Post by Q*U*E*E*N on Apr 17, 2007 10:06:47 GMT -5
From Gulam to Chalte Chalte Rani has come a long way and she is undoubtedly the Queen of Bollywood. In every film she makes her presence felt with her cool and confident acting. With films like Ketan Mehta`s The Rising, Mani Ratnam`s Yuva, Kunal Kohli`s Hum Tum, Ashutosh Gawarikar`s Swades and Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s Black and Bajirao Mastani tucked under her belt Rani is a force to reckon with. We caught up with Rani at the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s eagerly awaited "Black".
Excerpts from an interview with SeasonsIndia correspondent Sanyukta.
How is it working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali?
Its wonderful. It`s a different feeling all together. I feel the change in me. Sanjay is bringing out emotions that I never knew existed inside me. The whole experience has made me so grateful for the gift of life. I`ve always been optimistic. "Black" has made me even more so. And let me tell you that I`ve discovered Sanjay is a child at heart. He`s such a big filmmaker and there`s no arrogance in him.
With films like Yuva, Rising, Swades, Hum Tum, this year is going to be very important to you.
Yes and I am working very hard. After the first schedule of "Black" I`ve started shooting for Ketan Mehta`s "The Rising". I feel very lucky that directors like Sanjay Bhansali, Ketan Mehta and Yash Chopra thought of me for their films. I`ve almost wrapped up Mani Rathnam`s "Yuva", and that too is a unique experience.
Earlier you lost two opportunities to work with Mani Rathnam, isn`t it?
Yes, I was offered "Dil Se" and "Kannathil Muttamital" but unfortunately I couldn`t do both the films. And I am grateful to him to offer Yuva. The true sign of greatness is humility. Mani Rathnam isn`t the least overpowering. Though he`s much older he loves his artistes like equals.
What is Yuva about and how was it working with Abhishek Bachchan?
Well Yuva is a very thought provoking film about three young men with very different viewpoints towards life. I am paired opposite Abhishek who is very arrogant, brutal and is the product of the Calcutta Streets. But he loves her passionately. My character is raised like a princess in the protective middle class household of an LIC agent. How our relationship thrives and survives is one part of the film. And my co-star Abhishek Bachchan is such a sweetheart. He`s rocking in "Yuva". I think that he`s got the best role.
What`s your role in Ketan Mehta`s Rising?
In Rising, I play a prostitute. I cannot disclose too much at this stage. I`m excited about "The Rising" because it`ll be my first film with Aamir Khan since "Ghulam".
What is the Kunal Kohli`s Hum Tum about?
Well it`s a fun movie. The whole film is about Saif and me. Saif is a leading cartoonist. He creates these cartoon characters called Hum Tum but runs out of ideas to present them and that`s when the whole fun starts. It was great working with Saif. I enjoyed his comic timing and that worked to the film`s benefit.
How come almost every leading filmmaker in Bollywood wants to work with you?
There`s no magic formula, if that`s what you`re implying. I`ve worked so hard, have been at it since 1995. I had my first major success in 1998. Now finally I`m working with the directors I want. God granted me this great opportunity and I`ve to do my best. One has to be honest to one`s work.
How does 2004 look to you?
Many more challenges and expectations. I`ve to work really hard. What scares me is if I am not good in Sanjay Bhansali, Mani Rathnam, Yash Chopra and Ketan Mehta`s cinema, it would be really bad for me. I`m already signed to work with Sanjay Bhansali in his next film "Bajirao Mastani". So my future is ensured.
What`s your role in Ketan Mehta`s Rising?
In Rising, I play a prostitute. I cannot disclose too much at this stage. I`m excited about "The Rising" because it`ll be my first film with Aamir Khan since "Ghulam".
What is the Kunal Kohli`s Hum Tum about?
Well it`s a fun movie. The whole film is about Saif and me. Saif is a leading cartoonist. He creates these cartoon characters called Hum Tum but runs out of ideas to present them and that`s when the whole fun starts. It was great working with Saif. I enjoyed his comic timing and that worked to the film`s benefit.
How come almost every leading filmmaker in Bollywood wants to work with you?
There`s no magic formula, if that`s what you`re implying. I`ve worked so hard, have been at it since 1995. I had my first major success in 1998. Now finally I`m working with the directors I want. God granted me this great opportunity and I`ve to do my best. One has to be honest to one`s work.
How does 2004 look to you?
Many more challenges and expectations. I`ve to work really hard. What scares me is if I am not good in Sanjay Bhansali, Mani Rathnam, Yash Chopra and Ketan Mehta`s cinema, it would be really bad for me. I`m already signed to work with Sanjay Bhansali in his next film "Bajirao Mastani". So my future is ensured.
Excerpts from an interview with SeasonsIndia correspondent Sanyukta.
How is it working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali?
Its wonderful. It`s a different feeling all together. I feel the change in me. Sanjay is bringing out emotions that I never knew existed inside me. The whole experience has made me so grateful for the gift of life. I`ve always been optimistic. "Black" has made me even more so. And let me tell you that I`ve discovered Sanjay is a child at heart. He`s such a big filmmaker and there`s no arrogance in him.
With films like Yuva, Rising, Swades, Hum Tum, this year is going to be very important to you.
Yes and I am working very hard. After the first schedule of "Black" I`ve started shooting for Ketan Mehta`s "The Rising". I feel very lucky that directors like Sanjay Bhansali, Ketan Mehta and Yash Chopra thought of me for their films. I`ve almost wrapped up Mani Rathnam`s "Yuva", and that too is a unique experience.
Earlier you lost two opportunities to work with Mani Rathnam, isn`t it?
Yes, I was offered "Dil Se" and "Kannathil Muttamital" but unfortunately I couldn`t do both the films. And I am grateful to him to offer Yuva. The true sign of greatness is humility. Mani Rathnam isn`t the least overpowering. Though he`s much older he loves his artistes like equals.
What is Yuva about and how was it working with Abhishek Bachchan?
Well Yuva is a very thought provoking film about three young men with very different viewpoints towards life. I am paired opposite Abhishek who is very arrogant, brutal and is the product of the Calcutta Streets. But he loves her passionately. My character is raised like a princess in the protective middle class household of an LIC agent. How our relationship thrives and survives is one part of the film. And my co-star Abhishek Bachchan is such a sweetheart. He`s rocking in "Yuva". I think that he`s got the best role.
What`s your role in Ketan Mehta`s Rising?
In Rising, I play a prostitute. I cannot disclose too much at this stage. I`m excited about "The Rising" because it`ll be my first film with Aamir Khan since "Ghulam".
What is the Kunal Kohli`s Hum Tum about?
Well it`s a fun movie. The whole film is about Saif and me. Saif is a leading cartoonist. He creates these cartoon characters called Hum Tum but runs out of ideas to present them and that`s when the whole fun starts. It was great working with Saif. I enjoyed his comic timing and that worked to the film`s benefit.
How come almost every leading filmmaker in Bollywood wants to work with you?
There`s no magic formula, if that`s what you`re implying. I`ve worked so hard, have been at it since 1995. I had my first major success in 1998. Now finally I`m working with the directors I want. God granted me this great opportunity and I`ve to do my best. One has to be honest to one`s work.
How does 2004 look to you?
Many more challenges and expectations. I`ve to work really hard. What scares me is if I am not good in Sanjay Bhansali, Mani Rathnam, Yash Chopra and Ketan Mehta`s cinema, it would be really bad for me. I`m already signed to work with Sanjay Bhansali in his next film "Bajirao Mastani". So my future is ensured.
What`s your role in Ketan Mehta`s Rising?
In Rising, I play a prostitute. I cannot disclose too much at this stage. I`m excited about "The Rising" because it`ll be my first film with Aamir Khan since "Ghulam".
What is the Kunal Kohli`s Hum Tum about?
Well it`s a fun movie. The whole film is about Saif and me. Saif is a leading cartoonist. He creates these cartoon characters called Hum Tum but runs out of ideas to present them and that`s when the whole fun starts. It was great working with Saif. I enjoyed his comic timing and that worked to the film`s benefit.
How come almost every leading filmmaker in Bollywood wants to work with you?
There`s no magic formula, if that`s what you`re implying. I`ve worked so hard, have been at it since 1995. I had my first major success in 1998. Now finally I`m working with the directors I want. God granted me this great opportunity and I`ve to do my best. One has to be honest to one`s work.
How does 2004 look to you?
Many more challenges and expectations. I`ve to work really hard. What scares me is if I am not good in Sanjay Bhansali, Mani Rathnam, Yash Chopra and Ketan Mehta`s cinema, it would be really bad for me. I`m already signed to work with Sanjay Bhansali in his next film "Bajirao Mastani". So my future is ensured.
