CHHAMMAK CHHALLO GIRL BARES 'FLIP SIDE OF FAME'

BY ADIL RASHEED (Khaleej Times Staff Reporter) / 15 January 2005

Sitting in her chair and watching the waves batter a bank of sturdy rocks at the Jumeirah Beach, Bollywood beauty Kareena Kapoor appeared a little pensive from a distance. A tinge of sadness lent stateliness to her demeanour as if innocence had finally reconciled to the early blows of experience (in the wake of the MMS pictures controversy).

City Times caught up with this elegant and affable scion of the Kapoor clan, while she was filming the last few scenes of her forthcoming movie Milenge Milenge.

Do you think 2004 taught you some hard lessons in life? Have you emerged wiser after the trials of the last year?

You mean professionally.

Yes! Your films Chameli, Dev, Yuva and Fida did not do that well at the box-office even though they won you critical acclaim. Was it a tough year?

Please, do count in Aitraaz and Hulchul, which were successful and as you yourself said even films that were not commercial successes brought me the praise and commendation of the critics. I can say it was a fairly wonderful year for me. I feel humbled by the thought that I had the opportunity to work with film directors like Govind Nihalani and Mani Ratnam.

Do you think fame is as much a bane as it is a boon?

There is always a flip side. There are pitfalls and upheavals in the life of every individual. So one has to take it in one's stride.

Many of your fans and well-meaning admirers believe that though you may have been justified in taking legal action with regard to th recent unfortunate controversy, your reaction blew the whole issue our of proportion.

It was a very traumatic experience for me. It was hurting to know that someone could turn it into a national issue. It was not a matter pertaining to the country's economy to merit such coverage.

Do you still say the photos are bogus.

They were tampered.

It is said that Shahid Kapoor and Salman Khan helped you tied over this critical phase.

Salman has always been a close family friend. His advice was very useful. He told me to let things be. He said it is all part and parcel of fame. Let me say he is one of the few genuine people in the film industry today.

Do you regard the Indian film audience as prudish? It laps up any titillating tale offered to it but baulks at any serious attempt at addressing social issues such as the one taken up in the movie 'Chameli'?

I would not say that the audience is prudish or immature, but it has got used to being in a comfort zone.

You did a lot of films last year. Stars these days don't do so many films out of fear of getting burnt out. How do you manage?

I think I am just following the precedent set by great actresses like Sri Devi, Madhuri and my sister Karisma. I have learnt a lot from my sister and I owe her a lot for my success.

 You have a different style of acting, which is free of mannerism. Some would say it is different from the style of other members of your family. Has it been a conscious move or is it something which came to you naturally?

 One can say that I have consciously tried to be different from my very first film. I had a very deglamourized look in 'Refugee'. I learnt a lot while doing the film.

Since then I have tried to broaden my horizons and have been doing different kinds of roles. I surprised many critics by doing 'Chameli'  and in my forthcoming film 'Bewafai', I am playing a mother with three kids.

Do you like coming to the UAE?

Yes and I love the country. The people of the UAE are very warm and loving. I feel surprised to see that Bollywood stars are so popular among people of various nationalities such as the UAE nationals and the Lebanese and they give such respect, hospitality and warmth. It just adds to the sense of responsibility we feel towards our work. 

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YUSUF SAHEB: THE DHRUV TARA (NORTH STAR) OF BOLLYWOOD

'We are living in a utilitarian age' Dilip Saheb

INTERVIEW BY ADIL RASHEED (Khaleej Times Staff Reporter) / 3 February 2005

Even as Dubai readies to release the digitally enhanced version of the greatest Bollywood epic on February 15, thespian Dilip Kumar remembers the people who made it possible in the first place

You do not get any bigger than the legendary Dilip Kumar in the film world. And to have the doyen of Indian cinema speak about the greatest Bollywood epic Mughal-e-Azam, scheduled to be re-released in its digitally enhanced colour-version in Dubai, is a royal treat. But in his characteristic style, the thespian used his silence to telling effect and inferred more than met the ear. After hinting about the unrecognised contribution of the movie's producers and other artistes, he opted not to disturb the hornet's nest. Again, no comment was available on his conspicuous absence from the documentary on the making of Mughal-e-Azam (directed by Jayesh Seth and named Ek Aitihasik Karishma).

Do you think the coloured and digitally-enhanced Mughal-e-Azam has accentuated the epic quality of the film or has it undermined it?

My dear, first tell me have you even seen the movie?

I have seen the movie in its original black-and-white form. The colour version has not yet been released in Dubai.

Okay. Let me say this. It is an epic remake of the film. The changes are not just cosmetic. They are important value-additions. I can say that many of the subdued details and nuances have come to light because of the technological treatment. The re-release of the movie, has therefore, been highly successful.

Akbar Asif, the son of K. Asif, has played a pivotal role in reviving the film for the new generation of audience. Do you think he has done his father proud?

Akbar Asif! I have not met this young boy. I could not even meet him at the premiere of the movie amidst all the 'hungama'. Generally speaking, there are many people who are trying to take credit and if they are trying to do so let us concede it.

Do you think anyone could make a movie like Mughal-e-Azam again? The world and its values seem to have changed and it would be difficult to have filmmakers and actors of similar repute grace the silver screen again.

It is possible that a film like Mughal-e-Azam is made again. People say such films are being made in the West. However, one should know that we are living in a utilitarian age. You understand what I am talking about. We have a utilitarian work culture. Some people tell me they cannot understand the dialogues of Mughal-e-Azam. They say the Urdu spoken in the film is too difficult to understand. They tell me they would watch the movie again to understand it better. So I think the world has changed.

Would you be coming to Dubai for the upcoming premiere of Mughal-e-Azam?

I do not think I would be coming to Dubai. However, I would like to be there. I do not know if it could be worked out but I would love to come if there are adequate arrangements in place.

During the course of our conversation you spoke about some people taking undue credit. Would you like to elaborate?

Do you want to know the truth. Well! It seems strange that there is no mention of the great contribution of the producers Shapoorji-Pallonji in the making of the film. Their dedication and loyalty was vital in making the film such a big success in the first place. But, as they are not amongst us, the world seems to have forgotten them.But, I would like to say here that let us not belittle a great work (Mughal-e-Azam) with small talk.

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HARDEST PIN-UP TO PIN DOWN

'THE ONLY THING GOING FOR ME IS MY TALENT': SHAHID KAPOOR

BY ADIL RASHEED (Staff Reporter) / 17 January 2005

The hottest pin-up of Bollywood is also the hardest to pin down. Shahid Kapoor, still in his wonder years, comes across as a remarkably level-headed man.

Apparently unaffected by the fame and the controversies that surround him, this new hunk on the block wants to be in for the long haul. City Times conducted a reality check on the rising star at a recent shooting of the film Milenge Milenge, at the Jumeirah beach in Dubai. This is what we found out.

What is the secret of your amazing confidence? 

I frankly do not know about all that. You see, I come from a middle-class family. I do not have anyone backing me. I am very young and am on my own. The only thing going for me is my talent. That is the only positive I am banking on. And I know whatever I do will be printed forever. So I have to give it my very best.

You are a good actor. But critics say your performances appear too studied. You seem to be working too hard.

Do I! (laughs) I'll keep it in mind.

You seem to be totally uninfluenced by the style of acting of your parents (Pankaj Kapoor and Neelima Azim).

The credit goes to my parents. They allowed me to be my own person. They trusted me and never pushed me into doing anything. Again, I am a very individual kind of a person. I like making mistakes and learning from them. Probably, these factors combined to shape my style of acting.

Some actors want to play larger-than-life persona roles and seek superstardom. They believe in building their own personal image. Others prefer getting into the skin of their characters and want to be known as great actors. How do you want to chart your future?

Nobody can plan becoming a superstar. It's something that just happens. One should try to be good at one's work and leave the rest to destiny. I do not think one can plan and plot one's way to superstardom.

What style of acting would you choose?

It is too early for me to speak about any style I would choose in the future. Right now, I am discovering myself and this is just the beginning.

You have not been like other beginners. You don't sign up to any offer that comes your way. In fact you have declined many big-budget films so early in your career. So what is the criteria for doing a film?

I would like to say here that I may have made wrong decisions in turning down some projects. Probably, I'll learn more with experience. However, I strongly feel that you should believe in what you do. You should love what you do. And filmmaking is a long process. It usually takes upto 6 to 8 months for a film to complete. If you do not feel comfortable doing the film at the outset, you should not do it.

In the light of the current controversy do you think you and Kareena over-reacted to the issue by filing a case against the people who took the pictures?

Sorry, I cannot answer that question.

Do you intend to take the case to the very end or would you settle for a settlement?

As I said I cannot answer the question. You would come to know as and when things happen.

From what age did you start dreaming about becoming an actor?

That's a difficult one. Very early in life. I think soon after I outgrew the typical dream any kid has of  becoming a cricketer or an air force pilot. But I seriously started working towards becoming an actor a year before the filming of Ishq Vishq. I had this one-year period to prepare for the movie and to learn the tricks of the trade.

People compare you with Shah Rukh Khan. Do you study his style?

I think when you are in the film industry you study the acting of a lot of stars. But it is very unfair to compare me with such a stalwart. On the other hand, we are also contemporaries so the comparison is unreasonable.

Do other  facets of filmmaking interest you? Do you feel like exploring the other aspects of this wonderful medium?

I am currently totally obsessed with acting. There are too many avenues one could explore, but I do not to end up being a jack of all trades. I think it would take me at least ten years to understand acting. The journey is not all about success, it is about growth.

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