Vivek Oberoi
In Kyun Ho Gaya Na you play a guy who doesn’t believe in love. What are your feelings on love?
I’m just an actor essaying a role. In another film I might play a hero who feels intensely about love or I might just be the anti-hero who hates the world. Love certainly is an important aspect of life but I guess you have to have loads of luck to find real love. I always envy my dad who’s found such a loving, caring wife.
How would you describe the film in a nutshell?
In a nutshell Kyun Ho Gaya Na is a romantic comedy. I have been both lucky and unlucky to have played intense roles in all my releases so far. I guess Kyun..., happened at the right time as I certainly needed to break the mould. To play a long innings in this field, you have to be versatile and with Kyun...I’ll prove my versatility.
Does comedy come to you easily or are you more comfortable doing serious roles?
I consider myself to be a director’s actor. In my first film, Company, Varma saab was able to extract the best out of me. With his collaboration I was able to get under the skin of Chandu and that intense, brooding look clicked. In Darna Mana Hai too, I had attempted comedy but it had darker shades. I played a ghost who had to respond poker-faced to Nana Patekar’s comments and only revealed my identity at the end of the segment. It was fantastic, to say the least. The present film too is more or less a situational comedy. I’ve not gone over the top. I guess the only film in which I’m doing out and out comedy right now is Masti.
After working with stalwarts like Varma and Mani Ratnam, did you find it hard to adjust to a first time director, Samir Karnik?
I was never apprehensive about Samir’s capabilities. He is a personal friend and I’m glad to be a part of his first project. He may have just started his career but believe me he will zoom into the big league soon. He was clear right from the beginning about what he wanted and it is important to have an unclouded vision. Then, don’t forget that apart from me and Aishwarya there is Amitabh Bachchan too in the film. I don’t think Boney uncle would have given Samir the helm if he found him incapable of directing Mr Bachchan.
How was it working with Amitabh Bachchan?
He is God. Unfortunately, a certain section of the press implied that I was rude to him on the sets. Let me clarify that it isn’t true at all. I called him up and we both had a good laugh over it. I have the utmost respect for him and it was a pleasure just watching him say his lines. He is a living, breathing institution who can teach so much to us youngsters.
Is your injury still bothering you?
No. Thank God for that. I must add that the accident I incurred while shooting for Yuva was quite a humbling experience. It taught me that you are a slave to destiny. You might think that you have it all, that you have the world at your feet and the next moment you can’ t walk properly. My parents stood by me all the time. They told me to fight the anxiety with my mind and not to encourage negative thoughts at all. The incident has made me mentally tougher. I have become more carefree and have learned to enjoy each moment as it comes.
You seem to be enjoying a dream run. After Ratnam, another industry magnate, Subhash Ghai has signed you for his magnum opus, Kisna.
I feel privileged that Subhashji selected me to play the title role in Kisna. I always dreamt about working with him and consider him as a revolutionary director. I hope this dream run continues.
Aishwarya Rai
It seems you have developed a habit of ‘rising’ out of controversies.
(Laughs) The media is to be blamed for that. Let me clarify that I walked out of The Rising because I felt that my role wasn’t important enough. It wasn’t central to the story. I received the final script of the film just three weeks before the muhurat of The Rising. And for me, it was too short a preparation period. They agreed to rework the script but never got around to doing it. They did come forward to re-negotiate the offer later but I’d heard that they were already talking to another heroine. When I asked them about it, they confirmed the rumour. After that it wasn’t possible for me to work with them.
What is the final score on the Bond front?
The final score is that I’m getting several interesting Hollywood offers but the Bond film isn’t one of them. If and when their offer comes, I’ll pick it up only if the role is meaty enough.
Do you feel that Bride And Prejudice will establish you as an international star?
I hope it does. To be frank, that isn’t my ultimate aim. I just want to work in films that will satisfy me as an actor. So, whether they are Indian or international projects isn’t an issue at all.
How was it working with Gurindher Chaddha?
It is great that I’m working with her because we sort of clicked from the start. She is a sensitive director and has brought out the best in me. Rituparno Ghosh’s Chokher Bali has been well received in Cannes.
Are you working with him again?
I have always been open to experiments.
I could have landed any Hindi film but deliberately chose to work in Iruvar as it was a challenging role. Likewise, I chose Chokher Bali because the role was intense and required strict discipline. Rituparno did a splendid job and I’m a part of his next film, Raincoat.
Have you recovered completely from your injury?
Apart from minor pains and aches, I have made a complete recovery. My therapist has successfully guided me back to my feet. Just after my discharge from the hospital, I was caught up in a whirlwind of shoots and my therapist was dead against that. He would call me up ten times and fume at me. Luckily, that phase lasted only one week and after that I was in his good books again. He made me go through a number of exercises and slowly increased their intensity. It was a lot of hard work but it paid off. Here I’m, fresh and new.
What made you try your hand at comedy?
It is not easy to make other people laugh though God has blessed me with a good sense of humour. I don’t have to make an effort to see the lighter side of things. As I had said earlier, I always try out different things. I don’t want to get labelled in a particular slot. I chose Samir’s film because it promised to be different and also because it gave me a chance to work alongside two wonderful actors, Amitabh Bachchan and Vivek Oberoi.
| Miscellany... |
| Vivek Oberoi and Aishwarya Rai comment on love, Saint Valentine’s Day and on each other |
On Love “Love is a beautiful feeling. If you are in love, it is there everyday, in everything that you do. Even if you watch a bad movie, you are not affected because you are watching it with the person you love.”
| | On Love “I don’t think one can generalise the definition of love. Everybody experiences it in a unique way. And there are so many kinds of love — you love your mom, your family, your friends...When it comes to romantic love, for me, it means finding a soulmate.” |
| On St Valentine’s Day “I don’t believe in Valentine’s Day. If you are in love, everyday is Valentine’s Day,” (Chorus) |
| On each other “
Aishwarya is discipline personified and she has a great sense of humour.”
“Vivek is fun to work with. He is a fantastic actor.”
On their relationship “We are just good friends” |
