Patcy N in Mumbai
Brazilian model Nathalia Kaur is creating ripples, thanks to her superhot song Dan Dan Cheeni in Ram Gopal Varma's upcoming film, Department.
The 21-year-old item girl has impressed the director enough to star in his next film as well -- Andam -- that also stars Rana Daggubati.
It wasn't easy for her to dance Bollywood-style, Nathalia admits, "but I had very good people around me -- (choreographer) Ganesh Acharya and the whole crew, and even the camera guy. Ram Gopal Varma is a very patient director. He is a nice person to work with. I never felt that I could not achieve it."
Department also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Rana Daggubati.
'Ram Gopal Varma offered me film in September last year
Nathalia started her career by doing some modelling, and then came an offer from RGV in September last year, and in between the Kingfisher calendar girl shoot.
She has also signed up for Kannada director Indrajith Lankesh's film Dev Son of Mudde Gowda, after auditioning for the role.
'If you don't give him the expression he wants, he will make you give 'n' number of takes'
Nathalia praises RGV for "knowing what he wants".
"He knows what he can get from you and the best part is he believes that I can achieve it, he believes in my potential. It is very comfortable to work with him because he doesn't doubt me and he trusts that I can do the song," she says.
He is a tough task master, though. "He is a very easygoing person to work, but at the same time, if you don't give him the expression he wants, he will make you give 'n' number of takes; even if you say 'I am dying' he won't stop till he gets the expression he wants."
'I have no connection with my father since I was three'
Nathalia's real name is Nathalia Pinheiro Felipe Martins. She changed it to Nathalia Kaur because "I have a very long name, and people cannot pronounce it."
She has a Brazilian mother and though born and brought up in Brazil, her father's family is from Punjab, hence the 'Kaur'.
But there was no connection with the Indian side of her heritage when she was growing up.
"I have no connection with my father since I was three. I don't even have his name. I don't like to talk about him. I don't know what he does and where he is."
Nathalia adores her mother. "My mother is a public servant. She works in the income tax department. I am the only child. My mother is alone in Brazil and I want to get her here to live with me. All our life it has been only me and her. My mother is very proud of me. She reads all my interviews; she watches all the interviews that Ram Gopal gives about me."
'I came here for the first time and then I never left'
Nathalia came to India a year ago. She has been modelling in Brazil since the age of 14. She is also a trained opera singer. She was studying law when her agent told her there are offers from India and she would have to visit the country to find out more.
"I came here for the first time and then I never left," she says happily.
'My next film will be Andam'
"My next film will be Andam, with Rana Daggubati. It is my first full-fledged role in Bollywood and my debut. It will be directed by Ram Gopal Varma. We start the shoot end of June," Nathalia informs.
'I did not have to struggle looking for accommodation and jobs'
She selects what she does herself and believes she has selected her roles and films well.
Settling in India was relatively easy because her agency set up everything. "Right from my apartment, to my car," she says. "I did not have to struggle looking for accommodation and jobs.
"It just so happens that I am in the right place at the right time. That's what happened with me and Ram Gopal Varma."
"It just so happens that I am in the right place at the right time. That's what happened with me and Ram Gopal Varma."
'Working in India is wonderful'
Working in India is wonderful," she says. "People here are so nice. They are always worried about you, and they stop to eat! I have never seen that in my entire life abroad. They are always offering you food and they are always worried about your well being. I love working here."
'I love Indian food'
She's become a convert to Indian food. "I love Indian food. I don't have continental food any more, I just eat Indian food," she says. "I have a cook who cooks lunch and dinner for me every day. I go out and eat pasta sometimes just for a different taste, otherwise it's rice, dal, chicken biryani..."
'I like the way people are so patient in Hyderabad'
Nathalia has travelled around the country and appreciates the different cultures.
"I've been to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Rajasthan, Kerala... Every place had its specialty, which makes it different. In Hyderabad, I like the way people are so patient, when I go to Bangalore I love the weather there, when I go to Rajasthan I love the view, it's a very beautiful place. Every place has its own charm," she says.
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