20 NRI PULSE ..... Bollywood Pulse ..... July 2010 Dumbstruck Sonu Films Dont Fail, Budgets Fail: Sonam Kapoor Niigaam Explains Sonam Kapoor has begun to understand the After debuting with Bhansali’s “Saawariya” (2007) She said: “I believe in quality and I believe if you don’t nuances of movie business rather well. After wit- and then doing another seasoned director Mehra’s saturate yourself you can’t be creative.” His Ponytail Look nessing the box office debacle of her two big- “Delhi-6”, Sonam had to convince herself to work with “I Hate Luv Storys” is a romance saga. It budget movies, Sonam has real- first-time director Punit Malhotra in “I revolves around two people who are completely Popular singer Sonu Niigaam is flabbergasted by ized it is wiser to do small bud- Hate Luv Storys”, which also stars opposite when it comes to finding true love. While the criticism he has received from his fans and the media get films like her forthcoming “I Imran Khan in the male lead. Imran’s character Jay doesn’t believe in love, for sporting two ponytails and an unkempt look. He Hate Luv Storys”. “When Punit came Simran, played by Sonam, swears says people should “I decided let’s go the other to me, I thought he is by it and is quite filmy when it rather concentrate on way. Quite a few seasoned di- such a good-looking guy, comes to love. his singing than his rectors offered me films. When he should be into acting, INTERVIEW Sonam has no qualms in ac- looks. you work with Sanjay Bhansali why he is directing. cepting that her actor father Anil “One day you (‘Saawariya’) and Rakeysh When I saw that he has Kapoor’s reputation in the industry has helped. all will know that Mehra (‘Delhi 6’), the audience written the script and dialogue all by “I have my dad’s experience behind me. I am his whatever I do with my expects so much from you. Both himself, I thought this guy has some- daughter not son; so there is not much comparison. hair, is to wake up the films were big budget films,” thing in him. When he was speaking People have too much respect for him and he holds a people from a slum- Sonam, 25, told IANS in an in- about the characters, he was very spe- good reputation. So people think that an apple can’t ber. You guys pay too terview. cific about what he wants,” she said. fall too far from the tree, and she may be good as her much attention to “I think films don’t fail, “I found that he has worked as father and I get work. I have no qualms in accepting swim suits, fashion, budgets fail. For example assistant director for 10 years. He that it’s all because of my dad,” said Sonam. hairstyles, exterior stuff, etc,” Niigaam posted on mi- ‘Saawariya’ broke even, but it knows the technical elements and he “My parents are very honest in showing cro-blogging site Twitter. The singer, who received nega- was neither a hit nor a flop. Had has his own point of view. I thought he me my shortfalls. They have always guided me tive comments after he was seen sporting a French it been made in say Rs.15 crore or less, it would is not a bad guy to work with. I also wanted to work on what to do and what not to do. They told me beard and two ponytails at an event in Mumbai Wednes- have been a hit. So I thought let me try doing with Imran and we both were his first choice.” not to get into the rat race because there you need day, has taken the help of the online platform to nag the films of lesser budget.” In three years Sonam has had just two releases. to do lots of manipulation..” media and those who commented on his looks. “I know, they (media) will never write good about me, even if I’m looking good. Would they? Have you seen any article praising my earlier hair- Shekhar Kapur’s Tips To Budding Actors Peacemaker Ranbir style? Nothing against media, I respect their and Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar actor is no less than that of a classical dancer,” he Ranbir Kapoor, who was seen as a scheming some of your (fans) opinions, but do you ever talk Kapur, who is often being asked added. politician in “Raajneeti”, brought Prakash Jha and about mediocre, or bad singing or music the way by aspiring actors what it takes to Shekhar, who has directed mov- Nana Patekar together after their public you highlight hair-dos?,” he posted. be a good actor, says that acting ies like “Bandit Queen”, “Elizabeth” fallout.Apparently Niigam, who has lent vocals to some of the requires discipline and years of in- and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” says Ranbir, didn’t relish the Bollywood’s best known songs like “Panchhi trospection. that today’s actors are driven by physi- uneasy silence between Nadiyaan”, “Tanhaayee” and title tracks of “It takes years of discipline cal appearance and believe in making the two veterans. He “Saathiya” and “Kal Ho Naa Ho”, apart from many to create mastery over your body rounds of the page three circuit. dialed Nana’s number others, says the media must write about better and voice. It takes years of intro- “You go to the Gym, get great from Kong Kong where aspects related to music. spection and hard work to learn pictures taken, discover your best he had gone with Jha for “Media and you (fans) must talk about aver- how to use the inherent emotions angles, and go to parties to network. a “Raajneeti” event. age singing, music doing the rounds and genuine in you, to be able to transfer them Get a six pack or a great body and go to When Nana an- talent sitting at home waiting for work. Underesti- seamlessly to your mind and emo- photographers that know how to ex- swered the phone, mating others and throwing your opinions on oth- tion and from there seamlessly to ploit those assets and then later photo Ranbir quickly handed it over to Jha. Confirming ers is the easiest thing one can do. For a change, your body and voice,” Shekhar shop them into perfection,” he wrote. that the cold war between him and Nana is over, Jha look at the more important things,” he added. wrote on his blog “Being attractive on the outside said: “We are once again connected. Nana is de- Niigaam says he is the only singer who dares shekharkapur.com. may be important, but the ‘art’ of acting is to be lighted by the success of ‘Raajneeti’ and is keeping to experiment with his look. “The discipline and ‘riyaz’ (practice) of an attractive on the ‘inside’,” he added. tabs on the film’s progress. ” I Was Destined To Be In Bollywood: Brazilian Bruna Abdulla Brazilian model Bruna Abdulla has been a jeans and sneakers,” said Bruna. the language. Everything sounded same to me. But I others. You know what, Avantika (Imran’s fian- VJ, done an item-number and also featured in a As the model hails from Brazil, her Hindi is can proudly say that I am learning and it is going to be cee) is a real sweetheart. She used to come and reality show. But destiny, she said, knocked only not so perfect, but much better in coming light up the sets. She is very lively. Thanks to when she got the big screen break in “I Hate Luv she taught herself by years,” she added. her, sets used to be real fun.” Storys”. watching Hindi So how was it shar- Don’t you think you were overshadowed “When I packed my bags for Mumbai, all I movies and listening ing space with Sonam by the lead stars in the movie. knew was that I wanted to be a model. Not even to Bollywood songs. Kapoor and Imran “Well, when I met Punit, he had made it in my faintest dreams had I dreamt about grab- “At the audi- Khan, who are in the clear that I have a very small role in the film, but bing a role in such a big project. I just don’t tion, Punit gave me lead roles. it is a very important character. So there is no know exactly how I am here, but I guess it was a script. He wanted “Well I knew question about disappointments,” she said. destined,” Bruna told IANS in a telephonic in- me to deliver the dia- Sonam ever since I “And to tell you frankly, I have learnt a lot terview from Mumbai. logues in Hindi. I re- landed in India. She is through this movie. How the camera works, what The 23-year-old started her career as a quested him to give my boyfriend’s best angle you should be taking. Movie making is a model and then hosted a show called “India’s me a day to rehearse, friend. So working with lot of hard work.” Hottest” for Channel V. She then featured in an so that I can give my her was fun. She was What next? item-song “Rehem Karen” in “Cash”, but an best shot. I under- very encouraging and “Right now I- am enjoying every moment unexpected call from Punit Malhotra, director stand the language, sweet,” said Bruna. of it. I am a very shy person and when I saw of “I Hate Luv Storys”, changed her life.