Interview Actor - Amrita Rao HindiSong.com

HindiSong.com Movie interview: Amrita Rao

Movie interview: Amrita Rao

“It’s very difficult to be a heroine”

How did films happen?

I was in college, which I did not complete because I started modeling. I did the perk Ad that got me noticed and filmmakers approached me. My debut film was Ab ke baras with Arya Babbar. Ken Ghosh Raj Kumar Santoshi, Raj Kanwar had offered me films but Raj kanwar was in a hurry to start his film so Ab Ke baras became by first film. Immediately after that The legend of Bhagat Singh followed –then there was one years gap in which we shot for Ishq vishk.

Any regrets that your first film didn’t fare well?

Ab ke baras did not fair well but I have not regretted doing it because it was a major role-I played a double role- a major opportunity for a Hindi film debut. And when you consider it was Raj Babbar’ son’s film ideally it should have been a very hero oriented film but it was more a fifty fifty kind of opportunity for both of us. And I had important performance scenes with Ashutosh Rana and Ashish Vidyarthi and also Danny Denzongpa-all seasoned actors. It was very challenging role and I played two contrasting roles-one was a simple girl based in the past with a period look and the other was an NRI from Canada. I had to climb a running bus and get onto a truck and do stunts so I learnt a lot in Ab ke baras. I got trained in dancing by Saroj Khan in dance then I had action scenes so I got trained by Pappu verma. I did almost everything in that one film. It was like doing ten films.

Any hesitation before the camera?

I had earlier done a lot of ads and I was perfectly fine in front of the camera. I think the difference between the modeling world and films is that one is without dialogues and you have to convey everything through your expressions and in a film you have to follow a character and behave like that character would behave. And you have to dance. I have not learnt dancing or acting but I had no problem dancing.

Where were you educated?

I studied in Ruparel College. I studied in Canossa convent. I was a student of psychology but did not complete my graduation.

How has Bollywood reacted to you?

Legend and Ab ke baras released neck to neck so when Ab ke baras did not do much for me, Legend of Bhagat Singh fetched me some critical acclaim, people told me they remembered me from the film in that I attracted their attention though it was a small role-that was a very encouraging thing for me. Luckily film critics did not write me off or say that I needed to pack my bags. In fact I found they were watching me with interest. Ishq Vishk was a very good platform for me because I was playing my age, a college girl. It was also very beautifully promoted by Tips and Ken Ghosh. And I got noticed.

Have you identified what is it that you have that other newcomers don’t that you are getting noticed?

There are lots of new girls who come in but to do a Hindi film heroine is fairly difficult- I was told that all the girls look like models not like characters they are playing. When we do auditions we find that someone looks good but cant dance or cant do something else. It’s very difficult to be a heroine.

Any family opposition?

I had no family opposition. My modeling career was going well and films were a major step- it was entering into a more competitive world-no one compares models and says this one is better than that one but in films there is a lot of competition. My major ads were Close up, Pantene, Feeling, Bru, Perk Fairever, which was my first ad.

What are you being offered now?

Fortunately I am getting performance oriented scripts-the younger scriptwriters and directors hopefully will change the scene. I’m in Main hoon na-the Farah Khan film with Shahrukh Khan_I’m opposite Zayed and I play someone so different from Payal from Ishq Vishk who is a sweet girl while in Main hoon na I’m a complete tomboy-it’s great contrast. And I’ve got Deewar with Amitabh Bachchan and Akshaye Khanna.

How is it working with a woman director?

Working with Farah is great-she is immensely creative and that shows in her work. I’m very proud to see a woman calling the shots. She has done a lot of homework you can see. We were to release the film in December but because of Shahrukh’s being unwell the schedules went awry. We had a one-month schedule in Darjeeling, which went well. Farah saw me in the Bru

Commercial she had not seen my films so she auditioned me and the first thing she asked me was can you dance?

She auditioned me for my dance. Initially I was very skeptical about my dancing ability but when I saw people complimented me I thought I was okay.

How do you feel about the response you have got for Ishq vishk?

I’m feeling very happy with the response I have got for Ishq Vishk. Working with Ken Ghosh was a joyride and he makes newcomers very comfortable on the sets. You are not tense at all. We never felt we were working. Getting a part in a Shahrukh Khan film made me happy that I would get the backing of his name- and for someone who doesn’t come from a film background it’s great thing.

How much does a director matter to you?

The director guides you but you have to put your own input to- when I was doing Payal _I found she was a lot like me but still I kept consulting with Ken whether I was getting it right.

When would you refuse a role?

When there are too many characters and your role is tiny then you would get lost so I might refuse such a role or the script may be weak sometimes a set up may be good so you accept a role. I would be influenced by the director by my co-stars and the script-the comfort level with your co-stars matters a lot. You should be able to discuss your script with your co-star you should have that much rapport.

Are you a film buff and do you take a role home?

I do homework when I get my scripts. I watch films but not any and every film. I used to see films on the video.

Who do you admire in Bollywood?

I admire AamirKkhan-everyone likes him old and young- and any role he plays he does to perfection. He has a fantastic fan following. I like Shabana Azmi and Dipti Naval. I’d like to work with Ram Gopal Varma, John Mathews Sanjay Leela Bhansali-he has an eye for detail, Ken Ghosh-I’d love to work with him.