LAST WORD

Q. To begin from the beginning, could you tell me about your early days?
A. I was born in Wellington, Ooty, and after I finished my education my father, serving in Air Force, sent me to Goldsmiths College, University of London, for a course in direction. I was among the lucky seven to be selected for the course.

Q. Direction? That’s interesting. But you’re actually acting in a film. How come?
A. Director Shrey Shrivastava, known to me earlier, sent me to producer Mohammed Fasih. Obviously, he must have found my face photogenic, and offered me the role of a journalist who, with the help of a police officer (played by Dino Morea) solves the case of Namrata Shirodkar’s rape and subsequent murder in “Insaaf – The Justice”. I liked the role. So, I accepted it. I couldn’t have imagined to get a better role than this.

Q. So how is the lady who is supposed to be behind the camera finding it before the camera?
A. Everone feels that I am very camera-friendly. To tell you honestly, my training in direction is really helping me at this point.

MEET UDITA, YET ANOTHER ASPIRANT TO STARDOM

Mega-magnet called Bollywood has the amazing power of attracting youngsters, both girls and boys from every nook and corner of the country, youngsters who head for Bombay with stars in their eyes. One of the latest to arrive in tinseltown is Udita from Dehra Dun, a city at the feet of hill station Mussourie. She may or may not have won a title in a beauty competition, but as she enters the room we (myself and my colleague Mr. Gopinath) can see she has an enviable slim and trim figure, good height, a camera-friendly face and loads of charm. Obviously, these plus points must have enabled her to bag modelling assignments, among others, for Nokia, Samsung and Star Movies. And as one thing leads to another, one of her photographs in a magazine caught the eye of Pooja Bhatt who was looking for a

fresh face for “Paap”, her debut-making film as a director. Three meetings later, including one in Delhi,Udita was signed. To do “Paap”. Pun intended. She is right, therefore, when she says “films happened to me even before I reached Bombay.” Lucky girl, one must say.


“I DON’T APE ANYONE AND I’M GAME FOR ANY ROLE”
	Q. To begin from the beginning, could you tell me about your early days? A. I was born in Wellington, Ooty, and after I finished my education my father, serving in Air Force, sent me to Goldsmiths College, University of London, for a course in direction. I was among the lucky seven to be selected for the course. Q. Direction? That’s interesting. But you’re actually acting in a film. How come? A. Director Shrey Shrivastava, known to me earlier, sent me to producer Mohammed Fasih. Obviously, he must have found my face photogenic, and offered me the role of a journalist who, with the help of a police officer (played by Dino Morea) solves the case of Namrata Shirodkar’s rape and subsequent murder in “Insaaf – The Justice”. I liked the role. So, I accepted it. I couldn’t have imagined to get a better role than this. Q. So how is the lady who is supposed to be behind the camera finding it before the camera? A. Everone feels that I am very camera-friendly. To tell you honestly, my training in direction is really helping me at this point.


		Q. What is this “Insaaf….about”? A. As the name suggests, it’s a film about justice. I have an excellent role, and That’s why I have accepted it. I think it’s a heroine-oriented role. Q. Any particular heroine you have been or are impressed? A. I have been a great fan of Madhubala, but I don’t try to ape her. I am game for all sorts of roles

MEET UDITA, YET ANOTHER ASPIRANT TO STARDOM
Mega-magnet called Bollywood has the amazing power of attracting youngsters, both girls and boys from every nook and corner of the country, youngsters who head for Bombay with stars in their eyes. One of the latest to arrive in tinseltown is Udita from Dehra Dun, a city at the feet of hill station Mussourie. She may or may not have won a title in a beauty competition, but as she enters the room we (myself and my colleague Mr. Gopinath) can see she has an enviable slim and trim figure, good height, a camera-friendly face and loads of charm. Obviously, these plus points must have enabled her to bag modelling assignments, among others, for Nokia, Samsung and Star Movies. And as one thing leads to another, one of her photographs in a magazine caught the eye of Pooja Bhatt who was looking for a

			fresh face for “Paap”, her debut-making film as a director. Three meetings later, including one in Delhi,Udita was signed. To do “Paap”. Pun intended. She is right, therefore, when she says “films happened to me even before I reached Bombay.” Lucky girl, one must say. A photograph of Udita from “Paap” that I saw at the Reception before we were ushered into the room on the first floor somehow gave me the feeling that “Paap” may well be like “Jism”, the most recent hit from Pooja. Is “Paap” in the same genre as “Jism”? I wonder aloud. “No, it is not”, affirms Udita. If I remain half- convinced, that’s another matter. Doesn’t the title of the film sound negative? I ask. What is it all about? “It is about a father, a religious man at that, who tells his daughter to sacrifice this life for the more worthwhile next life. However, the young man who comes into her life before long tells her that what her father had told her was nonsense and she need not obey him.” Is there any restriction on you not to sign other films? “No, there is no restriction of that kind, but I must see to it that “Paap” is my first film to be released.” Since Udita has had no formal training in acting, and has not done theatre too, it may have been quite a job for Pooja to elicit the required high standard of acting. “Yes, she worked hard on me. She not only explained in detail the expressions she wanted, but also told me my step- by- step movement before the

camera. She would not leave me until she was thoroughly satisfied.” Now that you have started working as an actress, how are you going to ensure consistent improvement in your work? “I believe in improving while working. There is nothing like practical training.” What sort of roles do you prefer to do? “As of now, I have a preference for emotional roles but, who knows, tomorrow I may start liking doing comedy roles too.” Any offers of item numbers, a rage these days, so much so that some established heroines have agreed to do such numbers? As for Yana Gupta, she has decided to do a century in item numbers. “Yes, I have also come across Yana’s statement.But as far as I am concerned, no item numbers for me for the moment,” Udita concludes.