BRINGING
UP BABY
He's
just back from a game of badminton at the Bombay Gymkhana. "I
wouldn't miss a chat with Filmfare for anything in the world,"
guffaws Amit Patel, son of the late barrister-cum- politician Rajni
Patel...and now also known as the father of Amisha Patel. Amit Patel is
the Managing Director of his company which manufactures magnetic tapes
for music companies like Venus, Tips and T-Series. After a round of dukaan
talk with videshi bizness associates, the star-daddy returns to the cane
sofas of the gym. Amisha and her mother Asha have been away for close to a
fortnight on a luxury cruise-liner in Singapore for Abbas Mustan's Humraaz.
With his rimless glasses perched on his nose and a voice that's barely
audible, Papa Patel fields queries on his "baby":
Would your father have approved of his grand-daughter joining showbiz?
Most certainly. My dad always
believed in letting me do what I wanted. I guess he'd let my daughter also
choose her own career too. Besides dad did have a lot of close friends in
show business like Dilip Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Dev Anand, Yash Chopra and
Meena Kumari.
What was your reaction when Amisha told you about her decision to become an actress?
Frankly, I was quite taken
aback. Amisha was a bright girl in school. She was the head girl of the
Cathedral and John Cannon. She passed out as a Honours student in
Economics from the Tufts University, Boston...and I even got her to do a
two-year term with a merchant banking firm. Naturally I was shocked when
she brought up the subject of joining films. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., I sat
her down and convinced her to give up the idea. But she was adamant on
becoming an actress.
Did you disapprove of the movies?
I had mixed feelings. Raj Kapoor
saab and Meena Kumari were guests at our home quite often when dad was
around. I would be thrilled to be in their presence. But somehow there was
a stigma attached to the movies in the 1950s and '60s. So I was hesitant
to let my daughter join the profession. Amisha is the one who made me see
reason by saying, "Dad you're being stubborn. The movies are as
respectable a profession as any other." She had a point, so I gave
in.
You mean you'd steered clear of the movies before that?
Of course not. I loved watching films when I was in school. I even got caned when I bunked school to see Dev Anand's Kala Pani.
Weren't you the one who asked Amisha to do Rakesh Roshan's Kaho Na Pyar Hai. Wasn't she actually signed by Vijeta Films first?
The Vijeta Films project was
delayed. Though Amisha was under an exclusive contract with Sunny Deol, he
was considerate enough to let her go when duggu(Hritik) offered her Kaho Na Pyar
Hai.
What did you think of her in KNPH?
Hrithik Roshan was awesome in KNPH. Any girl would have paled in comparison to him. But I'm very proud of my daughter because she held her own against Hrithik.
Didn't your relationship with duggu(Hritik) undergo stress post Kaho Na...?
No, these are just rumours. duggu(Hritik) and I are still as friendly as we were. The fact is that Hrithik and Amisha are pretty buddy-buddy.
What did you think of Amisha in Gadar-Ek Prem Katha?
It's embarrassing to praise your own child. But she was brilliant. Gadar took two years to make. KNPH took just one year. Many of the crutial scenes of Gadar were shot when Amisha was a rank newcomer. Gadar was her first film in that sense. Did you know that Amisha had a photograph of hers put up on the wall in her bedroom and she had instructed Asha, my son Ashmit and me to call her Sakina so she could `live' that character all through the film's shooting.
Does Amisha ever tell you she hasn't gotten her due?
Yeah. Sometimes we do have a conversation in which she voices her doubts. I don't let her get bogged down. Actually I like Amisha's spirit. She's a fighter. When she's pushed against a wall, she comes up trumps.
Is it true that you dabbled with amateur theatre yourself?
Yes I did. At Jaihind College, I was part of the college drama troupe. We'd perform plays written by Kadar Khan who was an engineer those days.
How much knowledge do you have about the showbiz?
I know what price my daughter charges. I'm aware of who's who in the industry. But all major decisions are made by Amisha, my wife Asha and Amisha's secretary Rakeshnath(Rikku). I take a back-seat when it comes it to discussing money and dates.
Don't your accompany your daughter for shooting?
Yes on a couple of occasions I've accompanied her. But I find shootings very cumbersome and boring.
Are you embarrassed when Amisha has to do some kootchie-cooing on the sets?
I haven't been to one of those shootings. I'm her father dammit. I'm sure I'd feel awkward if Amisha was shooting a romantic scene. I squirmed in my seat when I saw that scene showing Sunny Deol and Amisha rolling in the hay in Gadar. That scene was avoidable. But I'll never interfere with her work, she's a responsible girl.
Has her behaviour changed after success?
No she doesn't talk down to either Asha or me. If she wants to go out for dinner with friends, she still takes money from me. On her day off she's busy cleaning her room and pottering around at home. The Mercedes she owns is a gift from me. She's not a spend- thrift. In fact, when she buys me designer shirts I tell her not to bother. I've got clothes in my wardrobe which have been there for 10 years. And I'm not ashamed of that.
Do you fret when she returns home late at night?
Yes, I still sit up waiting for her to come home. I'm a liberal father but I like to know what my children are upto. Why Amisha? I even worry about my son Ashmit.
Is it true that your son wants to join the movies?
Yes, Ashmit has been getting offers. Ashmit is a good looker. I've given him the go-ahead. Vikram Bhatt is keen to launch him. He's very young. He can try his luck for a year or two. If things don't work out, he can always join me in the family business.
Do you want to choose a groom for her?
It depends entirely on Amisha. I was still in college when I met Asha and married her. We have a good marriage going. I want my children to make their own decisions. Amisha doesn't seem inclined towards marriage right now. Her goal is to be a top-runner.
Are you happy with her choice of movies?
She's the one who listens to the script and okays the projects. I've no idea about her movies. Ideally I'd like her to do some meaningful cinema like Zubeidaa and Chandni Bar.
Hasn't Amisha raised her price sky-high?
Amisha gets paid what she deserves. She has worked hard to get there. Today she's only cashing in on her success. Isn't that the way any business in the world functions?
You're often spotted in the political circles in Delhi. Do you have any aspirations to become a Neta?
I visit Delhi only for furthering my business interests. I've no plans to be a neta.
Apparently, you pull rank with the filmi people by making unreasonable demands?
That's utter rubbish. I'll never misuse my position. Power and fame are not new to me. Even when I was in college there were no scandals about me...like there are so many scandals about politicians' children. Amisha would hate it if I pulled rank. I may ask you for a couple of extra passes for the Filmfare Awards night but nothing beyond that. Don't all normal star-father's do that?
Who is the most beautiful woman in your life?
My mother Sushila is. She's fair, has light eyes and though she's 60, I don't think any of the women in my life can hold a candle to her.