-up, she looks every bit a charming collegian. The ex-Sophiyan recalls how exciting it was to return to her alma mater while shooting for Ishq, Vishq. Then returning to the present she talks excitedly about how she landed in John Mathew Matthan’s Shikhar. “John called me up last October during the scripting stages of the film. I vividly remember every scene of Sarfarosh. I was in school then and loved the film. It was a dream come true when he cast me for this role,” she gushes. Working on John’s sets made her feel as though she had reached Hollywood, smiles Amrita. “We were given a call sheet that summoned us at 5 a.m. and even informed us about the expected temperature on location! There were smart assistants equipped with walkie-talkies, tying up loose ends,” she elaborates, pointing out that together with a bound script, John works out everything from costume, make-up and hair-style for every actor to the finest detail. “Consequently, we wrapped up four days ahead of schedule,” she informs. On her pairing with her first co-star, Shahid Kapur after three long years, she explains, “We didn’t exactly go on a signing spree after Ishq Vishq like every other ‘superhit jodi’. But we complement each other perfectly on-screen and next to Shah Rukh Khan, I find Shahid my most comfortable co-star. Together we can be peppy as well as controlled. Even Kareena says, we make the best on-screen pair.” The Shikhar unit was very special to Amrita because they spent a lot of time together at Panvel during an extended outdoor schedule. “It didn’t feel like work at all. It was like living another life for those few days,” she recalls dreamily. “Madhavi, the character I play, is introduced with the breezy, romantic ‘Mere mann...’ number and sports a charming Indian look. Bipasha plays the virago.” Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!, that released last Friday, is a fantasy film with lots of fun and eight children. And Amrita loved being one among the kids. She remembers that on the first day, as soon as she got out of her make-up van, she spotted her young co-stars giggling. “When I asked them why, they told me they wanted to call me Barbie didi. I let them have their way and we got along famously,” she grins, adding that with eight kids it was impossible to have ‘silence’ on the sets. “There were so many artistes in every scene that it felt like we were performing a play for a live audience,” Amrita laughs. Hailing from a middle-class family, Amrita wanted to be a singer and trained in classical music. But she admits that since childhood, a lot of of relatives felt that she would grow up to be an actress. As a petite collegian, she won hearts with her Perk Cadbury commercial, which in turn got her a couple of film offers - Ken Ghosh’s Ishq Vishq and Raj Kanwar’s Ab Ke Baras. However, it was Shah Rukh’s home production Main Hoon Na that put her in the top bracket. As John Matthan’s heroine, Amrita’s stock has soared higher. With Sooraj Barjatya’s Vivah, Indra Kumar’s Pyare Mohan opposite Viviek Aanand Oberoi and E Niwas’ My Name Is Anthony, charming Ms Rao seems headed the right way. As she puts it, “There is no dearth of work for young, talented actors in the industry.”

Amrita Rao undergoes image makeover for ‘Shikhar’

After a fantasy film ‘Vaah Life Ho Toh Aisi’ which released last week, Amrita Rao undergoes a image makeover for a serious role in her forthcoming film ‘Shikhar’. Only a few films old, Amrita has got an enormous fan following and a pipeline of good films to her credit. She already gets lucky to work in John Mathew Matthan’s second film opposite Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu and her favourite co-star Shahid Kapur. We chat with her on her forthcoming film this Friday. Excerpts from the Interview: Post ‘Vaah Life Ho Toh Aisi’, does life still feels very dreamy? A fantasy films makes you feel as if you’re in a dreamland and nobody surely wants to awake from a good dream. Hats off to Mahesh Manjrekar who managed to make a fantasy film that really gives you a kind of high. It all seemed like a fairytale, with Yamraj, flying cars and kids. It’s just incredible. Seem you haven’t overcome the hangover yet? (Laughs) With the actors and bunch of kids it was like a long picnic going on. I really shared so many good memories with the little kids. Every morning they used to shower me with kisses and spend time in my van when we were not shooting. It was really special. I started feeling like a kid myself. You head on from a fantasy feel to a serious one with ‘Shikhar’? ‘Shikhar’ is a very different film and I’ll appear in the most serious role of my career. Being able to work with a director like John Mathew Matthan is like complimenting your skill. The film has its moment and I liked working on the film. The story of the film is very unique. What is your role in the film? I play a very simple girl next-door kind of a role. I’m Shahid’s childhood friend staying in an ashram and also love him very much. When he goes astray in his life, I hold my sensibilities and morals and keep telling him the difference between right and wrong. I love my role. It’s an etched out and performance oriented one. What is the basic concept of the film? The film basically deals with social issue with a universal appeal. People from all over the world will be able to relate to the film. Many such different issues make this film special. It has a very strong story giving out a message to all. It’s smooth, intelligent and fascinating. Some controversies have come up that you were not happy with the promos of the film. It is just another rubbish rumor. I never said anything in that regard. Promotions and such stuffs aren’t my area where I need to concentrate. I’m too much proud of the film to happen in my career. How can I have complains against it. John was also surprised when he read the stories. He knows me and also knows that I would never do anything such. What does a film of John Mathew Matthan mean to you? Truly ‘Sarfarosh’ is among my favourite Hindi films. I was just hoping in my heart if I could get the opportunity to work with the director of such enormous talent. When the role really came to me from him, I had to pinch myself to believe that it was really happening with me. His second film is as good as his first one. Another film with Shahid Kapur? People have liked us together on screen and so we get paired together time and again. When Kareena complimented me, I was really convinced that we look good onscreen. How much do you rate yourself as an actress? I don’t want to rate myself and would rather leave it to others. Everything is so unpredictable here and the competition is so tough that one keep on outdoing the other. So I just concentrate on my work and try to do better than my former film.

“You’ll often find in the worst films…there are the best actors.”

Are you still living in your fantasy land, post- Vaah Life Ho Toh Aisi ? “You said it – a fantasy film takes you a different high. The director, Mahesh Manjrekar actually managed to recreate that world for all of us. Can you believe it, he conceived a fantasy film with a Yamraj character, these are things that we’ve read about in story books, but to script it into a film format, make Bollywood actors enact it and make it appealing enough for audiences to lap it up is a difficult task. And all this coming from the man, who has made hard-hitting films like Astitva and Vaastav , quite incredible, isn’t it?” In this one, the bunch of kids seems to be the ‘stars of the film’. “Yes, they are the stars of the film, indeed. I hit it off so well with all of them; they would spend most of their time in my van. Every morning when I would walk in to the sets they would rush towards me and plant a peck on my cheek. They made me feel so special.” Did the bachchas bring out the ‘child’ in Shahid and you? “It was like going back to school. We got the opportunity to do bowling and play games on the sets. We even shot some portions in Essel World; it was a blast taking all those roller coaster rides with the kids, all that screaming, screeching and madness. Shahid and I felt no different than them.” Who threw more tantrums – the kiddie stars or the grown up stars? “For this film you can be rest assured that the kids threw more tantrums than the stars. But it was all so adorable. There was this ‘lil kid called Darshil, he’s so tiny that you want to go and hug him right away. He’s the cutest thing in the film. He would say, ‘ Abhi mujhe sona hai, main shot nahi doonga ’. It was so hilarious. The kids got more pampering than the stars.” Most actresses are in awe of Sunjay Dutt, did he intimidate the petite -Amrita Rao? “I’ve worked with Sunjay Dutt in ‘Deewar’, but I didn’t’ interact with him much at that time. Even in Life Ho Toh Aisi , most of his scenes are with Shahid. But whenever Sunju meets me, he goes out of his way to make me feel special by paying me a compliment. It’s a wonderful thing to do.” Apparently you are unhappy with the promos of John Mathew Mathan’s Shikhar?” “It is absolutely wrong; I didn’t say it at all. Who am I to comment on the promos of a film. It’s not my forte at all. Sarfarosh is one of my favorite Hindi films, and ever since I saw it I was hoping someday I’ll get a chance to work with a brilliant director like John Mathew Mathan. And when he actually offered me a lead role I couldn’t believe my luck. Shikhar , like his first film is a strong story with a beautiful message without being preachy. It’s slick, intelligent and gripping. It’s a film I am proud of, and I love the role John has sketched for me in it. Even John was surprised when he read a story about me commenting on the promos of the film, he knows me and he knows I can never say anything like that.” Kareena thinks that Shahid and you make a ‘good pair’. Your comment. “Everyone has been saying that, so I am convinced that we really do make a good pair on-screen. Kareena is lovely girl and she’s very beautiful too, she has this flawless, translucent complexion that makes her glow. It’s very nice of her to say that especially when we are in the same industry and same profession. I think she and Shahid make a fantastic pair.” In a long time you’ve been one of the prettiest actresses on-screen, the only gripe audiences have is that you lack sex appeal. Are you planning to do something about it? “Well, I think audiences like me for what I am. In Main Hoon Na I looked very trendy, hip and smart. I like experimenting and looking different in my films (if not so-called conventionally ‘sexy’), but I don’t think to look good is the only reason to be there in the film industry. We call ourselves ‘actors’ at the end of the day remember?” Your toughest competition.... “ My competition is with every piece work I leave behind. I am constantly trying to better my previous performance. I am amazed when I see someone like Shah Rukh Khan – at this stage, at the height at which he is he can take it easy and do whatever roles wants – the audiences will still topple over each other to see him anyways. Yet, whenever he sits on the sets he’s more than hundred percent involved in what he’s doing, trying to make each shot better than his best. That’s exemplary.” On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate yourself as an actress...? “It would be wrong to rate myself, it’s for others to do that. This film world is very precarious, it’s like a gamble. Unfortunately, the media rates actors by their B.O hits and flops, which is very incorrect. How a film fares at the B.O depends on a whole lot of other issues, not just the actors, but somehow the actors have to shoulder the blame. I’ve heard television anchors saying, “This is ‘so and so’ whose last film was a flop.” That’s such a sad way of introducing actors for their work. If you observe closely, you’ll often find that in the worst films...there are the best actors.”

Amrita Rao on why Life Ho Toh Aisi

This pretty damsel made her debut with Ab Ke Baras but showed what she is made of in movies like Ishq Vishq and Main Hoon Na. Watch her as she is all ready to light up the big screen this Christmas in Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi with her girl next door looks. Meet Amrita Rao, the unstoppable. What is your character in the movie? My character is called Piya and I play a typical Bollywood film heroine in this movie. So my role was very glamorous and colorful and I had fun doing it. How was it working with Shahid Kapur? Well it was great. Our last film together was appreciated a lot by audiences. So even doing this movie was very interesting. And what about the kids? It was amazing. This was my first movie with kids and they made me feel so special. They used to come to my van to meet everyday and they enjoyed every moment with me and made me feel so special. These are memories that I will never forget. Tell us about the music of this movie. Himesh Reshammiya has composed the music for this movie. He is very talented and has been giving out some brilliant music, movie after movie. Even in Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi, his work is commendable. My favorite song is Teri Yaad Yaad. Any fun moment! We all had a blast on the sets all the time due to the kids. Mahesh Manjrekar managed the kids very well. He allowed them to relax and play but also extracted the work from them. How was Mahesh Manjrekar as a director? Since he is an actor himself, he makes it very easy for the actor to understand the scene and perform it. Even when we didn't perform well for a certain shot he used to be calm and gave us time to relax and redo it. What is the character of Yumraaj all about? Mahesh had a whole different idea of Yumraaj for this film. Totally different from what we imagine of Yumraaj. Sanjay Dutt was a perfect fit for this role and played it amazingly. What makes this film special? The way Mahesh has created this film is like the dream of every person. Anyone who watches it will wish to live life in this manner as shown in the movie. Hence Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi.

'Shahid is a serious and dedicated actor'

AMRITA RAO has two releases lined up this month with Shahid Kapoor, with whom she made her debut- 'Vah! Life Ho To Aisi' and 'Shikhar'. Excerpts from an interview by VICKEY LALWANI: What is 'Vah! Life Ho to Aisi' about? 'Vah! Life Ho To Aisi' is essentially a fantasy film. We have taken many cinematic liberties. It was a perfect opportunity to have fun, without asking for logic. How was it working with Mahesh Manjrekar as a director? Mahesh was a class teacher when it came to dealing with kids. Shooting with children is difficult but great fun. How was it shooting in Egypt for 'Vah! Life Ho To Aisi'? We went to Egypt for a fantasy song. That place has lots of mystique to it. What was most exciting was the freezing cold there. It was fascinating to see the pyramids covered with snow You are being paired with Shahid Kapoor after a long time? Yeah. Considering the fact that our debut film 'Ishq Vishk' did so well, that's a bit surprising isn't it? (smiles) You think you'll will click together again? We are in a precarious profession. What looks like a great decision at a given instant may turn out to be a foolish one after six months. However, I must say that Shahid is an excellent actor to work with. In fact, from the day I started working with Shahid, he came across to me as a serious and dedicated actor who always puts his best foot forward. You are referred as a lucky mascot. Is it a scary title? It's not a scary title. It's just that we need to understand that everything I do in the world cannot click. What is John Matthew Mathan's 'Shikhar' about? Gaurav Gupta aka GG (Ajay Devgan) is the man who started with nothing and now believes that only money can fuel his ambitions. While Guruji (Javed Sheikh), to the manor born, believes that wealth means nothing if not used for society. Caught in the tussle between the two is the unworldly Jaidev Vardhan (Shahid Kapoor), who while respecting his father's philosophy, falls hook, line and sinker for Gaurav Gupta's gilt-edged dreams. Where do you come in? I play Madhavi, Jai's childhood friend from the ashram who tries to warn him but he refuses to listen and she has to watch helplessly as Jai gets tangled more and more in the deadly web spun by Gaurav Gupta and Natasha (Bipasha Basu), who is madly in love with Gaurav Gupta. Why don't you ever indulge in wearing skimpy and suggestive outfits? Every actor has her own priorities. We all know what is our limit. I for one am not willing to indulge in skin exposure on screen. You can't do a particular scene and then rationalize it saying the character demanded it. Which are your forthcoming films? 'Shikhar', 'Pyare Mohan' and 'Sooraj Barjatya nand E Niwas' What happened between Esha Deol and you, recently? She says that she slapped you? It's over. I don't want to talk about this. Will you work with Esha Deol again? Why not?

‘I am making up for lost time’

Back with twin releases after an extended break, AMRITA RAO tells Pratim D. Gupta what it’s like to be Shahid Kapur’s heroine no. 1 and the new Barjatya girl Where have you been all these months? I know I have been away from the big screen for a long, long time. Now, it has come to a point that people are asking me, “When can we see you in movies again?” But after Main Hoon Na, I got so much critical and media acclaim that I didn’t want to do just about any project even though I got a lot of offers. So I chose to work with only good directors like John Matthew Matthan and Mahesh Manjrekar. So, now you have two releases in three Fridays… (Laughs) I am making up for all the time that I have been missing from the scene. But seriously speaking, you cannot calculate things in this industry even if you want to. So, God keeps planning things for me. Your last release Deewaar didn’t do well at the box-office and even your role was chopped off at the editing table… As an audience member, I think the script of Deewaar went wrong somewhere. The finishing touches to the movie didn’t happen as planned. For me personally, it was a bonus to be part of a film like that. The beautiful song that was picturised on me, Piya bawri, got me a lot of compliments from my fans and also from the industry. Sushmita Sen called me to say how good I looked in the song. So, I have no regrets for doing Deewaar. What was it like doing a fantasy film like Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi? It is essentially a fantasy film but it’s also a romantic movie and it gave me the liberty of playing a conventional Bollywood heroine. Till date, for movies like Ishq Vishk, Main Hoon Na and Legend of Bhagat Singh, I have had to stick within the parameters of my character. So I could never have four costume changes and several hairstyles in a single song. But in Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi, I could do everything that I have seen other actresses do while I was growing up. I would love to do a film like this every once in a while as long as I have a serious movie like Shikhar along with it. Isn’t Shikhar mainly a man-versus-man movie? That’s how the film is being promoted. But it is ultimately about how somewhere everybody’s dreams clash with each other. I have a very important character-oriented role in Shikhar. It started out as a commercial film but it’s turned out to be a very intelligent and smart film. It’s got a lovely message which it spreads without being preachy. You are paired with Shahid Kapur in almost every film… The two of us have had only one release till date, Ishq Vishk. But yes, we have three films lined up. We both have been extremely fortunate as newcomers when we got accepted by the media and the industry without having any prior backing. And yes, there has always been a genuine response to our pairing. If our coming together works for the commercial aspect of a film, half the battle is won. So it’s like a win-win situation for both of us. Apart from Shikhar and Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi, you two will also be seen in Sooraj Barjatya’s next film… Yes, getting to work with the Barjatyas is definitely an opportunity to take two steps forward. It’s a huge platform and a very nice role. And ultimately the story is about a boy and a girl. I really couldn’t have been more fortunate. I have got this offer at a very critical stage of my life. I am really excited and I start shooting for the movie from December 9. In which other films would we see you in? There’s a film called My Name Is Anthony Gonzalves and then there’s Indra Kumar’s Pyaare Mohan.

AMRITA RAO: MY CHERISHED DREAMS FULFILLED

Amrita Rao is an innocent entrant in Bollywood with no godfather. Though she cherished the hope to begin with Rajshri Productions known for women centric movies, yet she is happy that she has finally signed a movie with it. Luck favored her inasmuch as she had a hat trick recently. Besides, she has had the privilege to act with with top heroes like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Shaahid Kapoor, the three belonging to three generations! She has been a success and can look forward to a bright career in future. How else could she play Payal, a behanji type in 'Ishq Vishq', a sensitive Radhika of 'Deewar', a fiancð”Manwali in 'The Legend of Bhagat Singh' and a Sanjana, a western college girl in 'Main Hoon Na'. This proves that she isn't typecast and can play versatile roles. Her luck has been too strong otherwise how could Raj Kanwar select her for his 'Ab Ke Baras' and Ken Ghosh for his 'Ishq Vishq' through advertisements only. Similarly, Farah Khan chose her for her tomboyish look for her 'Main Hoon Na' just after watching her dance performance. Amrita is humble but quite clear and strong in her mind. That's why she declined many offers, but accepted Mahesh Manjrekar's ' Life Ho To Aisi' opposite Shaahid Kapoor that's at the final phase of completion. She is choosy; she offered to act in 'Deewar' though for a brief role due to the presence of Amitabh in it. And, she has left an impression on the viewers. Despite a hat trick, she hasn't lost her humility, and still maintains confidence in herself. Another important feature of Amrita Rao is her distance from exposure even during the present trend of bold and sexy scenes by all and sundry. She doesn't allow the camera to look into her anatomy. She feels uneasy while doing a kissing scene. That's why Farah Khan removed a scene picturizing her lip locking with Zayed Khan. Amrita has proved that to look sexy one need not shed clothes. She doesn't mind exposing herself within a limit, but always tries to avoid scenes that make her uneasy or uncomfortable. We met her recently and chatted with her. Excerpts of interview: What was your dream before entering films? I had a cherished desire to act in Rajshri Films. The latter depicts the picture of an " absolute" woman in its movies. How did you get a Rajshri movie that's the aim before every actress? It wasn't so easy to get a role in Rajshree Films. First, I was asked to meet Sooraj Barjatya's father Raj Kumar Barjatya. He believes in good dialogue delivery. So, he gives a Hindi book to every actor and then asks to translate it. Initially, I felt uneasy, as I am not too good in Hindi. However, as a whole, it was a good experience for me. How is your Hindi now? I have now realized the importance of Hindi. I believe in using Hindi. I am aware of Hinglish that is used by youngsters. I think the new generation likes to use a casual language. Who have been your heroes? In the beginning, I acted with Shah Rukh Khan, Bobby Deol, Shaahid Kapoor and Zayed Khan. Who is your favorite hero? My favorite hero is Shah Rukh Khan because he gets the best performance out of an actor. Besides, he tries to encourage one to give the best performance. Do you feel any change in yourself since you joined films? My experience in the industry has matured me. The industry has taught me religious harmony. Perhaps, Bollywood is the only place where there is no discrimination of any sort. I feel that the film industry is like a big family. How come an attractive and self-confident girl like you has remained single? My life is just like a blank paper. I haven't come across anyone in my life whom I may make my life partner. What are you looking for in your life partner? Looks don't matter for me. However, he should possess a strong personality. What are your forthcoming movies? Besides Rajshri films, I have on hand movies of directors like John Mathew, Mahesh Manjrekar, Indra Kumar and E. Niwas.

Poised For The Big Times!

AMRITA RAO has been associated with big banner films; Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Deewar, Ishq Vishk, Main Hoon Na and Masti. But what's preventing her from becoming the busiest actor? Right now she is excited about Pyaare Mohan opposite Vivek Oberoi. Other exciting releases slated for this year are a film each with John Mathew Mathan and Mahesh Manjrekar, both opposite Shahid Kapoor! Looks like this talented actress is all set to scale new heights in her career! Which are the films on hand? I have just signed Indra Kumar's Pyaare Mohan opposite Vivek Oberoi. The other pair is Esha Deol and Fardeen Khan. It's a romantic comedy. I'm not playing a college girl in it nor am I married. So it's that in-between fun phase (laughs). But it's a very young film. Aren't you doing two films opposite Shahid Kapoor? Yeah, I'm doing John Mathew's and Mahesh Manjrekar's film. John Mathew's film has shaped up really well and they are on the lookout for a good title that would go with the essence of the film and the characters in it. What is the film about? We've been asked not to talk about it as John believes that one shouldn't raise expectations of the audience. He wants them to come and watch the film and make their own judgments. But you could say that it's a beautiful film. It's not preachy but there's a message in it. Both Shahid and me are playing character roles in it. The film is also visually different, and I have a very simple and non-makeup look in it. I became a huge fan of John Mathew's after Sarfarosh. He's so incredible with his vision. I feel lucky to be working in his next film after Sarfarosh. He was bombarded with so many offers after Sarfarosh but he didn't want to work on something that didn't excite him. What about Manjrekar's film? Life Ho To Aisi is a fantasy film. You can extend your imagination and go beyond reality. It has special effects and is a lot of fun. Sanjay Dutt is playing Yamraj in it and he has done a fantastic job. I've got lots of kids with me. I'm playing a teacher. This is the first time I'm working with so many kids. They were all very sweet. They called me Barbie didi and would kiss me on the cheek and say bye to me after packup. Shahid's brother and Mahesh Manjrekar's son are also acting in it. I'm also doing E.Niwas' next film, My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves. What a title! It's a nice breezy film. There's a newcomer, Nikhil, who's been cast opposite me. It's not a love story in that sense but our connection in the film is romantic. There's also Boman Irani, Lillete Dubey and Rajpal Yadav in it. I've always felt that Lillete has a strong screen presence. I've liked her in Zubeida and Kal Ho Na Ho and it's a great feeling to be working with her. We are going to be closely associated in the film. I've already interacted with Boman Irani during Main Hoon Na but I don't think I have scenes with him in this film. Rajpal Yadav is someone whose face itself wants to make you crack up. I'm looking forward to this one too. Are you being too choosy with your films? I'm not being choosy, I'm just a little cautious. I'm not a star kid nor do I have a famous surname. Star kids have the benefit of making mistakes, grooming themselves and making a comeback. Today one can't afford to make mistakes. One wrong move and you could be washed out. But you've only chosen big banners so far! I knew only big films would get me notice. When I was shooting with Shah Rukh Khan for Main Hoon Na, he told me that I would get 200 offers but I should just choose two from them. That would make me noticed, talked about as well as fetch me awards. But now I feel I should do more films. I think I've already been accepted as a performer. John's film should consolidate my position further. Both my films after MHN got slightly delayed. Today I've realized that I should do more films because even if one or two films get delayed, I'm not out of sight. My fans keep messaging me that they want to see me in a film. I also felt that a responsible actor should not go on a signing spree. It creates date hassles and is troublesome to the producer. So far my choice of films has got me good response. Are you doing Ken Ghosh's next film? I don't know. He's ready with his subject and seems to be quite happy with it. It depends on his choice of heroes and how I fit in with them. Are you still against exposing on screen? Yes, but that does not mean that I want to be covered from head to foot. Most of our big actresses have somewhere clicked with the masses because they have shown their glamorous, sensual side to them. Anything within the parameters of decency is fine. I remember Aishwarya Rai backless in Choker Bali. But it was so tastefully done, it didn't look condescending at all. I wouldn't mind something like that. So you wouldn't do a Mallika Sherawat and go to Cannes! (Laughs) I've nothing against that. It's very subjective. Those who feel that they've got the assets and want to cash in on it, is fine by me. What amazes me is these kinds of film works. Once I was listening to Mahesh Bhatt on radio. He said that there's an audience for these kinds of film. The masses want it. How about a man in your life? I wouldn't say clichéd things like, 'my work is my focus now', just because it sound impressive. Honestly I haven't met anyone who appeals to me. I'll wait for the right person. I don't want to get desperate and settle for just anyone. Besides, there's a lot happening on the work front. What's your idea of Mr. Right? There are people who bring out the good in you while there are others who make you feel lousy. Naturally he has to be someone who makes me feel good. But it's not always that you are attracted to someone who brings out the best in you (laughs). So till I find someone who makes me feel good and I am attracted to romantically, I will be single.

Random Questions

Who is your favourite 'Richie Rich' Indian? For carrying their father's business forward, I nominate the Ambanis. Is Shoaib Akhtar sexy? He is decent looking, but I don't know about his sex appeal. You need to have a good personality and moral qualities, apart from looks to be sexy. He is a good cricketer, but I don't think he is sexy. Do you stand by Salman Khan? Of course. The source of the tape was never revealed. For all you know, it could have been a TRP gimmick.

Amrita's Health and Beauty Tips

Skin and Hair Care I am particular about cleansing my skin on a daily basis to avoid acne and blemishes. I never use make-up when I'm not shooting. I use Cetaphil face cleanser to remove my make-up, which if left unwashed is the main reason for blackheads. I pamper my skin with a good night cream before I go to bed, and oil my hair with baby oil as often as I can for smooth and soft hair. Plus, I shampoo and condition my hair daily. Diet Fad I start my day with two glasses of warm water, have theplas and parathas for breakfast and follow a balanced diet throughout the day. I avoid leafy veggies and roadside food during the monsoons. Exercise Wise I am not an exercise person at all, but I do a lot of stretching, which is necessary for flexibility in dancing.

A beautiful Pharaoh

Actress Amrita Rao says that her life is like an open book Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? As a successful actor Sweetest childhood memory… A trip to south Karnataka with my family a few years ago If God granted you just one wish, what would you ask for? Contentment for lifetime When stuck in a horrible traffic jam, you… Listen to the radio One thing you will never do… Indulge in a one-night stand The most bizarre food you’ve eaten so far... A protein drink in vanilla flavour. It tasted really bad. One faux pas you wish you had never made? Nothing so far Which fruit or vegetable, do you think you resemble the most? Cucumber Who or what would you think about the most when marooned on a deserted island? I’d wish that Tom Hanks would help me out of there What if you woke up one morning and found you’ve aged like Rip Van Winkle... I’d say WOW!! A night at a haunted house you would… Pray to every god Your favourite colour and what it reminds you of ? White, as it reflects purity. What do you think you were in your past life? I guess an Egyptian Pharaoh The best kept secret of your life? My life is like an open book. I don’t have any secrets as such.

I am....

I am... Amrita Rao Thinking of Taking a beautiful drive to Lonavala on Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Watching The Hitch. I loved the performances of Smith and Eva Mendes. Wearing Watch: Rolex. It has a metallic dial with a dash of blue and a black leather strap.Perfume: Design. It is sweet scented and has that distinct and peculiar smell, which could make it your trade perfume.Clothes: I have a personal designer called Jerry D’Souza who designs good contemporary outfits. He is not wellknown but he has a lot of potential and will prove himself. Presently I find myself comfortable wearing jeans and T- shirt. Reading Netaji, Where Art Thou? It is basically a memoir written by my great-grandfather, Sundar Rao. Dating Nobody. Going to party next At a friend’s house. I do not like the smoke and sound decibels in discotheques though I love dancing.

On "Kajra Re" (Bunty aur Babli)

The song is catchy and rhythmic. A good song is one that makes you want to listen to it again and again. And Kajra Re... is one such number. The fact that no two compositions of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy are the same is responsible for the song’s success! And so is its visual appeal. It has been choreographed well by Saroj Khan. Watching the father-son duo of Amitabh and Abhishek together is a treat. And Ash has her own fanfollowing.

‘Find me a simple guy’

Amrita Rao doesn’t have a boyfriend. She tells Paras Tomar that to woo her, the guy has to meet the parents It’s almost like a pattern with your films. You again have two major releases simultaneously . I can’t deny that at all! For some bizzare reason people keep saying that I am very choosy and that’s why my films either coincide or take a while to release. The two films I am working on was to be released last December. That would have kept a consistent release schedule then... So what’s been the delay? Well, Life Ho To Aisi is a film that has a lot of special effects. I guess it’s just taking time. But I had the funniest time shooting for the film with Sanjay Dutt and Shahid Kapoor... Shahid again? I knew that was coming. Yes, Shahid again. In fact, Shahid and me joke about so many ‘on-the-sets’ kind of things now. In fact, there is one scene in LHTA which is quite similar to one in Ishq Vishq. It’s like a sense of deja vu. We hear you were given some kind of a nickname on the sets. Is that true? It’s the most adorable thing really! It’s a film that has many children in it. Every day that I would walk into the set, they would come running. I was a little apprehensive at first when they told me that they have a nickname for me. But I was extremely flattered when they started calling me Barbie Didi. You also have another film that’s going to release quite close to LHTA. Is that your way of making up for the hibernation? Ha, ha! The interesting part is that they’re both slotted for Diwali. So, if the festival isn’t colourful enough already, mine is going to be twice as bright! This one stars Ajay Devgan and Shahid Kapur... I know. Don’t say anything about Shahid again! Speaking of men... why are there never any rumours about you? I don’t know. You tell me! The funny part is that everyone keeps saying that I don’t have a boyfriend... And what do you say to these people? Find me one! I want someone who’s funny and a nice human being. Looks don’t matter. But at the moment, I am romancing the camera! But for anyone who wants to woo me, ask them to come and meet the parents! That sounds awfully simplistic though. Well, I’m a simple girl. You won’t catch me at all these parties all the time. I don’t mind going when it’s work. But otherwise, I am not one to just party hop, or even go to one for that matter. But what’s the one think that keeps you off the party scene? Smoke. Can’t handle it. Much rather stick to work. Who’re the people you still want to work with? Sanjay Leela Bansali, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, the Rajshris... the list is endless. I want to work with so many people. I can’t wait to learn more from some of the finest names in this industry.

Amrita Speaks Out!

On her Dad "I've always been in awe of my father; I've yet to come across a personality as strong as him. Every time I talk to him, I learn something new, and the learning never ends when he is around. I have tremendous respect for him for he's a self-made man and he's raised me to be that way, too. We've never really celebrated Father's Day, just like we don't literally go out and celebrate his birthday and that's simply because at heart he's still 18 years old and he refuses to acknowledge that he turns another year older with every birthday. That makes him younger than me, too!" On Technology “We have more people glued to the TV and internet these days, so God is not losing devotees to technology. Whether you pray to a poster on the wall or to a wallpaper, doesn’t matter.” On Women in Bollywood “I am glad to be in the industry at this point when women are being given substantial roles.” On living with her parents ‘‘Here, the family has always taken precedence over everything as opposed to the West where kids learn to look after themselves from a young age,’’

Do you think marriage is forever?

Marriages are forever, they should be forever. I think marriages are falling apart these days because egos have become larger than life. Women have become independent and so they easily walk out of relationships. Earlier the woman would totally depend on the man. There will be ups and downs in marriage and we should deal with it gracefully. Selfishness will leave us lonely at the end of the day. In my profession, girls are more committed; if they see someone or are married then they stick to their commitment. Guys just get carried away. So it is very difficult to say whether I will marry an actor. There are a few successful marriages in the industry too, but still... I feel that the first choice should be the last choice and that is also the reason why I haven't got a boy friend. If I decide to go around with a guy, I would want to marry him otherwise it doesn't make sense. So not just marriage but I must say that relationships are forever.

Apni Amrita

She was the new kid on the block who was winning as many hearts as accolades after Ishq Vishq and Main Hoon Na raked in the moolah. Hailed by the big wigs from SRK to Big B — Amrita Rao then went into self imposed hibernation for some time. Now the chirpy little girl is back to set hearts aflutter. Shivli Tyagi spoke to her about her future, men, love and ‘fellow women’ in the industry. Versatility is thy name... I believe I have been pretty versatile in choosing my roles. Even if people think that Ishq Vishq was a frivolous college romance, it wasn’t so. It needed the right kind of chemistry to click. And thankfully the work that I have done till now has not been similar to each other, which is why there is no scope of being typecast. On my own... Having come to this industry on my own, I didn’t want to be caught doing just about any and every movie that came my way. I went really slow and steady. Ready to take on the world Now I think I am ready to try out different things and not be that selective about my projects. Initially there was a fear of being written off. But I have got over that. In fact that decision of mine was right at that time. For being cast in Main Hoon Na, Farah told me that she chose me because I didn’t have a line-up of bad films. Now I am ready to try anything... On the I in item numbers I am not averse to doing item numbers provided it is given a good treatment by the director. An item number can look hot and can still be choreographed well so it doesn’t come across as repulsive. Co-star chemistry Since Shahid and I shared such a good rapport during the making of our first film, I decided to do two more projects with him. I am not an actor who would grab all the limelight and attention in a film. No boogying on the dance floor I am not much of a party animal. I only go for parties hosted by my directors and movie launches. You won’t find me partying in clubs. I would rather unwind with my family by going for long drives, movies or to the beach. On the love bug Well, it is still to bite me. As for no romantic liaisons or gossips, I don’t know why there is none. And no...I don’t believe in arranged marriages. I would love to find a guy who would genuinely love me and go out of his way to remind me that he does so. That would be sooo romantic! Friends on and off screen I have heard that no two actresses can be friends but I guess it depends on individual cases. I share a very good rapport with Sushmita Sen and Tara Sharma. Of course with our haywire schedules it is difficult to meet up often.

Style Quotient

Talk about creating signature statements and here’s how actress AMRITA RAO creates one of her very own Must Haves: Its belts all the way for me. Even if you are wearing a very casual kind of jeans and tshirts a smart flashy belt adds the missing zing in your look. Daywear: If I am going out then it completely depends on what occasion or if I am shooting it depends on my character. But, when I am at home I love to wear track pants and just chill out. Evening wear: I like to wear Indo-western like a short kurta with lots of stonework. Apart from that its a pair of simple jeans with sexy designer top and flashy earrings and belt. I think that’s just perfect for parties and evening out with friends too. I wear gown very selectively, if it is very formal then I am on for it. Holiday wear: I carry very casual clothes in my suitcase for holidays, as you tend to spoil them. And I think they are much more comfortable and holidays are all about comfort right! Most expensive outfit: It’s a pair of jeans that I bought from London. I really loved it and the jeans freak I am I bought them. Now, when I look back and think about my purchase I find it very childish because it is very expensive. Favourite accessories: Belts and earrings. I think they do wonders to your appearance. Favourite colours: Pink and Beige. Favourite designers: Jerry D’Souza. He designs my personal collections and I think he is too good. Be it, formal or casual, Indian or Western he is just too good. Most prized possession in your wardrobe: I purchased a bamboo shaped bracelet from Darjeeling while shooting for Main Hoon Naa. It is a very traditional Tibetian bracelet so I would like to call that my prized possession. Style icon: Britney Spears and Sushmita. I absolutely love the way they dress up and carry themselves. Style mantra: Be yourself. Style is all about comfort and you have to follow your own instinct. No matter what you wear if you are comfortable with yourself it shows and makes you look beautiful. I think confidence is the style.

Honestly speaking

Where does your sex appeal lie? In my eyes. Your favourite book? The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, without a doubt. Favourite place in the world? Venice. It’s the most romantic place in the world. One thing you would want to see in your man? Just being honest is good enough. Love to eat... Vegetarian food. Amrita Rao is... You tell me? Your greatest fear? Of not being liked by anybody. Or, alternatively, of heights. Hottest Bollywood star? It’s difficult to name one... why not ask me about Hollywood actors? Ok then, who’s the hottest Hollywood star? Brad Pitt. Who would you like to go out on a blind date with? Eddie Murphy. If nothing else, he’d really make me laugh. What turns you on in a man? His honesty. One thing you hate about people? The quality of not appreciating others. If there is one thing you would like to change about yourself, what would it be? Nothing at all. Well, okay, my clothes! Murder, Julie or Hawas? Ha ha ha.. OK, Ishq Vishq, Main Hoon Na or Dewaar? (more laughter) Ishq Vishq.

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