26.Feb.2003

I'm not moving down South

 One  Telugu  hit. Another under production.  Plus  one  Tamil film. That's the reason the rumour factory's buzzing  about  Amisha Patel's career moves.

"What's the fuss about?" says an angry Amisha."I'm certainly  not  settling down in the South. Please, I've signed only two  films-- one  Telugu film, to be directed by Surya; and a Tamil one with  director Jagan, opposite actor Vijay.

"I'd   appreciate   if   people   stopped   over-working    their  imaginations.  My  first film in Telugu, Badri, was a  huge  hit.  After  that, I didn't do a single film there. Offers did come  in  but  since I was busy with Hindi films, I couldn't accept  them.  "My fans down South have been writing to me, asking me to do more   Telugu films. It's very rare of Andhraites to accept someone from  outside. Yet they have given me so much love and appreciation.  I  owe  them a lot because they gave me such a warm-hearted  welcome  by making Badri a superhit. Every star wants popularity in  areas  that she  doesn't belong to and I'm happy I've achieved so much." Talking  of her new assignments, Amisha volunteers,  "The  Telegu  film  I'm doing is with Mahesh Babu, who is as popular in  Andhra  as Hrithik Roshan is over here. It's a very good project. Plus,  the  girl's  role is superb. 

"Tell me, why shouldn't I do their films? They pay me well,  they  are disciplined, they finish their films in 30 days flat. It's so  hassle-free. I just take my money and come back."

Yet Amisha insists that by no means is she uncomfortable with the  way  the  Hindi  industry  functions.  "I  can  adjust  to   both  environments  easily.  But  yes, whenever I come  back  from  the  South,  I  feel more disciplined and I try  to  implement  that  training over here. There, I am on my toes all the time; here,  I  tend to get a little lazy," she says. 

As  for the dialogue in South films, she first writes it down  in  English,  then  gets  it  translated in  order  to  get   the  punctuations  and  the nuances of the language right.  That's  to  make  sure  the  dubbing artiste has no problems  later  on,  she  points  out.  "It's  quite tough but I manage  it,"  she  smiles.  As she says, it's worth her while.