AMISHA PATEL
I
wait in her
parlour, as in walks the fragile-looking girl with long hair that reaches
down to her bottom, dressed in casual jeans and T-shirt with trendy
slip-ons. She has an almost transluscent skin, devoid of make-up.
"Did they offer you anything at all," she inquires, as she
settles down to a comfortable, hour-long chat, legs folded, hair rolled
up. Then we get started.
Was a career in films always on your mind?
I’m the grand daughter of Rajni Patel, the late
Indira Gandhi’s right hand man. My father is a businessman, who has
studied law and runs a chemicals and audio-magnetic tapes business. My
joining films was out of the question. I’ve been a Bharat Natyam dancer
from the age of five and that’s been my only exposure to the arts. In
fact, I’m sure I wouldn’t be acting, were it not for the fact that the
Roshans, who happen to be family friends, offered me the role in Kaho
Na... Pyar Hai. My dad and Uncle Rakesh were classmates at school, you
know, and they go back a long way. In fact, the role was offered to me
almost seven years ago.
So when did you eventually decide to take up the
Roshans’ offer?
When I announced I was going to act in a film, there
was World War Three at home. My parents are against it, to this day. But
they said if that was what I wanted to do, I should go about it in a
dignified, clean manner.
You also dabbled in theatre, didn’t you?
I did. I was already modelling on and off, because
Arti and Kailash Surendranath, who had done an ad with me when I was very
young and another one just before I left for the States, got me to do
several more campaigns with them. I did a play called Neelam, written by
Tanvir Khan.
So how did you feel when Kareena was signed to play
the lead in the Roshan film?
The fact that I wasn’t interested at all in
the film offer isn’t their fault. They couldn’t have waited all my
life for me to say yes. The show had to go on. But I guess Uncle
Rakesh’s offer was so heartfelt that, ghoom-phirke, the movie had to
come to me. And how does it matter who was the first, second or third
choice. What is important is who does the film eventually.
Were you under some kind of contract with the
Roshans?
My mom and I were lunching with the Roshans,
when the offere was made to me again. And this time, all it took me to say
yes was 15 minutes. That’s how informal the whole thing was. All I did
was sign a letter saying I would not do any other film until 70 per cent
of the film was completed. Otherwise, there was no contract, only a verbal
understanding.
What was your parents’ reaction this time?
They were happy I was acting in a film by a family friend, and a good
director like Rakesh Roshan. So they had nothing really to worry about.
Did you get to know your co-star Hrithik quite well?
I’d met Hrithik quite frequently but my memories of him were of a
very thin, painfully shy boy who kept to himself. We used to meet as
families at Uncle Jeetendra’s and Hrithik never came to those dinners.
Then I went away for four years to the States to study, and that’s when
he changed into the handsome hunk he is now.
How was it playing his lady love on screen?
Very easy. He was very heplful, but still very shy in the beginnnig.
He never once made me feel this was his film, a home production. Of
course, there was an air of confidence about him, and he knew what he was
doing. He had all his homework done, from line to scene. Also, the fact
that he’d been assisting his dad for seven years obviously helped.
Were you equally confident, too?
Oh, not at all. I was totally raw, whereas he’d had dance lessons,
been to acting classes and so on. I began shoot within the week from that
fateful day at the Roshan household, which changed my life forever.
Your attire and get-up in the film left a lot to be
desired...
Uncle Rakesh has never been the sort to focus on such things as far as any
of his heroines are concerned. He is more focussed on extracting the right
performance out of you, which he succeeded in doing even with me. But wait
till you see my next film. I have my own dress designer, now. Wait till
every one sees the new me.
Tell us about the experience of working with Rakesh Roshan.
Well, he’s an ace director. And on the sets he was very disciplined,
very efficient, always finishing ahead of schedule, and always extracting
the best out of you. He was like a director on the sets and an uncle off
it.
How would you describe your first film in hindsight?
KNPH for me was a complete learning experience, a growth platform. I grew
everyday, learnt new things. I was completely raw to start with, but I
soon learnt how the film industry functions. For me it was like being back
in school.
So did you sign any other films since taking on this
one?
Even considering the fact that I wasn’t supposed to, until 70 per cent
of my first film was complete, I’ve signed quite a few films. The first
was the Telugu film, Badri, released two months after this one, which
became a huge hit as well. Then I signed Gadar & Aap Mujhe Acche Lagne
Lage
What would rate as your dream role?
A role in a Yash Chopra film, of course, something like, say, Chandni,
Lamhe or Dil To Pagal Hai. I’d love to do an Umrao Jaan or do a Madhuri
Dixit in Mrityudand.
How do you deal with the adulation that’s part of
the profession?
As with everything else, there are two sides to it, both an upside and a
downside. The upside’s fun, of course, but I’m still struggling to
come to terms with the latter.