Ranjib Mazumder met the actor for an interview but was not quite prepared for the ‘surprises’ that were in store for him
Flashback to a typical hot and humid Wednesday, just before the rains have descended on Mumbai. I enter Yash Raj Studios to meet Ameesha Patel where she is meeting the press to chat about her film 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic'. The time slot given to me is 5 pm.
The insides of the studio are a relief from the scorching heat outside. Ameesha, in a pink short dress, is busy giving sound bytes to a news channel.
I start contemplating on the questions that I can ask her to make my interview different and more interesting. I have my questions ready — the break-up with Vikram Bhatt, Kanav Puri (reportedly the new man in her life) or the alleged too-close-for-comfort friendship with director Kunal Kohli.
Suddenly, a damp squib dampens my enthusiasm. At 5.15 pm, an expected warning comes my way. ‘No personal questions please’. I do a mental turnaround, wondering what else she can be asked at the moment. By then, she has finished mouthing the usual inanities and then flops down on a sofa. “I am hungry, give me popcorn and a sip of Coke please,” she pleads while her face gets some touch-up. I can hear her muttering under her breath,
“These irritating journalists”. “Who?” someone quizzes.
“Two scribes from a news channel. Despite being warned, they asked me about that stupid report on Kunal (Kohli).”
I am wondering if I will be transported to Timbaktoo if I do the same. I am still awaiting my turn while I am all ears to the quick Q and A, a music channel is doing with her.
What is your role all about?Oh you know, this time my role is really really different. This is something that I have never done before.
How were you convinced to play the role?When it’s Yash Raj and an amazing director like Kunal Kohli, they don’t have to convince me that much.
How was it working with Kunal Kohli?Oh! It was really a great experience. He is the kind of director who really knows what he exactly wants.
Your song Lazy Lamhein is playing everywhere...Oh yes! Everywhere it is playing, including my house and all my friend’s cars and homes. However, it was extremely difficult to shoot for the song underwater. I got cold
during shooting. But at the end, I am really happy with the way it has turned out.
How was it working with Rani and Saif?A: Oh! It was wonderful. Saif is fun to work with. And I have worked with Rani before in The Rising. So, it was a great experience.
(At this point I stopped thinking about making my interview different and interesting. The optimist that I am, I didn’t lose hope though).
My turn comes, and my photographer wants to shoot her in a corner with an eye-catching backdrop. He first does some warm up snaps and before he can ask her to relocate, she picks up her phone to answer an international call. When, after much goading and pleading, she refuses to budge, the photographer leaves the place, disappointed.
Finally, it’s time for a one-on-one. We sit down on the sofa. To break the ice, I ask her how was it was working in the movie even though I already know the answer. The statutory warning of not asking any personal questions still lingers in my mind. I speak about her career — that began with a bang and then went on a roller coaster downhill ride…. and I am stopped midway.
“I only want to talk about Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, nothing beyond that,” she asserts.
I again struggle with the aforesaid questions. I again try to deviate from the movie, and ask her why she has reportedly declined Billoo Barber.
“Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. Nothing else,” she repeats.
“Thank you very much, Ameesha,” I say in reply.
I walk out of the studio. The atmosphere outside — there’s this hint of the imminent monsoons — it seems so pleasant.
I guess the humidity does not have any starry airs in it.
