Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar Patcy N in Mumbai
Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine was launched with much fanfare with the director and the film's cast, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, at Cinemax theatre, Versova, a western suburb of Mumbai.
The trailer seemed interesting, and traced the life of Kareena's character Mahie Arora.
"It has been my dream since I was a child -- maybe since I was in my mother's stomach -- that main badi hokar heroine banugi (I will grow up and become a heroine), dancing in front of bathroom mirrors, running to the bathroom in school to look at myself, not really concentrating on my studies, playing my walkman and listening to Sridevi and Madhuri songs, just thinking that one day I will be a heroine," Kareena said with a grin at the journalists assembled.
"I think the journey has been fantastic. I don't think my journey would be ever completed without Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine."
The dialogues and screenplay, she said, attracted her to the film. "Three very important people, who have been part of this film and because of whom I believed in the script, are my dearest friend Niranjan Iyengar, who has written the wonderful dialogues and screenplay together with Madhur and Anuradha Tiwari. It is because of all of these guys that I came on board. I am so glad that this film was in my destiny."
Watch the video here.
Watch the video here.
'I don't identify with anything in the film'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Kareena made it clear that the film was a work of fiction. "It is a fictitious story. We are not portraying a real person in this film. It is a biopic but the story and screenplay is by Madhur, Niranjan and Anuradha. I don't identify with anything in the film as I haven't had any personal experiences. Mahie's character is bold, aggressive, and edgy but I don't know whether I am like that in real life."
Bhandarkar is known for making realistic films, so why did Kareena say the film was not realistic, he was asked.
"Arjun and Kareena play two superstars and the film is about the ups and down in their lives. I wouldn't say it is not inspired by Bollywood or Hollywood -- both the things are there. I have been inspired by many actors and actress, not just one. It is 70 per cent realistic and 30 per cent fiction," he explained.
In the film, Kareena takes the media to task. Does Madhur believe media persons are as he has portrayed them in the film? "I am the most media-friendly person. You have seen only the trailer, but you see the entire film and you will understand why she is saying those lines. In the film, Kareena's character is very edgy, eccentric, and she reacts to something because she is instigated."
'Heroine is the hottest film ever'
The film is about the rise and fall of an actress, something that happens frequently. So it was natural to ask Kareena if she fears a time will come when she will have to make way for the next generation and will not get film offers.
"I haven't even thought of that. I am sure there will be a time when this will happen but by then I will be happy and content. But I think I will be like Zohra Sehgal. I will be working till I am 90. So, tough luck, I am not giving my place to any one," she answered.
Asked if she would call Heroine her dirtiest film ever, Kareena naughtily handed the mike to UTV CEO Siddharth Roy Kapoor, who is rumoured to be seeing Vidya Balan, the heroine of The Dirty Picture.
Siddharth obliged by saying, "It's definitely the hottest film ever."
Siddharth was then asked if he thinks Heroine is better than The Dirty Picture. He passed the buck to Madhur.
"Dirty Picture is very good and Vidya's performance is very good," said Madhur diplomatically. "But that film is set in the 1980s and it is about the rise and fall of an 'item girl'. Our film is today's film. It is about the rise and fall of a superstar. They are two different stories."
Siddharth was pressed to say which of the two performances was better, and played it safe: "I think both performances are going to be acclaimed as being two of the best performances in the last few years. I think it's a great time for cinema."
'It is unfair to constantly compare Heroine and Dirty Picture'
Vidya Balan's role in Dirty Picture was so highly praised that was there an element of competition in Kareena accepting a similar role, stepping into the same shoes as it were?
The question seemed to upset Kareena. "I am not getting into anyone's shoes because I am comfortable in my own and nobody fits into my size," she shot back. "Heroine is completely different from Dirty Picture so it is unfair to constantly compare them.
"Dirty Picture is a biopic set in the 1980s; this is the story of a modern girl. I have taken this film because of the script not to compete with anyone, so stop making comparisons because it is senseless," she said a tad angrily.
Arjun Rampal, who has been part of the film since its inception, when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was first chosen to play opposite him, said he is glad the long journey has come to an end.
"I am so happy that UTV, Madhur and I, we believed in this project and we made it happen. I am proud of the way the film has shaped up. The way Ms Kapoor has performed is absolutely phenomenal. She is a wonderful actor."
'All films should do well, but Kapoors' films should do better than others'
Why act in a heroine-oriented film, he was asked. "In my career, I have done quite a few films that had heroine-oriented subjects. I guess it's because I love the fairer sex so much! This is my second film with Bebo. She is fantastic. When I heard the script I liked what I had to do in the film and most important, I liked the psyche that is captured in the film."
Any inhibitions about doing intimate scenes with Kareena? "Don't remind me of such moments," he laughed. "They were very wonderful moments. They will stay with me for the rest of my life. Every time I am in a bad mood I shut my eyes and I remember those moments and I have a big smile on my face," he said jokingly.
So, did he get any threatening calls from somebody, Arjun was asked, referring to Kareena's fiance Saif Ali Khan. "Saif and I are like band of bandits. We have respect for each other and he knows I am a gentleman," was the sporting reply.
Ranbir Kapoor's Barfi! is releasing just a week before cousin Kareena Kapoor's Heroine, so will there be a clash at the box office? "Kapoors will always rule. I hope Ranbir's film does well and I hope he thinks that my film does well too. All films should do well, but Kapoors' films should do better than others," Kareena replied.
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