Bollywood Interview: Amrita Rao

WHEN she arrived in tinsel town, it was her earthly, girl-next-door looks which charmed Bollywood biggies and cine-buffs alike.

But it was Sooraj Barjatya who used Amrita Rao’s simple charm to deadly effect in Vivah. And sure enough, the super hit Rajshri film catapulted her career to greater heights.

The dusky charmer is now back with the same team, with their latest film, Love You Mr. Kalakaar, directed by S. Manasvi. In this modern, effervescent love story helmed by debutant director Manasvi, Amrita plays a management trainee in love with an artist, played by Tusshar Kapoor.

 

Well, the fact is that I got some striking roles in very well made films. They were successful precisely because they were good films. The characters I played had been defined clearly, which made it easier for me to portray them. People could identify with the characters. And luckily, both the audience and the people in the industry appreciated my work.  

 

No. I think an actor cannot really be choosey here, especially if you have no ‘Godfather’ or mentor backing you. The directors you mentioned approached me because they thought I could do justice to that particular role. The only things important for me in a film are the script, the role I’m going to play, my comfort level while working in the film and if I can do it without any compromises.  

 

Honestly, I’d prefer to be known as the girl-next-door all my life. I would rather be seen as this simple, attractive girl who is smart, a go-getter and can also be the life of a party, rather than someone who is highly glamorous but snobbish and boring.

 

On the contrary, it is precisely due to this image that I’ve got the opportunity to work with so many different directors whom you mentioned earlier.

 

I am playing what you call the girl-next-door, but this character is radically different from, say, my character in Vivah which was also a Rajshri film. In that, my role was that of a subservient, self-sacrificing girl, but one who had a great inner strength. But in Love You Mr. Kalakaar, I play a management trainee – a girl who could be from some reputed college in Mumbai – who has a strong personality, is a go-getter, and wants to make it big in the corporate world. This girl has a mind of her own.

 

Oh it was great to be back with Soorajji and the entire Rajshri team. There is so much warmth, mutual respect and bonhomie on their sets that you don’t feel as if you working. It feels more like a picnic. It’s the kind of atmosphere that you would want to come to everyday.

 

I’ve noticed that Tusshar has really evolved as an actor. In fact, while we shooting together, I happened to see his film Golmaal. And his performance in the film left me completely stunned. This character I was watching was exactly the opposite of the dreamy, laid-back and restrained character I was meeting everyday on our set. This contrast fascinated me. I complimented Tusshar after watching the film, when we met again on the sets of Love You Mr. Kalakaar.

 

It was the first time that I worked with a crew full of young people. It was a fun experience. Manasvi came across to me as a person who knows exactly what he wants. He is very passionate about his work. And what I liked most about him was that he gave all of us a lot of creative freedom while enacting our roles. And though he was always open to suggestions, he knows when to say no.

 

It was fascinating to know that here was actress who quit at the peak of her career because she was not getting roles to her satisfaction. And it was equally amazing to see her come back to work after 10 years with the same child-like enthusiasm and excitement. Looking at Madhooji, I wondered about what I would be doing 10 years down the line. She was an inspiration for all of us.   

 

Yes, but I can’t tell you much it is all in the very initial stages. There are some other films in the pipeline too but things have not crystallized as yet.