Interview with Karisma Kapoor

Share |

Free Dating Advice for Secure & Fun Dating

Dating can be fun. The best part about dating is that you have the perfect excuse to plan interesting outings.

Visit Dating Central

Karisma has changed

Karisma has changed. It is wonderful what one national award has done to her. Time was when she was the object of ridicule; an expendable, garishly made-up, bizarrely dressed prop in film after forgettable film. Post-Raja Hindustani and Yash Chopra's Dil To Pagal Hai (for which she bagged the National award for best actress), Karisma has gone on to become one of the most sought after actresses in Bollywood.

To be fair to her she was already a successful actress before the National award came her way. Films like Prem Qaidi, Raja Babu had established her oomph-value. She was and Govinda made a terrific on-screen pair. But nobody considered her an actress. So even as hits like Jeet, Judwaa, Raja Hindustani, Hero No. 1 rolled out, she was a galm-babe.

Dil To Pagal Hai changed all that. She delivered a wow performance in the film and combined with designer Manish Malhotra to reinvent herself. The result was magic. What has followed is hits like Haseena Maan Jayegi, Biwi No and Hum Saath Saath Hain. And Fiza has proved her as an actress of top class.

Here's an interview with the gawky duckling, who turned into a swan.

Khalid Mohammad's Fiza was a dream role, isn't it?

Yes. It was a dream role. I am so glad I was selected for that. My character is very restrained and understated. Yet, there's a lot of turmoil within her. She speaks through her eyes.

You also have the Khalid-written Zubeida, directed by Shyam Benegal?

Yup. I was pampered so much on the sets. They used to take care of all my needs there. It was a small set up but working there was great. Frankly, Zubeida has been the most enriching adventure of my existence. Shyamji is a fine teacher. Getting the role was a dream for me in the first place. He came to me and told me that he wanted to work with me. His set-up was entirely different from what I have been involved with earlier. Every single nuance was planned with meticulous detail. There was no chalta hai kind of an attitude there.

I didn't believe that the jewellery Rekhaji and I wore belonged to the Jaipur royal family, till I was briefed about it and that I was to take care of it. It was specially drafted in for the shoot. Shyamji is a perfectionist to the core. I was very nervous when I started work. He has worked with the best talent in India. But he is such a nice person. He made life so easy for me.

How's life post the National award?

People are taking me seriously. They look at me with a different attitude. It took a national award for them to change their view about me. It is good to know that both the classes and the masses like me.

How has that changed you?

Not much. Yes, I am confident. I feel better. I know that people will listen to me now. In fact Hrithik and others took my advice when we were shooting for Fiza.

Coming from the Kapoor clan, things must have been easy for you here?

That is what most people think but all of them are wrong. Things were harder for me because I came from the Kapoor khandaan. Expectations were sky-high since I was constantly compared to my great-grandfather, my grandfather, my uncles, my father, my mother, my aunts and the whole world. Imagine living up to all these. It was a nightmare. Only I know how I have survived. Thanks to my determination and my will power.

Did you, at any stage, want to give it all up?

Never. I enjoyed this place right from day one and I wanted to stay. I was prepared for everything and I did not let anything deter me from doing what I wanted to do.

What is your priority right now?

To see that my little sister Kareena, who has made her debut, gets settled here.

Were you nervous about your sister's film before its release?

You bet. We were all nervous. But that is because this was her first film.

What do you think about your sister's potential as an actress?

I am not saying this because she is my sister. She has the makings of a star. But I know for a fact, whatever the fate of Refugee, people will respect her for trying to do things differently. It is easy to wear mini-skirts and flaunt yourself in front of the camera. Every newcomer does that. It is the quickest way to get noticed. But it takes guts to do a film like Refugee. I think people should appreciate that.

Do you regret not having a dream debut like your sister?

No I do not regret it at all. It wasn't meant to be, and I do not want to change anything. Prem Qaidi was a success and it continues to hold a special place in my heart. My greatest satisfaction today is that I have made it on my own.

Is there any sibling rivalry between the two of you?

No. We are like friends. Comparisons between the two of us are bound to happen. I am sure Kareena is also prepared for that. But what goes in her favour is that she doesn't look like me at all. Her face, her body structure, her approach to films is different from mine. It helps when two sisters do not look similar.

Have you realised the films you turned down in the recent past like Mela, Sangharsh, Badshah, Hello Brother and Dillagi have all flopped?

Please, once I say no to a film I do not think about it. And why should I? I am not part of it any way. There are lots of people asking me whether I am having the last laugh or the first laugh. Let me tell you I am not so petty to laugh at other people's mistakes. That doesn't mean that all my films work. It is all part of the game.

Why did you turn down Hera Pheri?

When I heard the script I realised there was nothing in it for me. Today I look for something more substantial in my roles. I just don't want to be there for the heck of it. But I am happy for the people involved that the film is a hit.

What about Indra Kumar's Rishtaa and Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja? Why aren't you doing them?

You see, I wanted to do a solo heroine film with Induji. So he signed me for his next venture Aashiq. As for Lajja, no doubt the subject is very interesting. It is a heroine-oriented subject. And I was made to understand that the film revolved around Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor and myself. Then I came to know that it also starred Rekhaji, Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala, Mahima Choudhary and Namrata Shirodkar. I wondered where I fit in. I didn't want to be part of a crowd. So the wisest thing I could do was to opt out of the film.

You make a good pair with Salman Khan. What do you think went wrong with Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge?

When the film released everybody thought it was another Biwi No.1, which I think was not fair. Every movie should be judged on its own merit. And let me tell you that Dulhan had done the same business as Hera Pheri. But since there was no expectations from Hera Pheri, its been declared a hit. And since my film couldn't live up to the expectations, it is labeled average. Oh to live up to people's expectations is I feel the biggest nightmare one could have.eri (W) Mumbai 400 058