Genelia is ecstatic about going home after a 45-day schedule in Australia for the Telugu film ‘Orange’. But she is equally unhappy about bidding adieu to her “fabulous unit.” A day later, she tweets: “A part of me was really sad to leave my unit. Went through the strangest of feelings while I said my goodbyes…’’ Well, the young actor’s (she is 23) Melbourne experience has since been played out by the media, including her stance on the continent being safe for both Indian students and tourists. During her visit, she also met Bronwyn Pike, the education minister of the state of Victoria.
When we meet in her hotel room, she begins, ‘‘When we go for shootings abroad, we generally go to the most secluded places the hills and picturesque areas but ‘Orange’ is a city film and so we have been on the bridges, in trams, etc. The interaction with people was fun.’’Unofficially known as the current ‘endorsement’ queen – she is the face of more than nine major brands – D’ Souza is in high spirits even if the year didn’t start with a bang for her. Her two much-awaited films – ‘Chance Pe Dance’ (with Shahid Kapoor) and ‘Katha’ in Telugu didn’t create ripples at the box-office. She has been busy as a showstopper at the recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. She also has three major films lined up- David Dhawan’s ‘Hook Ya Crook’ with John Abraham, ‘It’s my Life’, a remake of her Telugu super hit ‘Bommarillu’, co-starring Harman Baweja, and ‘Uthama Puthiran’, yet another remake of her Telugu superhit ‘Ready’, with Dhanush.
Pan-Asian impact
In person, there is very little to distinguish D’Souza from the energetic Aditi Mahant (“except for the fact that I don’t abuse like her in real life,’’ she clarifies) in ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’. Like Aditi, she displays a level of maturity as the talk veers towards her life and career. She says she is the bridge between the North and South, having acted in Bollywood as well as the Telugu, Tamil and Kannada industries. “I am as much a part of Bollywood as I am of Tollywood. I am a part of Kannada films too. There is hardly any time to rest,’’ she begins. But she quickly adds that she loves this pace. ‘‘Sometimes, while shooting, I crib for an off and after two days I don’t know what to do. So I am back on my feet.’’ But becoming a popular actor in Bollywood is a lot of hard work, she insists. ‘‘We are up at 4 a.m. when the whole world is asleep.’’
From bridesmaid to star
Perhaps due to her choice of films or her slight frame, D’Souza is often perceived to be a tomboy. She admits that with such an image, it was initially tough to make an impact in Bollywood. Incidentally, much before she joined the “glamour industry’’, her priority was sports. This state-level athlete, sprinter and national level football player (school) adds that she “wasn’t even thinking about (films) as a career option as there was no one in my family even remotely connected to films. And it wasn’t really that I grew up loving films.’’ She was discovered at a wedding, where she was one of six bridesmaids. She was asked to show up at an agency with her portfolio the next day. As she didn’t have a portfolio, she took her birthday pictures along instead. The next thing she knew, she had bagged the Parker pen ad with Amitabh Bachchan.
The Khan factor
In films, what worked in her favour was her perky attitude. She struck gold with two Southern hits- Shankar’s ‘Boys’ in Tamil and the Telugu ‘Bommarillu’. In 2008, she made her Bollywood re-entry with ‘Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Na’ and she hasn’t looked back since.
‘‘Those without godfathers don’t get a second chance. I did. Because I’m God’s favourite child,’’ she chortles. ‘Bommarillu’ (2006) won her a Filmfare award and was later remade in Tamil, Kannada and now in Hindi, with D’Souza in the lead. ‘‘I’ll continue to do Southern films. It’s a huge market. Right now it’s great to know people in the South write roles keeping Genelia in mind,’’ she grins. What’s more- she reveals that Anupam Chopra, the Australia-based producer of ‘Orange’ who teaches filmmaking there, is making her character, Hasini Rao, in ‘Bommarillu’ one of his case studies. ‘‘I thought it was a huge compliment,’’ she says.
As for being part of the new crop of young and talented stars, D’Souza believes that there is no competition, just a lot of ‘‘positivity around.’’ ‘‘I have worked with Shahid (Kapoor), Imran (Khan), John (Abraham), Charan (Teja) and with pretty much all the young actors in Bollywood (except Ranbir Kapoor) and each one is unique in their own space. The one thing they all have is the drive. There is healthy competition. It’s not about ‘oh you are doing well, let me see how I can manipulate your career.’ It’s about trying to better oneself. I have had a great time with each one of them,’’ she insists.
Mention her big Bollywood break and she is all praise for Aamir Khan. She calls her experience in Khan’s production, ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’, a lesson for life. ‘‘You come out of it a confident actor. You are not treated as someone who doesn’t know her job because you are tested enough for it. I had four screen tests before I was selected and there were some 400 girls. So you go there as an actor who wants to do her job and that is something that Aamir instils in you.’’But how does she rate herself against the other young actresses in Bollywood? ‘‘Someone once told me, ‘you have this cute, bubbly tag.’ But I think I have the girl next-door tag,’’ says D’Souza. ‘‘One of my directors pointed out to me that one of my major advantages down south is that I find favour among both genders.’’
Up close and personal
Contrary to her public image, D’Souza admits to feeling lonely at times. ‘‘As much as I’m attached, I’m detached. I’m a very friendly kid but I choose my friends very carefully. I’m very closed. I can’t let people know what I feel. It takes me a lot of time to open up,’’ she admits.
She is traditional yet modern, makes her own decisions, yet is rarely seen on the sets without her mom. She loves Kenny Rogers, hates techno, and her two favourite actors are Dimple Kapadia and Neetu Singh. ‘‘I’m not someone who’ll go topless or backless. I have certain values. As Indian women we just can’t take our clothes off and be so blatant,’’ she insists.
Just when I begin digesting this, she adds that success has not gone to her head as her family keeps her grounded. She points out that she still takes her dogs for a walk in Mumbai and no one bothers her. ‘‘But I will be lying if I say I don’t get excited when someone recognises me. Even in Australia I was not spared,’’ she smiles.
A bit like her screen characters, D’Souza loves to talk and eat. She confides that the yumcha, or Chinese brunch experience, in Australia is now on her list of favourites. ‘‘I don’t believe in dieting because it makes you look rigid. It’s strange how we women like to look scrawny and thin when men actually like meat not bones. I binge on home-made food and my mom does not cook the heavy, oily stuff. As much as I enjoy chips, I have salmon and the steamed stuff a fair mix,’’ she admits.
With plans to start a blog soon, D’Souza admits that the other things on her to-do list include settling down and having a family. But not right now. She says she might as well work hard for it to happen someday. Her idea of Mr Right is someone who is also a good conversationalist. ‘‘There are good looking boys but when they open their mouth all my affection just flies out the window,’’ she pouts, adding that looks are secondary. ‘‘I am a control freak and I prefer someone on a similar basis.
I like someone who has a zest for life,’’ she explains, hotly denying all the gossip that she is currently in a relationship. ‘‘I am looking and searching,’’ is all she allows. Now, that won’t break any hearts.
Genelia D’Souza is all set for an eventful 2010 with Chance Pe Dance, It’s My Life and Hook Ya Crook lined up in quick succession. This is not all as her South career is continuing to flourish as well with at least a couple of movies in Tamil and Telugu in the wings. With a good enough success rate behind her in recent times with Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Naa turning out to be a super hit and Life Partner making money as well, Genelia has managed to sail smooth. On the eve of the film’s release, she gets talking to Joginder Tuteja about audience expectations from her post Jaane Tu…, the ‘chanced’ and the ‘dance’ element in Chance Pe Dance and the Jiah Khan controversy.
So Genelia, is Chance Pe Dance one film where you get to look good as well as emote to a reasonable extent?
(Says after a brief pause) I won’t say that there aren’t any serious moments in Chance Pe Dance. In fact there are times when you stop smiling for a while and reflect upon what’s happening in the lives of the protagonists. There is a definite story running in the background and though there is comedy for sure, it is situational rather than slapstick. There are some tender scenes which are heart-warming as you start relating to the characters played by Shahid and me.
In CPD there are times when you stop smiling for a while and reflect upon what’s happening
With ‘chance’ already making it’s presence felt, is it the ‘dance’ element that takes centre stage from here on?
(Laughs) Nahi nahi, the film is more about chance than dance. It’s this one chance that Shahid gets and he goes all out to ensure that he makes best use of it. Dance just remains as a peripheral element. If you remember his Ishq Vishk, you would recollect that there were all kinds of moments in the film, whether happy, emotional, comic or heart warming. It’s a similar combination with a different setup and storyline that we get to see here. Overall, Chance Pe Dance is a very ‘Ken film’.
Errr… a Ken film? Now what’s that?
I will explain. See, Ken is very good with his characters. An actor may be playing a second lead or a supporting role but still he/she would be remembered after the film is over. Say for example Shenaz (Treasurywala) in Ishq Vishk. Now she was really loved in spite of playing the character of someone due to whom Shahid moves away from Amrita (Rao). Still, no one really hated her in the film. Or for that matter Vishal who played the role of Mambo in the same film. I still remember him from the film. You know, when Ken narrates a scene to you, you enjoy it first hand and grasp it there and then. He creates those nice little sweet moments that remain etched in your heart.
Chance Pe Dance Needless to say, one can expect such ‘nice little sweet’ moments in Chance Pe Dance too?
Yes, you can. After all it brings back the oft told belief that behind every successful man is a woman (laughs). Just kidding. I do have a very significant role in the film even though Chance Pe Dance is rightly being projected to be the story of this lead character who is an aspiring actor and goes through various phases without getting much success during his struggle period. As his girlfriend, I am there with him in his lows and highs and share his moments of sorrow or euphoria. I am indeed the driving factor in his life.
While one looks forward to how much do audience see the two of you together, one fact which cannot be denied is that it’s a welcome relief to see a fresh new ‘jodi’ in the form of Shahid and Genelia.
Yeeeeaay, now that’s so encouraging. And to think of it, let aside shooting with him, I hadn’t even met Shahid before Chance Pe Dance. However, the moment promos of the film came on air first, there were hundreds of tweets that I got which stated how people were really enjoying our pairing. I guess there is this innocence factor which worked in our favour
Ken is very good with giving a likable depth to his characters
Well, on a different note, it wasn’t really an innocent outing last year when your Life Partner released. There were quite a few detractors who come out in open and commented on your act. Many believed that not just did you go over the top in your portrayal of a rich arrogant girl but also lost the reputation of a sweet and simple girl that you had gained from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa days.
Aah, now I take it all as a backhanded compliment (smiles) that’s because I was required to be that high headed, loud and a spoilt brat. I guess it was quite a thin rope to walk while never loosing that lovey-dovey side of my persona. This is why I take whatever criticism which came my way quite positively.
But since you were shrieking and throwing tantrums at every given juncture, many filmgoers complained that your character got on their nerves.
Which means mission accomplished! I had to make audiences feel miserable for Fardeen and empathise with him. If I got on their nerves then it means the character worked. That was always the intent. I had to stay true to the character and bring to life Sanjana who was just so unreasonable and knew nothing, whether it was art or house-hold affairs. This is why she continued to make all these false attempts at singing, painting, cooking etc.
Chance Pe Dance Coming back to Chance Pe Dance, the fact is that the film is clearly being sold as a Shahid Kapoor starrer. Given the fact that you had made a definite place for yourself after Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Naa where you had a role equal to that of Imran Khan, don’t you crave for more author backed characters? Are you willing to be a good looking arm candy?
Let’s be practical, one can’t expect every second movie to be Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Naa. What should be of utmost importance is that everyone remembers the character that I play. Just now you mentioned about my presence in Life Partner. Now that was a multi starrer with five principal protagonists, but still we are talking about Sanjana, right? I have to make a place in the film and give my best there. One can’t expect to reach the highest level in each of the outings though I hope and believe that one day, the benchmark set by Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Naa will also be crossed
Meanwhile, even as the film’s release is round the corner, what’s your take on the entire controversy around Jiah Khan being dropped and you being roped in instead?
Let’s not say that I replaced Jiah because that’s not the fact. Main nahi karti toh koyi aur yeh role karta. It wasn’t like after looking at me, the makers suddenly had a change in heart and asked Jiah to leave. In fact she was already out and the role was open for any other actor. The makers were hunting for a leading lady and they felt I suited the character. It’s as simple as that.
Let’s not say that I replaced Jiah because that’s not the fact. Main nahi karti toh koyi aur yeh role karta
Now that Chance Pe Dance is carrying positive vibes, you must be utterly confident about 2010 beginning on a hit note for you?
I am a firm believer in destiny. People come and tell me that Chance Pe Dance is looking good and it’s a definite hit in the offering. But really, I take it all with a pinch of salt. Of course while you are working in a film, you know the direction it is headed towards. Still, you can never be too sure. Success as well as failure are pre-written. If a film sails through then great but if it doesn’t then one cannot be blaming anyone. This is why when I sign a film; I pick a subject thinking if it will make me happy as an actor. I don’t work for hits of flops.
By Joginder Tuteja
Genelia will be interviewed by Koel Purie on her show titled On the Couch with Koel on Headlines Today this Saturday at 7PM. Koel Purie blogged that this was the first time she met Genelia in person and still they gelled as they were Chaddi Buddies.
Genelia talks on the show how she got noticed by a ad agency at her aunt’s wedding. Agency asked for her pictures and she send some pics of her cutting birthday cake and smiling at parties. And the agency asked for more professional pictures but she was unwilling to shell out Rs 25000 for a portfolio shoot as she was more interested in college and football.
Genelia claims to be a simple girl and refrains from donning the sexy avatar onscreen. She claims her life is always an open book and she never played a rebel or breaks the rules and brushed aside any linkups.
Says Genelia, “I’ve never had restrictions at home because I come from a Christian family and we socialise all the time and we have parties and blah blah blah…”. When asked that Christians are conservative about boys and romancing, she says, “…it’s not like I wasn’t allowed to get boys home and blah blah…”.
Watch the chat show on Headlines today on Saturday, 9 January 7PM IST and on Sunday, 10 January 1PM IST for the repeat telecast.
Genelia D’Souza would be beginning 2010 – all set to be an eventful year for her in Bollywood – with Chance Pe Dance and one assumes that since the film looks good enough to be hitting the bull’s eye, she has all the right reasons to be positive. More so because quite a few romcoms in recent times have been doing fairly well, especially with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Love Aaj Kal and her own Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Naa are the biggest examples to substantiate the claim. In such market scenario, it seems like the safest bet to follow the trend and Chance Pe Dance just about fits the bill.
“That’s right, but honestly I am still in the process of understanding the industry”, she says in a cautious tone, “This entire gap between my earlier stint and now has taught me a lot of things. Yes, my new innings in Bollywood has been good but I still don’t wish to be over confident and take success for granted.”
Ask her if before signing Chance Pe Dance she checked out Ken’s earlier efforts and she states in affirmation, “I loved Ishq Vishk and in fact I also liked Fida. Really, I don’t know why the film didn’t work at the box office. I still remember all the colours, dances as well as a good act by everyone in the film. May be it was destined that way.”
A firm believer in destiny, she is also quite cautious when it comes to the box office outcome of her own films. Even though she is (fortunately) yet to encounter a flop in Bollywood with last couple of years being extremely good for her. Her Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Naa was a super hit, Life Partner was an average earner while Mere Baap Pehle Aap too managed to be a coverage affair. Still, her good experience down South has taught her to be firmly placed on ground.
Perhaps she has wised up after her Life Partner experience where she had almost encountered failure before a miraculous escalation in collections helped the film eventually manage a face saving outing. When released alongside with Shahid Kapoor starrer Kaminey last year, this Abbas Mustan production seemed all set to fade away into oblivion before some decent word of mouth resulted in audiences trickling in.
Genelia D’Souza “I know, it was so scary”, comments Genelia in that characteristic animated tone of hers, “We opened to almost nothing while Kaminey was all over. It seemed like we had lost it all but thankfully the film picked up over the next few days. It ultimately turned out to be a safe venture for all, courtesy and all around patronage that the film got from family audiences.”
Meanwhile, she refuses to be drawn into the controversy surrounding Jiah Khan’s exit and her subsequent entry into Chance Pe Dance. Bollywood followers would remember that Jiah was asked to leave after a substantial portion of the film was already shot. Reason stated was ‘change in characterisation’.
“All I know is that the film was good, my role was good, I was getting a good setup to be a part of and there were no ugly confrontations involved. By no means was it a matter of taking over from somebody else”, is all that Genelia is willing to comment.
A UTV Motion Pictures production, Chance Pe Dance sees Genelia and Shahid pairing up for the first time on screen. The film is enjoying a solo release on 15th January.
With four unforgettable Telugu films like ‘Bommarillu’, ‘Dhee’, ‘Ready’ and ‘Sashirekha Parinayam’, not to say of Hindi’s super hit ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’, there is a heavy expectation in her new venture ‘Katha’. No doubt the producer and director are banking heavily on this golden leg actress who has now carved a niche for herself in Tollywood and also slowly but firmly making an impression in Bollywood. Amidst busy schedule she stole some time to share a few words with media and the excerpts are:
What’s this ‘Katha’ about?
Well, ‘Katha’ belongs to romantic thriller genre. My role in this film is pretty interesting that has scope to simulate emotion.
You are playing a school teacher right! How was this character designed?
Yeah! I play the school teacher but it does not just mean that I would be confined to the black-board. It’s a unique character where you find her being self-confident but at the same time exhibiting clearly the strengths and addressing her weaknesses.
View The Full Interview By Clicking HERE
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