DLD‰‰†‰KDLD‰‰†‰DLD‰‰†‰MDLD‰‰†‰C Jen’s French Esha Deol and THE TIMES OF INDIA connection Tusshar Kapoor: Sunday, April 13, 2003 upsets Ben Kucch Toh Hai! Page 7 Page 8 TO D AY S LUCKY Six dozen 872 89 Laloo ke bachhe A duck and a flea 823 OF INDIA 885 Staying alive THANK GOD IT’S SUNDAY MANOJ KESHARWANI It’s kiss & tell for Mallika! VINOD NAIR the form of a TV commercial for a car in Times News Network which she featured alongside Shah Rukh Khan. ‘‘I was noticed in the ad and received a t’s all kiss-met. Or so it seems. After all, call from director Govind Menon’s office for how else does one explain 17 smooching Khwaish. I tried my luck with 5,000 other girls Iscenes in one movie for a Bollywood debu- and went through a series of screen-tests. I tante? Well, if not kiss-met or kismet, it might was the chosen one! Was I thrilled? That’s an have something to do with Mallika Sherawat understatement!’’ Khwaish, in Mallika’s — known as Rima Lamba till she entered tin- words, is ‘‘a woman-oriented film’’ in which sel town —having lucky lips! she plays ‘‘a modern-day girl who lives life on ‘‘My maiden movie Khwaish is a romantic her own terms and knows where to draw the caper with plenty of depth and character and, line.’’ of course, plenty of steamy scenes,’’ says Having been interested in acting even Mallika, ‘‘As regards the when she was at school, the smooching scenes, I don’t see MAIDEN MOVIE first thing Mallika did after them as a big deal. And I don’t graduating from Miranda want to pretend that I didn’t enjoy doing those House was pack her bags and head for Mum- scenes. After all, we were given mouth-fresh- bai to pursue a career in showbiz. ‘‘I have nei- eners before each smooching scene! Besides, ther a filmi background nor a godfather. Not Himanshu Malik, my co-star in the film, is a surprisingly, it has been really tough out good-looking guy!’’ there.’’ But now that the difficult part is over, By the way,Rima adopted the screen name she is slowly,but surely,receiving her share of Mallika because ‘‘There are too many Rimas offers. And she’s being choosy too. ‘‘I don’t out there! Also, the name Mallika makes for want to be another shooting star.’’ Mean- better screen presence. Sherawat is my moth- while, Mallika is keeping her fingers crossed. er’s family surname.’’ It’s all kismet, remember? This pretty young lady’s first break came in [email protected] READY TO ROLL: Delhi Times unplugs the pulse of Mallika Sherawat as the aspiring actress, who is readying for the release of her first film Khwaish, shows what it takes to hit the bull’s-eye at the box-office (To send this photograph to a friend, log on to www.timescity.com/delhi/) Photos: SATISH JAISWAL BONEY KAPOOR: A RETAKE OF LIFE I ll never fall for an actor PRIYANKA DASGUPTA earth than the one in Mission Kashmir,’’ she We were victims of Partiti- casion, Anil played the role of Times News Network insists. What about rumours of being rescued on: My father Surinder Kapo- SUNDAY SPECIAL the young Shashi Kapoor and by Sunny Deol during a recent shooting sched- or grew up in Peshawar, whe- then, till two days after the reity Zinta sure knows what she doesn’t ule? ‘‘This incident occurred while we were Success is not a one-way re my grandfather was a trad- shoot was over, he refused to Pwant: a relationship with an actor. ‘‘I will shooting for Farz. We were shooting atop a er. Partition forced the family ticket which he booked at remove his make-up — such never get involved with an ac- peak and, since it was very co- to leave our home in Peshaw- destiny’s counter. The translation was his passion! But I never tor,’’asserts Preity,‘‘Among all PREITY CANDID ld, I was wearing boots. I hap- ar and move to Meerut, where of dreams into reality has cost wanted to become an actor, the senses, the most impor- pened to slip but, fortunately, I was born as Achal Kapoor this behind-the-scenes man probably because I prefer safe tant one is common sense. And my co- Sunny caught me in the nick of time and on November 11, 1953, as the options. But yes, I played Am- mmon sense tells me not to mix perso- pulled me up. My feet were just a little eldest among four children, years of struggle. Yes, destiny itabh Bachchan’s double in nal and professional relations. This is away from a sheer drop!’’ That, of course, with my siblings being Anil, has paid him back by changing The Great Gambler — but this not a statement — it is a principle for goes with Sunny being The Hero! Reena and Sanjay. his address from anonymity to is my only brush with acting. me: do not get involved with a person Far away from the world of lights, My father changed jobs 22 acclaim, but Boney Kapoor has I learnt film-making on the who you work with.’’ camera and action, Preity loves to times: A pucca socialist, my job: I am a good observer and While Preity has constantly unwind away from the grind. ‘‘I father was associated with made a name for himself by have learnt from experience. I denied being the other woman love Sunday! I just sleep, wa- Achyut Patwardhan and foug- taking in his stride the twists have worked with Shakti Sa- in Aamir Khan’s life and alle- tch movies and play with my ht for the rights of daily-wage and turns of life’s script. manta in The Great Gambler gations that she was respons- dogs Junior and Snowy.’’Well, labourers. Before my father DIVYA VASISHT traces the path and Anurodh and benefited fr- ible for breaking up the acto- the ‘Preity Woman’ might have was sent to Prithvi Raj Kapo- of a movie-maker who has risen om this experience. While lea- r’s marriage with Reena, such found puppy love, but she still hasn’t or, a dear friend of my grand- rning the ropes, I also became talk continues, nonetheless. And found her Mr Right. But when she does, father, he had changed jobs 22 through the ranks to find his familiar with the art of edit- Preity is not amused: ‘‘Let me say Mr Right, in all probability, won’t be times within the span of a own place under the sun ing — this has really helped that I am sick of rumours linking from the film industry. After all, year and a half. me over the years. me to Aamir Khan. Preity has made this very We stayed at Raj Kapoor’s outhouse: In Mumbai, my father worked as an as- Flops make me more determined: I have gone through my share of lows in Currently busy promot- clear: ‘ I have always kept sistant director to K Asif and we stayed at Raj Kapoor’s outhouse for a year,dur- life. Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja fared badly at the box-office. And then, Prem, ing her latest film The He- films out of my personal li- ing which time my mother Nirmal struck a rapport with Raj Kapoor’s wife Kr- through which I launched my brother Sanjay, also met a similar fate. More re- ro: The Love Story Of A fe. I will never marry anyb- ishna. Till date, they remain great friends. cently, Shakti and Khushi haven’t done too well. I realise that not each and every Spy, this film marks the sec- ody from the film industry.’’ My parents were very liberal: Mine was a wholesome upbringing — film can be a success like Mr India, Sirf Tum or Pukar. If anything, ond occasion when she has Coming from a person who is we were told what was right and what was wrong, but never failure makes me more determined. essayed the role of a Kashmiri known to speak dil se, that sp- told what to do. My parents were never hard taskmasters. Success only comes with struggle: I have gone through my girl. ‘‘But the character I portr- ells heartbreak for Bollywood. Our family might not have led a luxurious life, but we were share of struggle. And by ‘struggle’, I don’t mean pulling ay in The Hero is more down-to- [email protected] comfortable. For instance, although we didn’t have our hand-carts on the road; when one fights to achieve some- own vehicle, Raj Kapoor’s car was always at our disposal. thing, this makes for ‘struggle’. Ups and downs have al- I share a special bond with Anil: I am just a few years ways been a part of my life, but I have carried older than Anil and we have got along really well since on. I never inherited wealth from my father, pl- childhood. Once, while we were in primary school, I hit agued as he was by one financial crisis after Anil. When he said that he would never come back, I did- the other. But I have inherited his will to ma- n’t take his threat seriously because each time we had ke the best of what he had. Success has not our little fights, he would hide on the terrace or under landed in my lap — I have worked for it.