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| :: Bollywood Site |
The
Aati kya khandala… girl is as busy as a bee today! Non-starter
films like Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and Mehendi had practically
put a full stop to her career. But along came Ghulam and Kuch
Kuch Hota Hai giving her dead career a fresh lease of life!
Suddenly people began noticing her bright smile, petite face,
light eyes and tanned skin and soon filmmakers made a beeline
to her. And the worldly-wise Rani just lapped them up, making
the most of the offers after all it was matter of survival in
the cut-throat industry. Today the gal has notched up not only
memorable films like Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega or Chori Chori Chupke
Chupke but also performances as in Hey Ram and Nayak. Dressed
in T-shirt and casual trousers we corner the actress for a casual
tete!
How was the experience working in Nayak?
Working in Nayak was a very different experience for me! In
the song sequences one shot would be taken in Ladakh and the
other at Kanyakumari. I have never worked like this before.
Nayak taught me to be patient (laughs). But the way Shankar
would pep us artistes; we just would not get tired. I remember
I would get up at four in the morning to my dance rehearsals
and Shankar, who would watch me do the steps yes you are doing
it better and that was encouraging enough. Also it was fun working
with Anil Kapoor. Though he has been in the industry for nearly
two decades now, never once did he make me feel that I was working
with a senior actor. In fact, he behaved as if he was working
in a film for the first time and this humility had me absolutely
floored. I shall always cherish having worked with Anil and
Shankar.
You traveled to small town and villages…
Ya, the villages down South are so beautiful! The villagers
keep their houses so neat and clean. It is we people who live
in the city think that villages are dirty, but in reality it
is just the opposite. I wish I could live there (laughs).
Did you have to work hard to look a village belle?
I have maintained a different look for each of the characters
I have played till date. For instance in Hey Ram, I closely
observed my mother's mannerisms to play a typical Bengali housewife.
I also shouted like her in the film (laughs). To play a typical
village belle Nayak, I felt I should have pigtails and my make-up
should be slightly garish. Also, I always make it a point to
talk to the cameraman, in this case it was KV Anand, asking
whether I should tone the make-up down or make it loud and garish.
I also asked Shankar if the look worked for me. Basically it
is teamwork that helps the character look real. Also, I have
always believed that I should look the character and not Rani
Mukherjee. And I have consciously worked towards it. It requires
lot of hard work.
So acting it isn't as glamorous as the media makes it out
to be…
No, it certainly is not! There is a song in Nayak that has my
dupatta flying, now on screen it appears very simple but the
effort that I have had to put to do that one shot…! I had to
run over the rugged terrain and my high heels only compounded
the problem. What worsened the situation was the fact that I
had to give the same take repeatedly. By the end of the day
I was exhausted! I think our work is just like that of any common
man. They wear make-up to offices, we wear it on the sets. It
is only the media that gives our profession a glossy look and
builds larger than life images.
But you love giving interviews, don't you?
Of course I do! That is the only way I can reach out to my fans.
I can let them know about the films that I have been doing.
It is through this interaction that I also learn the kind of
films they wish I should do!
Okay
tell us the kind of food you love to eat?
Punjabi!
There
was a time when your weight was topic of discussion for the whole
nation…
I was so busy then! I use to eat anything and everything and
that too at any time. It took a toll on my health. I felt sick!
I had to cancel a few days shooting. From that day on I swore
I would never ever stress myself unnecessarily. Nowadays, I
make it a point to eat my food on time. And I eat everything…
I'm not on a diet, but the quantity is limited. I gradually
began losing weight. Now I only have to maintain so as not to
gain weight again.
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