Old Interviews

'I just want any role with Aamir'

You had more scenes opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Main Hoon Na than Sushmita Sen. A heady feeling, right? Oh, a big high. To be honest, Sushmita had a special appearance. Didn't you wish you were paired opposite Shah Rukh? I was extremely clear about my role. Farah Khan told me I was not cast opposite SRK but with him. I consider myself a Gen Next actor. I've grown up watching SRK's films, and am intelligent enough to know that SRK and I are not going to look good as romantic leads. The audience has also become discerning and find a mismatch in the young-girl-older-hero theme. In Deewar you worked with Akshaye Khanna. Is he as reserved as he's made out to be? Well, I don't really know if he's reserved or not because I had very little work with him. I don't think the ice was ever really broken. But sometimes he would sit and chat with me which was really sweet of him. He's been very professional. Your seduction number Piya Bawri looks more like a dance number, right? I know. In the film, I play a very shy girl who has absolutely no alternative but to seduce the guy whose attention she's trying to attract. But I know it hardly looks like a seduction song, but has a very innocent and cute touch to it. I can't help it. I project whatever is in my mind. I am a little shy about all these things. Is it true you mercilessly tease Shahid Kapoor about Kareena Kapoor's recent comment-that she would claw the eyes of any heroine who got too close to Shahid? (Chuckles) It's not true. I do tease Shahid but not about Kareena at all. Any co-star you just have to work with? Aamir Khan. I know I won't look right as his leading lady but I can't help looking my age. In this industry your screen age matters more than your actual age. If a heroine is 24 years old and has done 18 films, they are going to call her 28. But still, I just want any role opposite Aamir Khan. We hear Zayed Khan is really protective of you? Zayed and I get along famously. He has very good manners. He is a thorough gentleman. If he sees me carrying a bag at the airport, he'll come and take it from me. Not many guys do that. Is it true your father Deepak Rao is a magician? No, he is not a magician but gives lectures on mind and communication. You can say he is into the magic of the mind. Express India

Amrita Rao: On monsoon mania

What's most fascinating about the rains? I associate a lot of romance with the rain. The whole mood makes you want to go out on drives. Or, probably just go out and get drenched. Are there romantic drives with somebody special? That special person is non-existent. But I usually go out with my cousins every year on a long drive to a ghat or a hill station. In Hindi movies, it's often the sari -clad wet look in a rain song. What do you think of that? It's not restricted to the sari look. For instance, in recent times Idhar chali, main udhar chali in Koi... Mil Gaya was picturised beautifully. Of course, the sari look is always sensual because it's a very sensual outfit. It has a sexy appeal and depends on how one carries it off. Have you done any rain songs? Yes. In Ishq Vishq Pyaar Vyaar where we all have these wonderful umbrellas that we twirl. Also, in my forthcoming film Deewar , there is a song where the end portion is a rain sequence. But it's painful to shoot a rain scene. Firstly, you are wet and then there are these huge fans blowing to give it a natural effect. It's so cold you are almost freezing! Is monsoon only about romance and pleasure or would you associate it with gloom, as shown at times in movies? Monsoon can work both ways - happy and gloomy. In movies, you have the rains during happy moments when a guy proposes to the girl. So also during an emotional scene when there are tears flowing. In life, too, everything has a positive and negative side to it. It all depends on how one perceives it and the circumstances that he or she is in. Times News

Proud of her Career

Amrita Rao is perhaps the most wanted newcomer of Bollywood. She is one who has journeyed from her flop debut 'Ab Ke Baras' to 'Ishq Visq'. Though she possesses the most vital ingredient of an actress - good looks, she knows that acting ability is equally important. Ken Ghosh gave her role in 'Ishq Visq' but dropped her later. However, it doesn't worry her. She is banking on her next movie, ' Masti' opposite Vivek to hit the box office. In 'Main Hoon Na' she has a good role with Shah Rukh Khan. This satisfies her ego to work with top star and that too within her brief career. Moreover, she plays a solo heroine in 'Deewar- Let's Bring Home Our Heroes'. Though her role is too brief, but that's in the company of the super star Amitabh Bachchan That's a matter of pride for her. Extracts of a recent encounter with her: Amrita, don't you feel let down by Ken Ghosh who dropped you in his forthcoming movies? Not the least. Ken Ghosh is fully justified in working with an established actress like Kareena Kapoor. I have no grudge on this account. What are the ingredients for an actress? An actress needs good looks though that's not enough. She should have ability to act. And latkas and jhatkas are essential too. Do you qualify on these accounts? I think so. Blessings of my parents combined with my hard labour have certainly added towards this. What are your forthcoming movies? I am confident of my next movie 'Masti'. In this movie, I have worked with Vivek. This was very pleasant for me. He is a fun loving person. In 'Main Hoon Na', I came close to Shah Rukh Khan and in yet another 'Deewar' I am blessed to act in the company of super star Amitabh Bachchan. Are you satisfied with your filmy career so far? Indeed, I am. Smashits.com

"I'm not going to strip"

Dressed in T-shirt and jeans, hair loose and skin devoid of make-up, Amrita Rao looks pretty and petite. She speaks to the point. Her seeming confidence belies her shyness! A student of psychology, Amrita was always fascinated by acting, but never in her wildest dreams thought that one day she would pursue it. Now with three plum films-Indra Kumar's Masti, Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na and Gaurang Doshi's Deewar-Let's Bring Our Heroes Home, soon to hit the theatres, she couldn't have asked for anything better. Do you feel settled in the film industry? I feel recognized! After Ishq Vishk people have begun to notice me, that too, as a performer. What kind of experiences have you had so far personally and professionally in the industry? People here are professionals no doubt! There's big money out here. So everybody is selfish. But rightfully selfish! Nobody is going to invest crores on you if you going to make a mess of it. They will sign you only if you are lucrative for them. Any bitter experiences? No, not yet! Nobody has been rude! Like I just said they're professionals! If you are not so good at your work they will smile and say, "agle hafte aana (come next week)". But if you are good they definitely give you a chance even though you may have had a flop to your credit. Also I have noticed that if you are really talented they pounce on you because there is dearth of good talent here. I have so many people come up and tell me that it is difficult to find a girl who has a face of a Hindi film heroine. In fact, I would say compared to Hollywood it is more difficult to make it here. In Hollywood anybody who has talent can make it immaterial of his or her looks. But here you have to have the looks. Then comes your figure. Can somebody, say, with a face like Helen Hunt, who is a superstar there, be accepted here? One has to have the typical Hindi film heroine looks. Besides that, you should know how to dance, act and say your dialogues. It is really difficult! They audition so many aspiring girls and thensettle for one who has the potential . If you are really talented then they grab you in both ad and film world. You are critically and minutely analysed. Any areas you feel you need to work upon to handle yourself more smartly business wise? Yes! I have to learn to say no (laughs). That is one thing so required in this profession. Initially, my heart used to cry when I had to turn down someone because I did not like the script and they really wanted me to be in their film! Now, I have learnt to overcome that. You don't want to hurt anybody but sometimes you have to say no. You need to think for yourself sometimes. But you are just 19! Do you feel there's too much responsibility on your young shoulders? Yes, there is a sense of responsibility. The fact that you want to be a heroine, in itself, is a big challenge. It is risking your image, name and everything. Lets say you don't do so well and you're out of here in a matter of seconds. How do you then face the world? Failure was one of my greatest fears and that's why I took so much time to decide whether I wanted to become an actress or not after modeling. But now that I'm here I'll make sure that people take me seriously. I'm not here for time pass. I'll make sure that I give my best, of course, within the parameters of decency and with a positive attitude. I'm not going to strip my way to success (laughs). And are there times when you find it difficult to cope with the stress? SometimesI do get worked up! Have I taken a right decision by taking up a particular project or not? What if it does not do well? What will be the people's reaction? One is so critically noticed in the film industry, it is not funny. The audience may not notice your performance but they do notice your nail paint, lipstick, costumes etc. One has to be so perfect. But I don't give importance to all these things. For me my performance is more important. Filmmakers say that an actress has to look good even in her death scene... That holds true in Bollywood, unfortunately! But things are gradually changing. More younger and practical directors are coming in and changing the look of the heroine. I have seen films where in the opening scene the heroine's wearing a bright coloured lipstick but its gradually toned down in the tense scenes. Directors today prefer to be more realistic and natural! Does your life revolve around all those things that a typical teenager does? It all depends on the kind of personone is! I'm still very much the family girl I was. I sign only two-three films a year so I get enough time at home. And I do spend most of the time with my parents. I definitely go out with friends and do all those things that a normal girl does. But I don't have late nights because that is not me! Also I'm not the disco type at all. I don't like discos. Firstly it is so dark. Secondly there's heavy music so you can't even talk to your friends. And thirdly I'm allergic to smoke. Plus there are these dim lights and you can't even see whom u r dancing with (laughs). I'd rather have a cosy dinner at a friend's place. I party in a group like say the Ishq Vishk gang. What prompted you to say yes to Indra Kumar's Masti? It's a smart move to be a part of such films. Let me explain to you. Masti has many stars. Because there are so many actors involved in the film a single person can't be blamed for its failure! Though I hope that does not happen. Nobody can come and tell me that the film did not do well because of me! It was a safe film to be a part of! Also, I'm cast opposite one of the leading actors-Vivek (Oberoi). It is a comedy and rarely do comedy films flop. It has a very different role for me. That of a housewife who behaves very peculiarly! When I come on screen it's going to be a rollercoaster ride - atleast let's hope so! It has shaped out very well! Is this your first attempt to do a comic role? How difficult or easy was it to essay the role? Right now, it does not seem difficult to me. But if I had to do a comedy film again, then it would be more challenging. For an actor the challenge is not now, but what's next! How different are you going to do your next role, that's the real test! How would you rate Indra Kumar as a director? After Ishq, Masti is going to be his next comedy. The best part is that it is not going to look like an Indra Kumar film. People are going to be in for a surprise. Masti is 21st century film with comedy that is contemporary-very fresh and very young. People are really going to like Indra Kumar for moving with the times. Masti looks like a film directed by any young director. And on the sets Induji is as chilled out as a block of ice. He is so good. How was it working with Vivek Oberoi? Working with Vivek was good! He is full of life, full of jokes. He is pulling your legs all the time. When Vivek comes everybody is on the alert. He is casual and sweet like any other normal happy-go-lucky guy. Tell us about Main Hoon Na... That is one film I'm waiting for! I'm very fortunate to have got that film at such an early stage of my career. For a newcomer to get an opportunity to work with a superstar like Shahrukh Khan,is a big thing. And Farah is so creative, she has given me an absolutely new style and look in the film. People will be surprised to see my potrayal of a college girlin Main Hoon Na. The role and the looks are so contrasting. How was the experience working with Farha Khan? Did you find it easy to relate to her woman to woman? It was not so much about woman to woman as it was about actor to a director. As a director you have to know acting and what exactly you want and how it should be. She knew exactly what she wanted! Farha is so creative. She has a fabulous sense of humour. She has worked meticulously on the songs. She had not left anything for the last minute. You are also playing the lead in Gaurang Doshi's Deewar, right? Yes! But I have nothing much to do in the film. It is a male oriented film. I was told that from the beginning and that my role was a miniscule one. It was a huge film. And that is one of the reasons why I agreed to do it. What is the story all about?id you ask the filmmakers to increase your role in anyway? I would not like to reveal the plot but the story's based on an English film. As far as increasing my role is concerned, I think filmmakers should not stray away from the main story just to increase the heroine's role. I think I'm fine in the film. If you remember me inspite of the three seasoned actors Amitabh, Akshay, Akshaye it will be a real achievement Are any other projects under consideration? Right now I'm waiting for Masti, Main Hoon Na and Deewar to release. I'm getting lot of offers. But I'm in no tearing hurry. I have a long way to go. As it is I'm very choosy. I want to go about things slowly and steadily. What kind of roles would you like to do? I want to do roles that require me to do something more then singing and dancing and speaking frivolous lines. Luckily the roles or rather the characters that I have done so far have definitely had a transition as the film has progressed. Even that tiny role that I did in The Legend Of Bhagat Singh had different nuances to it! Every character that I have done has been a journey. And I think it should be like that. It is only then that you can call yourself an actor. But if people notice your item number, songs, costumes butfail to notice your performance which is basically why you are here then you are just an entertainer and not an actor. I would like to be remembered as an actress and not as an entertainer.

`Ishq Vishk` girl going places

Amrita Rao, the Ishq Vishk girl, is today hot property in Bollywood. Year 2004 seems to be good to her with three films in which she plays prominent roles being eagerly awaited. Starring in three major ventures - Masti, Main Hoon Na, and Deewar - Amrita is all set to make an impact on the Bollywood screen. Lata Khubchandani speaks to Amrita. You seem to be in most films awaited eagerly this year? (Laughs)…Yes, I have at least three major releases this year in and around April-May 2004. Tell us about them. I am really excited about Masti, which as the name suggests is full of fun. It has four couples - myself and Vivek Oberoi, Ajay Devgan and Lara Dutta, Aftab Shivdasani and Tara Sharma and Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia. It is a very interesting script, and we all are together for the first time. It has been a great dea`l of fun even shooting it. The script is such that nothing is to be taken seriously. It is produced by Ashok Thakeria and directed by Indra Kumar. Masti is written by Milap Jhaveri and his partner Tusshar - two young boys. Whats your role in Masti? Actually, we are three married couples and all three wives have very peculiar roles to play. Mine is the most peculiar of the lot. People told me that being part of such a huge star cast would be detrimental as I would get lost and have nothing to do. But I feel that being part of a gang actually works pretty well; it is fun, the work gets divided, there is less pressure on you and it is actually a win-win situation. The film will release in April and I am very excited about the film. It's a young film and I got to make so many friends. I had not met any of these actors before and we all had a great deal of fun. How was it working with Vivek Oberoi? He is such a talker that he keeps you entertained all the time. He jokes about and is a fun guy. It was not the typical romantic role that we have opposite each other. This is completely different. So if we again work together people will not find it difficult to see us together as a romantic lead. What is the USP of this film? The guys have complemented each other beautifully, while the girls have peculiar roles. The script is hilarious. The music is by Anand Raaj Anand. What about Main Hoon Na? Main Hoon Na will also probably release in April. It gave me the chance to work with Shah Rukh Khan and that was wonderful. I am opposite Zayed Khan. In this film, I play a college girl but I did the same in Ishq Vishk. But the roles are entirely different. This film has taken quite long to make, we had started last December because we broke the shooting due to SRK's back injury and then Chalte Chalte and his commitment to Kal Ho Naa Ho, etc. But it worked out all for the best. It is a nice script. And, all of our scenes with Shah Rukh Khan are so lovely. Normally newcomers don't get an opportunity like this. I am so grateful to Farah that a newcomer like me was given a chance to do this. And you have a film with Amitabh Bachchan? Yes, in Deewar. But I have no scenes with him. But I have been lucky in that, right from Ken Ghosh to Farah Khan to Milan Luthria and Indra Kumar - are all very chilled out and reasonable. Probably they all do all their homework very well. Deewar is a hero-hero film. There's Akshaye Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and Sunjay Dutt. There is not much for the heroine, but I was told this in the beginning. Milan had seen me in Bhagat Singh and wanted me to act in it. So I feel I can make a mark in a small role. How have you been choosing your roles? I had signed Deewar when Farah had signed me. I found it a safe proposition, because if the film failed no one would blame me. The same goes with Masti, it had a win-win situation with so many of us in it. Deewar is about criminals of war and there could be no romance, but it is a nice film. I have a few scenes with Sunjay Dutt and I am the only heroine in it. If as a newcomer, I take up nondescript films, it'll not be good for me. Tell us about working with Indra Kumar? Masti doesn't look like an Indra Kumar film. It's quite different from what he has made earlier. The writers are young and it's fun film. The kind of scenes we have and the look of the film is very trendy and contemporary. For someone who has Raja, Beta and Dil behind him, this is entirely different. Any New Year resolutions? My New Year resolution is to learn to say no when required but without hurting anyone, and be kind but not servile. At times, I find it difficult to say no to a film I don't want to do. I must learn this. I hope I live up to it. What kind of offers are you getting? A lot of women-oriented roles are coming, but all are by small-time or debutante filmmakers. Frankly no hero -- no established hero -- wants to work in these and I can't afford to be part of such films at this stage of my career. I am trying to be practical in my choice of films. Out of all the offers I got, I have chosen Masti, Deewar and Main Hoon Na. But I do know that these are all films, which are being cited as films to watch out for. I am pragmatic, but I also hope that I have made the right choices. I undergo a lot of tension about my work, my choice of films, etc. I hope these films will establish me as an actress rather than just somebody who is here to make money only. In Masti, Deewar and Main Hoon Na, all my roles are contrastingly different. I think that should be the mark of an actress -- that one can mould oneself into the role rather than being Amrita Rao in every film.

"Whatever I achieve is on my own steam"

Amrita Rao is still ecstatic about the amazing success of her debut film 'Ishq Vishq', and this year will unfold a new bag of surprises and rewards for her. She stars in a film that's touted as possibly the biggest film of 2004 - Red Chillies and Venus Films next offering - 'Main Hoon Na'. The petite Ms.Rao talks how she bagged such a big film, about her director Farah Khan and of course, she tells us what makes Shah Rukh the King Khan of Bollywood. In your very first year in the industry you seem to have made quite an impact? " It feels great because I don't come from a film background. I don't have connections with the film people here and neither do I have a Godfather to guide me. Whatever I achieve is on my own steam, so my success feels even better, it's huge thing for me." And of course starring in a Shah Rukh Khan home production and a Farah Khan film, takes your career to a different level … "Yes, I am really excited about it and thankful that I got this opportunity. Farah Khan's film happened at a very critical stage of my career. It happened because of a Bru coffee commercial that I did, I believe Gauri Khan spotted me in that advertisement and she suggested that Farah should audition me." Considering it's a choreographer-turned-director, surely the most important aspect of the audition must've been 'shaking a leg'; was it? "Guess what was the first thing that Farah asked me - 'Can you dance?'. And my heart skipped a beat because I haven't been formally trained in dance or acting. So she had to audition me for dance, then she gave me a scene and then auditioned me for my acting, then she finally said that it's critical that Shah Rukh meets you because he's the producer of the film. I crossed my fingers, met Shah Rukh, and then I was in." Didn't you get any 'nervous' pangs, sharing the screen with King Khan? "Only after working with him you'll know why he is called the 'King Khan'. He is absolutely amazing and I have learnt so much from him. Above all, the one thing he told me that I'll always remember is, "nothing else matters between 'action' and 'cut', everything else is secondary." That was amazing and so true; because while working we have to do all kinds of scenes, display all kinds of emotions. We have to cry, shout, sing, dance and all the time there are five hundred people looking at us. So what he said makes so much of sense." So are you playing a role similar to the college girl cutie you played in your previous hit 'Ishq Vishq'? "Yes, in 'Main Hoon Na' I play a college student again, just like in my last release 'Ishq Vishq'. In 'Ishq Vishq' I was this shy, sweet girl next door; but what's really interesting about this film is that I am a tomboy, unlike a typical actress. It's a look that Farah had set for me in her mind. For the first time, you'll see Hindi film actress who is dressed like a rock star, with kohl eyes, nose ring and deadlocks in her hair and stuff like that. Farah has given me a completely different look in this film." Which is your favourite song from the film…. (Here Suniel Shetty interrupts and gives Amrita a scary look- after all he is villain here) "My favourite song is the one that Suniel Shetty dances on. It's amazing; it's called ' Ude jaise hawaein sanan sanan' . And look, I am so scared of Suniel that I had to say this." ' Suniel Shetty: (replying), "She's saying this because she is aware that I am a bad dancer. But I play bad man this time - so I make them dance. Ha!Ha!Ha!" If after that there was no more sound bite out of Amrita, it's probably because she was scared speechless. Thank you Sunil, for Amrita interrupted. .. So, until she speaks again … Filmfare.com

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