southscope feb2013 otherside issue

FEBRUARY 2013

VOL 04 | ISSUE 05

100

“I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO BE STREET SMART”

SAMANTHA

“I DON’T WANT TO BE A SIZE ZERO”

amannaah gets candid CURVACEOUS

on making it to the top, being in love and living a dream

Get your copy of

BOOTZ SOUTHSCOPE ALL STAR CALENDAR 2013 featuring sensational stars free with this issue

from the editor...

January definitely belonged to Kamal Haasan as he faced and overcame what is easily one of the toughest times in his life, considering his magnum opus Vishwaroopam faced a ban in tamil nadu. our respect for the legendary star has since increased manifold. in the face of such crisis, Kamal came across as spontaneous and as someone whose reasoning could appeal both to the heart and the mind. Hats off to one of the most gifted actors we may ever get to see! on that note, let me present to you our sensational Bootz southscope all star calendar 2013 featuring a dazzling array of some of the most sought after stars in south india. we really hope our beautiful calendar adorns your desk all of 2013. enjoy!

Aruna R Krishnan

Managing Editor

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Managing Editor Aruna R Krishnan

Founder & Advisor Allu Sirish

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southscope takes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material. all pHotograpHs, unless otHerwise inDicateD, are useD For illustratiVe purposes onlY. registered office: #202, shiva sai sannidhi, Dwarakapuri colony, punjagutta, Hyderabad 500 082. all rights reserved. reproduction in whole or in part of any of the contents of this magazine or any pages thereof in any manner without our express written consent is prohibited. southscope assumes no responsibility for the veracity and authenticity of the advertisements published herein. readers are requested to make appropriate enquiries before incurring any expenses or acting on medical recommendations or otherwise in relation to any advertisement or article published herein. Views in articles are those of the respective authors only. southscope does not necessarily subscribe to these views. puBlisHeD For tHe montH oF FeBruarY 2013 rni no.: apeng/2009/29389

Maureen Fernando Kirthi Jayakumar

Senior Correspondent Shankaran Malini

Contributors Aravind G Shivkamal Kirthi Jayakumar Malini Shankaran Pavithra Srinivasan Radhika Rajamani Unni R Nair

Senior Media Executive – Film Promotions Sanjay G

Design Whoa Mama Design

Marketing Manager Praveen Kumar +91 9841973090

Publication Consultant Raghurama Raju Kalidindi

Tamannaah’s Cover Photographer: Harpreet Bachher Styling: Nishka Lulla Make Up: Chakravarthi Kadali Hair : Sabnam Azmi Wardrobe: Si Branche

Tamannaah’s Cover Photographer: G. Venket Ram, Styling: Chaitanya Rao, Make Up: Amar Singh, Hair: Senthil

Tamannaah “I don’t want to be a size zero”

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Here’s what caught the attention of our Roving Eye

Pooja Kumar She has many Roopams indeed

Shankar Mahadevan Twelve years and counting…

Kriti Sanon Mahesh Babu’s heroine gushes about the Prince

Yami Gautam “I am not just a pretty face”

Samantha “I have been forced to be street smart”

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Here’s all the scoop we caught this month!

Shriya Saran is going through a dull phase in her career. But that’s not the only thing that is bothering her: rumours are rife that the actress will be seen in the role of a sex worker in her next Telugu movie Pavitra. Unable to bear the unnecessary rumour-mongering and criticism levelled against her on social networking sites, Shriya even closed down her account on one of these sites and clarified, (sic) “For the record, Pavitra is about a girl fighting for justice, fighting for the society. She becomes a politician and fights for women.

There are no intimate scenes in Pavitra. It’s a very sensitive story,” the actress said. She even expressed her anger by posting, (sic) “I am officially done with stupid, crazy and idiotic tweets. Some tweets make me feel that some people are born just to write stuff, which will make others feel demeaning and disgusting. I thought this was a medium to know people. But some sadist people make it a way to make others feel sad and depressed.” Yikes.

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aindrita ray is back and how! the actress suffered bouts of illnesses, but recently reported to the sets to complete the shooting of her movie tony. she was even seen at the audio launch of her other film Ziddi. the actress is in high spirits, eagerly anticipating the release of three of her movies this year. 2013 has begun with a bang for aindrita, who recently holidayed on a remote island in thailand with friends and relatives. she even ended a protracted dispute with a leading choreographer in sandalwood. it looks like aindrita has something up her sleeve!

what is parul Yadav, who rocked sandalwood with her hit dance number in 2012, doing these days? apart from wrapping up shooting for the big budget ick Bachchan opposite sudeep, we hear the actress has been approached by top banners in tollywood. last year, there were indications of the actress signing movies opposite ram charan and ravi teja. However, those projects did not materialise. But this time the indications are quite clear – that parul may soon make her tollywood debut in 2013. Here’s wishing her success, as she enters new territory.

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Despite his Hindi film aiyya being mauled by critics, prithviraj seems to have impressed Bollywood considerably. Following his debut with rani mukherji, prithviraj is working on Yashraj Films’ aurangzeb, and has recently been approached by Farah Khan to play a role in her upcoming film Happy new Year. Hold your breath, that’s not all – prithviraj will be seen sharing screen space with shahrukh Khan and abhishek Bachchan! it appears that Happy new Year tells the tale of three friends, played by srK, abhishek Bachchan and prithviraj. the film is set to go on floors from april this year, with priyanka chopra in the female lead. the ensemble cast also includes amitabh Bachchan. the film will be produced by Farah Khan, in association with shahrukh’s red chillies entertainment. Dreamum wakeupum indeed, eh, prithvi?

if thuppakki saw murugadoss bringing Vijay to the masses in full splendour, his next will grab eyeballs just as well. grapevine has it that murugadoss will soon be joining hands with ajith Kumar, after Dheena, which was a good twelve years ago. in a script that he has written himself, murugadoss apparently plans to cast ajith in a dual role. Be it Vaali, Villain or even Varalaaru, we all know that ajith has quite the flair for dual roles. For the present, it appears that both the star and the star director have their hands full.

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sai Dharam tej, whose debut film, rey, hit a roadblock for two years, is keen on emulating his cousin and telugu star ram charan. He wants to remix a hit song of his uncle megastar chiranjeevi for his movie. it is common for ram charan’s movies to feature remixed songs of his father. while the all-time hit Bangaru Kodipetta was remixed for magadheera, the Vana Vana Velluvaye number rocked right through racha. even for his latest film, naayak, the hit song shubhalekha rasukunna from Kondaveeti Donga had been picked for remix. now, sai Dharam tej wants to remix golimaar from chiranjeevi’s movie Donga. incidentally, shooting for the song featuring sai Dharam tej and shraddha Das had already commenced in a studio in Hyderabad. renowned choreographer raju sundaram had been assigned the task of canning the song. we’re watching.

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Hit filmmaker ss rajamouli, who was on a break after delivering the super-hit multilingual eega, last year, has now silently commenced work on his next untitled project, with prabhas playing a major role. incidentally, rajamouli is keen on working with a new star cast and has already commenced the hunt. though prabhas will be seen in one of the lead roles, there are plenty of characters in the movie, which will be a period drama. news has it that rana is also playing a lead role.

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telugu actor gopichand should not only thank his stars, but also thank taapsee. the gorgeous girl has agreed to act opposite him in his next untitled film to be directed chandrashekar Yelati. gopichand has been struggling for the past decade in tollywood. He seems to be in a tight spot, enjoying only limited success. the actor is not among the a-list in tollywood, and that has worked against him, as some of the top actresses refused to romance him on the big screen. that’s when gopichand turned towards taapsee. incidentally, taapsee had acted opposite gopichand in mogudu and did not think twice before saying “yes” to gopichand’s project now. such friendship!

D UNIYA V IJAY IN SERIOUS TROUBLE sandalwood’s Black cobra Duniya Vijay’s marital life has gone for a toss after the actor filed for divorce recently. married for 14 years and the father of two children, Vijay has accused his wife of neglecting his mother. His wife, nagarathna, however does not want to split from the actor. she even went to her husband’s house seeking “justice.” apparently, his wife pointed fingers at an actress, holding her responsible for the marital discord. now, sandalwood’s senior star ambarish has been entrusted the task of reconciling Vijay with his wife. Vijay is among the top stars in sandalwood and has even signed a trilingual movie. unfortunately, his marital issues seem to be overshadowing his success.

priyamani, that’s who! we know that she is perhaps among the select few actresses with a massive range of roles – right from village belle to urban chica, priyamani’s played it all. and just when we think that’s a lot, she’s busy adding more to her list by turning to action. priyamani has signed a film for anand p raju to be produced by gandugali K manju. anand and manju recently came together to work on ragini ips, with ragini Dwivedi in the lead. coming forward to make another heroinecentric movie, priyamani was their unanimous choice it appears. the title still remains to be revealed, while word has it that the team behind ragini ips will be retained for the new project with priyamani. we’re certainly excited!

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when sachin tendulkar announced his retirement from one-Day international cricket, it was a sad day for many of his fans. one of whom, happens to be hotshot director prabhu Deva, who is flying high in Bollywood. profoundly moved by the little master’s decision, prabhu Deva has shown his admiration for the cricketer by crafting a music video called Dhool tucker. the song is directed by arvind ramalingam and composed by lV ganesan. prabhu Deva’s dedication to sachin is definitely a fitting tribute.

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ALL-STAR

THE CALENDAR-A-LYMPICS! For twelve months, these stunning stars will brighten your space. Whether it is the sultry actress scorching up one month, or the handsome hunk brightening up another, Southscope has always had an interesting array of sought-after stars to make each year memorable! As the only magazine to consistently feature A-listers (the goodwill Southscope enjoys among the cream of the South Indian film fraternity is well known to everyone), 2013 is indeed a special year for us as our Bootz Southscope All Star calendar features stars from across South India like Nagarjuna, Puneet Rajkumar, Vishal, Prithviraj, Dulquer Salmaan, Tamannaah, Ileana D’Cruz, Nayantara, Amala Paul, Taapsee Pannu, Divya Spandana and Aindrita Ray. What an intersting array indeed! The photoshoots were conducted in various cities including Chennai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Southscope thanks Sidharth Banerji and his daughter Pushpanjali Banerji of Bootz, our title partner and collaborator in this initiative for their wholehearted support in bringing this awesome calendar to you, our dear readers. Enjoy!

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this year, we bring to you a fantastic display from the galaxy of stars that make south indian cinema what it truly is: awesome. right from the handsome tollywood superstar, nagarjuna and sandalwood idol puneet rajkumar to the ravishing ileana and the fresh young talent Dulquer salmaan, this year has stars that can make each month sizzle like never before! starting the year with her splendid elegance, is tamannaah. Donning a skirt in a redefined marilyn monroe style, tamannaah is the happiest face you can get, to start the year on a positive note! if February is the month of love, ileana must be the best pin up for it, as she strikes a beautiful pose looking every bit the glamour doll. in classy elegance, Dulquer salmaan is all set to dazzle your march in his boyish, but thoroughly stylish and suave looks. chirpy as ever, taapsee pannu has a brilliant smile to offer in april, enough to throw you into a paroxysm of optimism all month long. if may is a merciless time known for its summer heat, we would like to redefine that to make it southscope’s very own dose of “great Heat.” we’ve got Vishal saying hello everyday of may, as he bares his six-pack abs. it’s probably back to school or college for most people in June – and redefining the cute nerdy look, is prithviraj. watch out for his huge glasses his quirky expression: totally lovable! what’s a better way to ring in the second half of the year, than to have one of the best looking south indian superstars on the calendar? nagarjuna looks simply amazing as his dignity and debonair style speak volumes all through July. come august, and with it comes nayanthara’s quaint charm. right from the bouffant hairdo, to the tear-drop eyes, from the fantastic orange top, to the skirt in geometric patterns. puneet rajkumar gives you a dash of charm and elegance all september, while aindrita ray dazzles in october, sending the temperatures soaring. november has Divya spandana in shades of light green and silver, telling you that though winter’s around the corner, the hotness quotient is still up. as 2013 draws to a close, amala paul winds the year up in shades of orange against silver, pointing to the future, to another new year that is on its way!

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The third season of the matches among the teams as part of the Celebrity Cricket League begins this month. With two new teams this year, Veer Marathi representing the Marathi film industry and Bhojpuri Dabbangs representing the Bhojpuri film industry, this season is definitely high on the star quotient.

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The curtain raiser was a gala event in its own right, held in Mumbai, on January 19, 2013.

The likes of Salman Khan, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Prabhu Deva came together to set the ball rolling.

The teams in the league besides the two additions include Telugu Warriors headed by Daggubati Venkatesh, Bengal Tigers headed by Jeet, Chennai Rhinos led by Vishal, Kerala Strikers headed by Mohanlal, Karnataka Bulldozers headed by Sudeep and Mumbai Heroes headed by Suniel Shetty.

Matches to definitely watch out for!

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THE MANY ‘ROOPAMS’ OF POOJA KUMAR Pooja Kumar Mathur has been in the limelight lately owing to her trilingual blockbuster Vishwaroopam with Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan. Shankaran Malini chats with the diva on life, acting and plans for the future

Pooja’s stint in Tamil cinema began as early as in 2000, with Kadhal Rojave. With a film each in Malayalam and Hindi, and a few in English to her credit, Pooja has also donned the producer’s hat. Starting 2013 with Vishwaroopam, Pooja has made ripples among audiences world over.

From growing up watching Ek Duje Ke Liye to actually acting with Kamal Haasan: did you ever foresee landing such a plum assignment? the saying goes, “lightning never strikes the same place twice.” while i hope that is not the case with me, i would never have imagined that i would share the screen with a legend and actor of Kamal Haasan’s caliber, one day. Honestly, it is an opportunity that most actors dream of but never have a chance to fulfill. i am grateful to Kamal Haasan for giving me this incredible chance and i hope my hard work and dedication have reflected in this movie!

Tell us about your role in Vishwaroopam.

Kamal Haasan is known for writing scripts with nuanced roles for the leading ladies. Would you agree, based on your experience? absolutely! i play the character of Dr. nirupama, a nuclear oncologist who marries Kamal Haasan so that she can get a green card and come to america. simply put, it is a marriage of convenience initially. nirupama loses her father due to cancer, so her goal is to find alternative ways to cure the deadly

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disease. the only way to pursue this is to go to the usa. nirupama is unhappy in her marriage for various reasons. she is trying to find a way out of it, but soon realises that her life is not what she thought it would be. Her husband is more than meets the eye!

Acting in a language you had no knowledge of isn’t easy. What were your challenges like, when you worked in Hindi and Tamil? How did you overcome them? an actor faces many challenges with respect to his/her craft especially within the confines of working on a big production in an entirely different language. at first, i was anxious about my responsibilities that entailed speaking in both Hindi and tamil. luckily, Kamal Haasan quickly eased my anxiety since he is an excellent teacher, mentor and, of course, actor. He would record my lines on my iphone, and i would keep listening to them and memorizing them, until the shot was ready. it wasn’t just an exercise in memorizing them – we went over each line in detail. He explained how he wanted my facial expressions to be as well as my body language. after spending countless hours under his guidance, i was ready to take on

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any challenge. the best part is, the lines came out effortlessly and i felt very comfortable.

Tell us about working with Kamal Haasan. working with such a versatile icon was an extraordinary experience. listening to him and observing him on the sets is the equivalent of actually going to a university and studying cinema. His work ethics, his passion, and his drive to keep learning are infectious. they really make you strive for excellence as an actor. the fact that i got to share space on the screen with him is something i will cherish. i am undoubtedly a better actor after working with him.

You’ve also been a producer. Did that play a role in helping you evolve as an actress? as you know, being a producer is very different from just being an actor. a producer not only has to make a wonderful product, but also has to put the right team together to build a cohesive and efficient unit. it is an entirely different skill set and one that i can now appreciate and fully understand. now that i’ve gone through the experience as a producer, i can see the world of cinema through a different lens. not only do i strive to deliver a great performance onscreen, i can now share my thoughts with the producer(s) and director and try to help in any way i can. it has definitely made me a well-rounded actor who can empathise with everyone working on a project.

Will you don the hat of a producer again? at the moment i’m concentrating on acting but i am very passionate about producing as well. i continue to look at projects and will eventually start producing them in the future. taking a concept from inception to a final product takes months and sometimes years of dedication, so right now i’d like focus more on acting and perfecting my craft. But stay tuned as i intend to start producing in the future!

How different are the experiential realms of working in Hollywood, Hindi cinema and now, Tamil cinema? Where do you think the three converge? we live in a global village these days where actors, producers, directors and distribution firms are now crossing over and working with talent from both hemispheres. For example, in Vishwaroopam, we had technicians from Hollywood and india. Kamal Haasan has 32

“HOLLYWOOD IS SLOWLY GIVING SOUTH ASIANS GREATER OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY CHARACTERS OTHER THAN THE QUINTESSENTIAL TAXI DRIVER, THE TERRORIST AND THE CONVENIENCESTORE OWNER…”

picked the best people from around the world and has brought them to work together on this project. other films such as slumdog millionaire and the Best exotic marigold Hotel have done similar things. Hindi cinema, Hollywood and the tamil film industry have done a great job of bridging the gap, working with artistes and technical crew from around the world especially the us. this is where the convergence occurs. the stories and subjects have become more global. of course, there will always be a few stark differences between Hollywood and the indian film industry - which includes having more of an emphasis on music and dance sequences. some projects are made for the sole purpose of appealing to the masses and as such enjoy huge commercial success.

Do you see yourself as the stereotypical “Exotic Indian”? Or is there no such stereotype, at all? i’m an actor, first and foremost. i look for good scripts and characters to play. i do not gravitate towards or look for the typical “exotic” roles. But, sometimes it is a good character to play. i’ve been lucky to play

many roles throughout my career, roles that are not your typical “desi” person. of course, there will always be stereotypes of south asian actors but we must do our best and show casting directors and executive producers that we can play any role well. this is the case with every ethnic group in the us.

Hollywood is slowly but surely opening up and giving south asians greater opportunities to play characters other than the quintessential taxi driver, the terrorist, the convenience-store owner and the like. we have many south asian actors who are simply playing good characters on tV and in films in the us. this trend will surely continue. at the end of the day, the character and script should be strong.

“KAMAL WOULD RECORD MY LINES ON MY IPHONE, AND I WOULD KEEP LISTENING TO THEM…”

What’s happening in the coming days? as you can imagine, i’ve been approached by various directors and have been reading many scripts since the publicity for Vishwaroopam began. i am looking at a few projects in the us as well. my goal now and always will be to work on great films and television series with talented artists and strong scripts. i will be happy to share them in the near future.

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TWELVE YEARS AND COUNTING… In 2001, they debuted in the Tamil film industry, when Kamal Haasan signed them on to compose for Aalavandhan. Coming a full circle, since, the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio has recently worked with Kamal Haasan again. Shankaran Malini chats with Shankar Mahadevan, on the trio’s compositions for Kamal’s magnum opus – Vishwaroopam

the songs of Vishwaroopam have been making waves ever since they hit the stores and released online last year. the soundtrack has had a tremendous response: fans have loved it, shared it and made it a part of their lives – be it as integral parts of their playlists or as caller tunes. it isn’t news that the trio that made the music has magic in their fingers. Vishwaroopam is just a reiteration of that talent. almost three years after the last time they worked in the tamil film industry, their compositions for Vishwaroopam have been welcomed with aplomb. ask shankar what has changed from then until now, and he says, “music preferences have changed a little, it appears. we have been in mumbai all the while. we don’t really know what the changes down south are and how significant they have been.” nevertheless, one wonders if these changes matter to them at all, because all things considered, their talents speak for themselves.

Having been in maximum city thus far, most of their work has involved compositions for Bollywood. the experiences of composing for Hindi and tamil cinema are not necessarily similar, as shankar explains. “composing for tamil cinema has always been a good experience. this is mainly

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because the south has always been more welcoming towards composing intricate melodies. But, in Bollywood, the focus lies more predominantly on composing mainstream melodies.” of the repertoire, shankar mahadevan has sung one song with Kamal Haasan.

“Vishwaroopam is a different film altogether.

Kamal Haasan is such a musically inclined person. For us, it was truly an experience of working with a living legend.” so is that because of the star factor? or was there a more fulfilling experience underlying it all? “i see that Kamal Haasan understands good music and good lyrics. He sings very well, so it was great working with someone who understands the potential of a good set of lyrics and delivers so wonderfully on them.”

to work with him, that we worked on Vishwaroopam. there was a lot of jamming and the creative process was, all through, just like cooking a dish. all four tracks in the album are very, very different. there is a song on preparing for a war. there is the title song. then there is this song lamenting on why war should be waged at all, and then a classical melody with a modern tinge.” looking at the trio’s career graph, shankar mahadevan is very poignant. “i think every day is a learning experience. as we compose we learn something new. as we listen to songs, we learn something new. we learn what to do and what not to do. it is only when you learn, that you will know where you are going.” He signs off, smiling.

Vishwaroopam’s music comprises five tracks in all, including within its fold, a remix. shankar mahadevan’s pick from the lot is unnai Kaanadhu naan, which he sang with Kamal Haasan. “all the songs in the album are very beautiful. For me, it is especially the song where Kamal Haasan dances to Kathak choreography, set to thumri style music. it is for the first time ever, that someone has done Kathak this way – under the watchful eye and guidance of Kathak legend Birju maharaj. it is also the first time that a tamil song has been composed in the thumri style,” he says. ask him to take us through the experience of working with Kamal Haasan, and his eyes twinkle with excitement. “His discussions are on so many levels when we’re composing!

He was present at every point during our recording sessions. it was only because of Kamal Haasan, and because we wanted

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“WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THAT I WOULD BE ACTING OPPOSITE MAHESH BABU, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE!” Bagging a plum project opposite Telugu superstar ‘Prince’ Mahesh Babu in an untitled movie directed by ace director Sukumar, Kriti Sanon has become hot property in Tollywood. Aravind G Shivkamal talks to her about the good fortune that’s come her way

Picture Credits: Caa-Kwan

As a model, Kriti Sanon never dreamed that her shot at stardom would be through South Indian cinema. As luck would have it, Kriti replaced Kajal Aggarwal (who quit the project after shooting for 10 days) as the heroine in Sukumar’s project starring none other than the inimitable Mahesh Babu. In the process of signing two more Telugu projects, Kriti stunned everyone recently in Bollywood by also bagging the female lead role opposite Tiger Shroff (son of actor Jackie Shroff ) in his debut film.

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How did the Mahesh Babu/Sukumar project happen? it was completely sudden and unexpected. i was auditioning for a few projects in mumbai when my agency asked me to fly to Hyderabad, to appear for a test shoot for this project. i went through a few auditions and a look test before everything was finalised. when they announced that i would be acting opposite mahesh Babu, it was unbelievable!

What was your immediate reaction on hearing that you have been selected for the project?

“MANY ACTRESSES FROM AISHWARYA RAI TO DEEPIKA PADUKONE STARTED THEIR CAREERS WITH FILMS DOWN SOUTH!”

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i was very excited. it was the perfect opportunity – just what i had been waiting for. it is important to get a good debut film. things can’t get better than this, considering i have got the chance to act in a movie opposite mahesh Babu, that too under the direction of a top notch director. i had heard of mahesh Babu even earlier, because he is such a huge star. i had seen his thumbs-up ad and also a few of his films dubbed in Hindi. people love his movies! who wouldn’t want to be part of such a team? this is a dream come true for me.

How do you find Tollywood? Did you do any homework before facing the camera? the telugu industry is huge and full of talented and hardworking people. i am glad to be a part of it now. i went through some acting and dancing workshops before we started shooting. i also went through a few scenes that shaped my character in the film. i still have a long way to go but i am sure that i have found the right foothold.

How was it, working with Mahesh Babu and Sukumar? everyone in the unit has been very patient with and supportive of me. mahesh is a wonderful co-star and an amazing person. He is grounded and never made me feel that he is the huge star that he is. sukumar sir is not only a great director, but also a genuinely nice human being. He is the most hardworking person i have ever met. He pays individual attention towards every minute aspect of the film and knows how to get the best from his actors. i feel blessed working with such a great team.

What kind of a role do you have in this film? i am playing a modern, independent and strong-headed girl, who is a journalist by profession.

We hear that you have signed two more Telugu movies.

well, i am in the process of discussing some projects but nothing has been finalised yet. i will announce them when the time is right.

What prompted you to accept films down south? the south indian film industry is vast. many actresses right from aishwarya rai to Deepika padukone started their careers with films down south. mine isn’t just any south indian film - it is a huge opportunity and a great learning experience for me. i didn’t even have to think twice before signing this film.

Before you walked into the movie, Kajal Aggarwal was apparently shown the door.

How do you find it going? i don’t have a clue about this! right now i’m just concentrating on this project and trying to give it my best. as far as future projects are concerned, i want to take up good projects and do good work as an actor.

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“I AM NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE” Without any background in films, and without even nurturing a dream to enter showbiz for that matter, the gorgeous Yami Gautam has been able to strike gold on her own. Radhika Rajamani speaks to the starry-eyed Punjabi kudi

Post the stupendous success of Vicky Donor the pretty lass is a recognisable face. But even before that, Yami had done films in Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam, besides television commercials.

Given her warm and friendly attitude, this interview turns into a lovely conversation lasting over an hour, touching on her entry into the industry, living on her own in Mumbai, doing television and then films in different languages.

Yami confesses that she didn’t nurture any ambitions of becoming an actress. Hailing from a family with no background in movies, she was a merit student preparing for the civil services. that she took up acting was a “pleasant surprise and a matter of destiny, ” she says. “i was a simple obedient girl, studying at university. i learnt French and dance. my friends spotted my talent for acting more than i did. when i was in class 9 or 10, my classmates would keep telling me that i would become an actress. they would even say that they would be invited to come on the famous television show, Jeena isi Ka naam Hai (a show where family and friends of an actor/singer would be invited, to walk down the memory lane and reconstruct the life and times of the star). i merely laughed it off then as i was this really reserved girl, who used to wear braces.”

Yami finds it difficult to put in words her entry into the world of glamour. she sent a

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look test shot by her dad in chandigarh for her first television show. “it was a casual, candid one. i had never faced the camera before that, nor done theatre. they liked it and i got the role in the serial raajkumar aaryyan.” that made Yami shift to mumbai and be on her own. even then she was choosy. “i knew what i wouldn’t do. i knew i didn’t want to be part of the saas-bahu sagas. one had good money and respect in television. i had a different experience. since i was playing a warrior princess, i learnt horse riding and how to drive a car in reverse gear. i was scared of a lot of things. But i got over those with the tV show. the serial got me recognised.”

Yami was then approached for commercials. “i wanted to do something different. i never walked the ramp – i had never been a model. so how does one do commercials? since i have been an actor, i realised my usp lay in performance. i am not just a pretty face. i

picked up those that had a good script.” Yami made her presence felt in commercials for brands like Fair and lovely, samsung and the like. “when you get a positive response, it feels nice!”

Her good looks quickly got her noticed by producers from south india. Yami had offers for a Kannada film ullasa utsaha opposite ganesh and later a telugu film nuvvila helmed by ravi Babu. “i had not even done commercials then. i was told that the film was a remake of a telugu film ullasanga utsahanga. i saw the film and liked it. it was a good project. i didn’t know the language, but i knew it would be a different thing on my resume.” on working with ganesh for her first film, she says, “since i was new, i didn’t have much knowledge besides knowing that ganesh was a star. i focussed on my work and tried to understand the industry and the people involved.” Yami acted in nuvvila after that. For both films she spent sleepless nights,

because performing in these languages was alien to her. “i had to learn, understand and speak and deliver. it is hard work which pays in the end.”

and were surprised to see each other on the sets. “the film was the best combination of entertainment and a social message. there were so many layers in the film.”

surely it did – for Yami’s fame and fortune catapulted with Vicky Donor which was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. she received accolades and some awards too. “i didn’t anticipate this success. i just knew it would be a good film. shoojit sircar’s (director) intentions were good and not to sensationalise. it was a good, clean film. i had confidence in him. once you are on board, you dive into the project and don’t think of the response. You just give it your best. it was a pleasant surprise when the film did well. even now, i see comments from people all over the world on social networking sites about the film.” she acted opposite ayushmann Khurrana who hails from chandigarh and is known to Yami.

Both of them were unaware of the casting

Yami also acted in a malayalam film, Hero, with superstar prithviraj. “all my south indian films have given me sleepless nights,” she laughs, referring to the language problems she encountered. “prithvi and i shot for the Kalyan silks advertisement. that must have led the producers to further the link. prithvi is an all-rounder. He is a good actor and is very driven and creative. i learnt a lot from his involvement in the whole process of filming.” Yami is now doing two bi-linguals in tamil and telugu. one is gauravam helmed by radhamohan opposite allu sirish, whose debut is being awaited with intense excitement; the other is courier Boy Kalyan/ tamil selvanum thaniyar anjalum produced by gautam menon and directed by newcomer prem sai. “Just after Vicky Donor, i got a

call and radhamohan narrated the script. i saw some of his earlier films like abhiyum naanum and mozhi. radhamohan is a brilliant director who combines commercial viability and sensibility. i love my role in this film. it is another good platform for me. i play a budding lawyer called Yamini. i have a lot of dialogues in tamil and telugu in the film. But thanks to my director, i was at ease and he was very supportive. the film is to do with honour killings, and has an important social message.” she underscores that gauravam is an important film for sirish. “He has done a really good job. sirish is sincere and talented. i loved his passion for work. that is a good element – one that will keep you in the industry for a long time. other things will come and go. sirish comes from a such a respected film family and wants to make it on his own.”

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are gods to me. whatever i am is totally because of them. they are the anchors in my life. i wouldn’t have been able to survive without my parents, brother and sister.” a nice happy stint in films is not a cakewalk. it comes with its own lows and tears. “my journey has just begun. it is not amusing to be judged every time. one has to get used to it.” with Vicky Donor, Yami is now a recognisable face in most parts of india. this newly acquired star status prevents her from going out and even having her favourite street food in mumbai. Down south, even in mysore, people recognised her when she was in a theatre watching a film. when she was travelling by economy class (as she had missed a previous flight and had to take another one with tickets available only in the economy class) a fellow lady passenger was horrified and asked her, “aren’t you Yami gautam? How can you travel in the economy class?” much to Yami’s surprise, the impression she had created by her star status was far from what she really is. Yami remains rooted in her middleclass upbringing and values. promptly, she asked the girl what was wrong with her travelling in the economy class. ”everything rests on your work. the rest just follows. You must know what kind of work you want to do. You should know why you are here. i also know when i want to leave. i know that there is a shelf life and i am aware that the timespan is limited. i value relationships so i want to be happily settled.”

“A FELLOW PASSENGER ASKED, “AREN’T YOU YAMI GAUTAM? HOW CAN YOU TRAVEL IN THE ECONOMY CLASS?”

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Yami is happy that things have worked out well with courier Boy Kalyan and she’s working in a gautam menon production. “i’m happy that the date problems were settled. i’m happy with the story. it is again something that has not been seen onscreen. it tackles another social cause as its theme.

Here, i play a girl from a khadi store. i’ve not played a salesgirl before. the look and theme of this film has not been touched thus far.” she has signed aman ki asha, a neeraj pandey production directed by e niwas, opposite ali Zafar. “the shoot will begin at the end of February in london. it is a different rom-com about a Hindu girl and a muslim boy.” there are two more projects in the pipeline, but Yami says that it is too early to make the announcement. she’s also trying to fit in dates for south indian films too. Yami admits that she has no theatre background. “i haven’t attended acting classes. How do i learn the craft? through my work! all of this is a learning ground for me.” Despite all the fame and success she is still rooted to reality and has her head firmly over her shoulders. “it is easy to get carried away or get frustrated or lost. one tends to experience

varied emotions when sharing a platform with legendary actors, i need to be calm and composed all at once. it is here that the family helps you a lot!” she says humbly. living away from the family and sticking it out, making a life and career for herself are no easy tasks. more so if you are a small town girl who shifted to a city like mumbai for work. Yami says, “i had a different picture of mumbai. i thought there were seaside flats, for instance. when i came here, i saw a very different picture. in chandigarh girls had to come back to their homes in winter when it gets dark by about 5 pm or so. in mumbai i saw girls travelling even after midnight!” the big city experience initially registered as a culture shock for Yami. “i lived with family friends and adjusted to my work schedule.” she candidly admits, “since i come from a middle class family i know the worth of money and values and that distinguishes us from the rest. How one behaves is always important, right?”

Her grounding comes from her family and her school friends. “i’m very lucky to have such wonderful parents. i talk to my mother at least 3-4 times in a day. my school friends are my best friends. i’m still the same person i was when i left chandigarh for mumbai. they tell me to keep believing in my work, to just keep doing my work. they taught me that being close to my soul is the most important thing and that being humble and honest pays.”

Yami is open to working in all languages. “my mom loves south indian films. i love pan-indian recognition.” How does she sign a film? “once i heard aamir Khan say in an interview that he went by his instincts. now, i relate to it and i believe in it. my instincts are what i rely on.”

Yami believes in going with the flow of life. “it really feels like i’ve come a long way. it feels great, actually. i started young. i see the pride in my parents’ eyes,” she winds up.

“SIRISH IS SINCERE AND TALENTED. I LOVED HIS PASSION FOR WORK”

talking of a value system, she credits her parents for being supportive and encouraging. with a tinge of pride, Yami says, “my parents

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“I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO BE STREET SMART” Samantha Ruth Prabhu has had a dream run in filmdom so far with a series of runaway hits. Riding a wave of success so early on in one’s career is the privilege of a few and the fortunate. Call it destiny, luck or God’s will, Samantha has not just made it in the big league of stars but has proved her mettle in acting too. Many in the field would aspire to have a career graph like hers at least for starters. Radhika Rajamani takes us through her heart-to-heart with the actress

“I APPEAL TO PEOPLE NOT TO FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS”

I WANT

As I enter the plush serviced apartment, Samantha herself opens the door and ushers me in with a smile. After exchanging pleasantries and asking if I would have something to drink, which I decline politely, we settle in for a long conversation. Samantha’s been around for less than three years but is one of the most wanted heroines in an industry where success and hits matter the most. Considered a ‘lucky charm’, there are people who are constantly queuing up for her dates. Fresh from yet another super hit Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (SVSC) Samantha is pleased and happy. “I was really nervous because with Mahesh Babu and Venkatesh, people expect an action entertainer. In SVSC they are characters and not stars. It was a risk for the producer to have made such a film. You need guts to put money in a family-based movie. Kudos to Dil Raju garu! He had the faith and confidence to bring in the change that is required now. I’m happy that the film did well.”

TO BE THE BEST THAT I CAN BE AS AN ACTOR the director is the main reason for her to sign any film in the sense of the script. after that come the producer and co-actors. “no one else could have made sVsc. the script is a reflection of srikkant addala, the person himself. He is an honest man. it was what was in his heart. i saw that in his narration and it was part of the film too.” sVsc is cruising smoothly at the box office, earning critical acclaim too. samantha reasons out, “one walks out with a smile after the film. there is lightness in your heart. people look 44

for materialistic things these days, but the film talks of values, family, relationships, and bonding deep down, and this has been accepted by audiences. it is doing well even overseas as it has reminded people there of their roots.” the past year has been a bit hectic for samantha as she shot for eega, neethane en ponvasantham and its telugu version Yeto Vellipoyindi manasu (YVm). “it is more than i could ask for. i had never been

part of a fantasy film. i didn’t even know how a fly would look in the film and i had to say romantic lines! it was a thoroughly different experience. i’m proud to be part of rajamouli’s film eega which is an amazing contribution to india cinema. it’s a landmark film. i’m happy to be part of path-breaking films like eega and sVsc.” samantha has put in a lot of effort and good roles have come her way. “i am destiny’s child, god’s favourite child. i have seized 45

I LOVE

MY WORK “I DESERVE TO BE A LITTLE EASY ON MYSELF”

opportunities with both hands as they came, and i made sure to work hard too.” she always signed the right project by going with her instincts. “my instincts play a big role. god has been very kind in helping me select good scripts. in 15 minutes, i take the decision. i listen to the script as a member of the audience. i think of how they will receive the film. i don’t think of what i would come across as – nothing about me matters! i don’t put faces to the characters. there were movies with bigger casts and remuneration, when eega came to me. i decided to do eega over them and went with my instinct. i knew rajamouli would create a masterpiece, so i let go of the others!” “in any industry one can say there’s a ladder and there are steps to success. in this industry success is overnight!” lady luck is riding with her in her journey so far. “it is a mix of hard work and luck. there are so many beautiful and talented people who have

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portrayed and learnt.” samantha has received accolades and appreciation for her work so far, but she modestly admits, “i never dwell on compliments. whenever there is criticism, i take it seriously!” needless to say, samantha’s views on success in an industry where fortunes change every Friday are grounded. “i always say that one is as good as their last film. every Friday, the number one changes. every high has its lows. i know it is all temporary. when i leave, i want to do so with my head held high. i am somewhat cut off from the highs. i stay away from the awards as i feel one can easily become a slave to fame, publicity and awards.”

not had the right opportunities. my getting ahead has to do with destiny and luck. i am fortunate.” samantha sees the change in herself as an actor since she first began. “i didn’t go to acting school. every day on the sets as part of the shoot is like going to acting school. there has been a huge change in my skills as well. gautham menon laid the foundation for me, towards shaping my on-screen persona and honing my abilities. with neethane en ponvasantham he said i had finally arrived. i thought it was a great compliment.” samantha analyses her own work with a sense of objectivity, and does not allow self-pride to cloud her assessment. “i am my biggest critic and i am pretty hard on myself. it is an annoying habit that i’ve had for as long as i can remember. it does help me get better though. i’ve done six films and at the end of each one, i felt satisfied. i felt i had evolved as there were different emotions i

it may be hard to believe, but it is true that samantha has a detached attitude to showbiz. she is not carried away by the arc lights and the paraphernalia that come with it. “i know when it is time to pack up and get away. i don’t want the industry to govern me.” that comes from a lot of introspection, a habit that is also a part of who she is. this grounded attitude stems from her middle class reality. “i’ve been ridiculously immature for many years. i have been forced to be street smart. i have seen reality. i have been working from a young age, so i know what it is to be detached enough.” samantha wants to be far away from the madding crowds. “this decision is conscious and well-thought out. i decided for myself after looking at past actors – compared with many, i have different goals.”

I HATE MY SELFCRITICAL ATTITUDE

so, then what’s the larger picture? “the family,” she responds quickly. “i love my job, love acting, exploring characters, making people laugh, cry and all of that. Doing this from 9 to 6 gives me a high. But, i don’t like the other aspects – like the events or the publicity but still i do it. see, my heart lies in acting. i love it in front of the camera,” she emphasises. “Just being able to pour out the emotions is lovely. it is cathartic at times. one feels fulfilled and satisfied. playing nithya in YVm was exhilarating and satisfying as one got to play so many emotions. acting is like therapy for me.” Yet, in spite of being around in the industry for almost three years, samantha says, “i still feel like an outsider. i don’t have too many friends work-wise.” while growing up, “everything”, she says, “was about money and success. once i got comfortable with money that was not the ultimate happiness. money is necessary to survive but it is not the most important thing in life. it is not stardom either, that is significant, but, the experience of it all.” we broach the subject of her illness which put her out of action for quite a while. “From being at the top, i was down and then i got back up again. Highs and lows are not permanent.

But i was disturbed and lost all hope. i realised then, how much one can do for their friends and family. even calling someone can make a difference. my mom was the one that was hit the worst. i was not religious. now there’s a certain amount of spirituality in me. it’s soothing to pray.” samantha’s next release is Jabardasth with siddharth helmed by nandini reddy (ala modalaindi fame). “nandini was not like a director. she has been more of a friend ever since we thought of working together. it has been a fun ride doing the film.” samantha is attempting comedy for the first time.

Jabardasth is a full-fledged comedy caper. “i never imagined siddharth would be like this! He’s so good at comedy! i used to laugh between shots as the script was funny, so funny that we had to do a lot of retakes. i

I WISH

I COULD FULFIL ALL THESE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD OF HOW MY LIFE SHOULD BE 47

I PRAISE “I PRAY FOR NOTHING TO CHANGE IN MY LIFE”

THE ABILITY TO POSSESS SELFLESS LOVE

have the greatest respect for comedians for their ability to make people laugh – it is the most difficult thing to do. i love people who make me laugh!” autonagar surya, directed by Devakatta, is another project slated to release this year. “it is an action film that is different from the run-of-the-mill.” samantha teams up with naga chaitanya after Ye maaya chesaave. “it will be a new look for chaitanya and not the usual romantic one. He has done a good job here.” Her cup seems to be overflowing at the moment as she tells me that she has two films with ntr Jr, one each with pawan Kalyan and chaitanya in telugu and a tamil film with suriya. moving on to her personal life, she confesses that she is in a relationship but doesn’t reveal the identity of the person. “i’m a normal 25-year-old girl. my life is an open book. i know what i am doing. i don’t deem it necessary to lie or hide that i am in a relationship. the name, though, is for my family and friends.”

“I FALL FOR A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOUR” 48

I RESIST

CHEESE (I LOVE IT)

samantha is also diong her bit for society. she is active in the pratyusha Foundation which cares for kids suffering from haemophilia and other incurable diseases. “treatment for haemophilia is expensive. i saw my mom suffer when i was ill. it gives me happiness to see children smiling, so i decided to work with pratyusha. the Foundation also conducted a cervical cancer vaccination camp. i feel i have a sense of responsibility to help. i have had a dream run. i can help somewhere. some things i can change. so even if the films stop, the social service will continue.”

For this studious girl, who excelled at academics and got into modelling as it fetched her pocket money, life is a fun ride right now. “i love everything about my life. i’m in my happiest phase right now!” signs off samantha happily.

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SIZE ZERO”

“I DON’T WANT TO BE A

Photographer: Harpreet Bachher, Styling: Nishka Lulla, Make Up: Chakravarthi Kadali, Hair : Sabnam Azmi, Wardrobe: Si Branche 50

Tamannaah Bhatia is easily one of the most beautiful actresses in showbiz today. Her bootylicious figure and innocent charm have entranced audiences across South India and have landed her no less than the status of Queen Bee. Posing for our cover during this photoshoot in Mumbai, gorgeous Tamu warms up to Shankaran Malini, in this candid chat

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With a mellifluous melange of beauty and talent, Tamannaah has chosen her films with tremendous care. Poised at the ready to hit the silver screen with a bang this year, Tamannaah is in one hell of a happy place!

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There’s a common notion that when an actor can’t make it in Bollywood, they head down south. Has this been the truth in your case too? Have South Indian films become a platform for stars to enter Bollywood?

and focussed entirely on what had to be done at each point, and then went about doing everything i could in my capacity to shine in my roles. i guess for me, the most important thing at the end of the day is that i had to enjoy what i was doing.

it is very easy to say that actors that don’t get accepted up north come down to the south to make a mark in the profession. i know for a fact that in my case, my first few films were actually ones that took place down south. i was studying in school then, and was part of the Fair and lovely ad campaign. the way i look at it, what i was doing was something i could have done anywhere – up north, down south, or anywhere in the planet for that matter. so truly, my ambition was not forced, it just happened!

You’ve been working from when you were really young – does it feel like it’s always been about work? Did you feel like a part of your younger days were taken away from you?

From that point to becoming the Queen Bee, the numero uno star – what has your journey been like?

Looking back at your repertoire of roles in South Indian cinema, what would you say was your best?

i haven’t really been able to gauge how things have changed and how drastically or gradually it all happened. i have just gone with the flow,

100% love was an important film for me. i had a lot of confidence while doing that role. it was very positive, and is definitely a role that

i have never really looked at my work as “work.” when i look back, i have to say that it was amazing that i had total clarity at an age when nothing serious really registers in one’s mind. i knew that i wanted to be an actress even when i was in school. when opportunities began flowing in, i was sure that i was exactly where i had to be.

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“I GOT MY SPELLING CHANGED RIGHT BEFORE HAPPY DAYS AND IT REALLY WORKED”

i am proud of. that said, i don’t think i would want to do a postmortem of roles that didn’t work. after all, it is the bad experiences that teach you what to do and what not to do in the future.

Do you have any regrets in your career? Any mistakes, perhaps? i have no regrets. none at all.

Tell us about your belief in numerology. Did the change work for you? i got my spelling changed right before Happy Days and it really worked. so yes, i do believe in numerology.

You’re also set to work with Ajith – how did that come about?

How religious and superstitious are you? Does this mean you don’t have faith in your abilities?

i have already worked with the director siva, on his earlier film siruthai. He approached me for this particular film with ajith, and the rest as they say, is history.

i believe in god. i also believe that only those things that are destined for you will happen. i worship god, and to me, that is a very intense and personal thing. it isn’t something that i can explain elaborately, because while i do believe in god, i don’t believe in a form for god.

Your roles often portray you as the spunky, jocular girl with an impish side. Is this a conscious selection of roles on your part?

Or have you been slotted into the niche? the films i have been part of are very commercial. commercial films are the kind that you cannot be very experimental about. i haven’t really done art films, have i?

From the entire list of co-stars you’ve worked with, tell us about your experiences working with Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Suriya and Karthi. ram charan is an absolute gentleman who is very grounded. i had an opportunity to do my best while working with him. what i

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appreciate most about him is that he has achieved so much in such a short span of time. He is effortlessly stylish and absolutely natural at the job. Bunny’s (allu arjun) perseverance has been very inspiring for me. You know, you can learn so much from just watching Bunny dance! He is fabulous. suriya has been very inspiring, too. He is the most down-to-earth person i have ever come across, and it goes without saying that he is an absolute gentleman. He actually tries to do something new each time, always betters himself with every performance and works really hard. Karthi is extremely hard working and very passionate about his profession.

Are you dating someone right now? no, i am single.

What’s happening right now on the work front? Where are you headed? i am working with naga chaitanya on a project in telugu, which is a remake of Vettai in tamil by lingusamy. i am also part of Himmatwala by sajid Khan with ajay Devgn. it will be out in march. i am looking forward to my film with ajith. i am doing a tamil film after a brief while.

Asin has hit the big time in Bollywood. Where do you see your future in Hindi films? i have to wait for Himmatwala to release, before deciding if i am Bollywood-bound or otherwise. Hindi cinema is a completely new arena – save for that, i am alright with working on any language. i

Photographer: Harpreet Bachher, Styling: Nishka Lulla, Make Up: Chakravarthi Kadali, Hair : Sabnam Azmi, Top: Bebe Jeggings, Footwear and Cuff: Stylist’s own 55

don’t plan too much into the future. i am just hoping that i do good work and enjoy myself in everything that i do. as for the film with tiger shroff, it did not materialise for whatever reason – but, it has been in the news for irrelevant reasons!

“100% LOVE WAS AN IMPORTANT FILM FOR ME”

We are in awe of your sensational figure. But Bollywood appears to like its leading ladies to be really slim. So if occasion demands, will you lose your curves and become a size zero for Bollywood? oh, thank you for the compliment! see, i don’t think the notion that heroines in Hindi films have to be stick-thin is true. But that said, i don’t think i would like to be size zero either.

Controversy did not spare you. What does your Black Book on handling controversy have in it, as your strategy?

Hmm, there is nothing you can do, is there? i have decided that i would rather spend my time and energy bettering what i am doing rather than on stuff i am not doing. makes sense, right?

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“YOU CAN LEARN SO MUCH FROM JUST WATCHING BUNNY DANCE!” 57