Kashmera Shah has written a song

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Vickrant

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Dazzler

Posted: 18 years ago

Kashmera Shah has written a song for My Bollywood Bride and also rapped on it.

By IndiaFM News Bureau, April 14, 2007 - 02:58 IST

After starting her career in a Shah Rukh Khan film (Yes Boss), and continuing it with films like Hera Pheri, Jungle and Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaye, Kashmera Shah almost gave in to inconsequential roles and item numbers in Bollywood. Post the television reality show Bigg Boss, Kashmera came back into public view. "I'm more popular. People come up to me now and say that they loved the fact that I'm so blunt and that they haven't seen that in a lot of people. Whoever stays in the house deserves to win", says Kashmera.

Kashmera is all set to be seen after a mini hiatus on the big screen in My Bollywood Bridestarring Jason Lewis, Sanjay Suri, Neha Dubey and Gulshan Grover. And this time she plays the female lead of the film. Despite winning accolades for her performance in Jungle, one did not see her in significant roles. "I got married after Jungle. I did not quit films. People thought that I was not interested. People here think that if you get married, you don't want to be a part of the film fraternity. Now that I'm getting divorced, people are getting the message that I am interested", says Kashmera explaining the Bollywood mentality.

People in Bollywood think that if you get married you don't want to be a part of the film fraternity. Now that I am getting divorced, people are getting the message that I am interested.

Her husband in question here is Brad Listermann who also happens to be the producer and writer of My Bollywood Bride. In fact the film derives a lot from their personal life. "The film is about the time I met my husband and our times together and the kind of hardships he had to go through from his point of view. It's not completely autobiographical, just the romance is real", says Kashmera.

The film which was completed about a year ago is finally going to see the light of day. But why the delay? "That is a question you have to ask the producers. As an actor I can't answer that", quips Kashmera despite being the co-producer of the film.

One would assume that the root cause for the delay of the film was Kashmera and Brad's failed marriage but director Rajeev Virani refuted. "I think there was some problem with distribution. The producers are independent film-makers and we don't have the backing of any studio. So that always takes time."

Talking about Rajeev Virani, Kashmera sounds quite dissatisfied with the director's capabilities. "I didn't find Rajeev good. I have worked with brilliant directors earlier and this guy was just all right. I don't think Rajeev is a romantic person and that was probably our biggest mistake. He couldn't pull off the romance in the film and My Bollywood Bride is essentially a love story"

Director Rajeev Virani doesn't bother to strike back on Kashmera. "I guess that's her opinion." Kashmera thinks Rajeev is not a great director. Does Rajeev think Kashmera is a good actress? "Yes, she is. In fact since she was the producer's wife and a co-producer of the film herself, she wanted only the best. Nobody wants to hurt themselves. A lot of things were on her shoulders as well", Rajeev surprises you with his reply without taking things personally.

But Kashmera adds, "Brad finished the film in the end. Rajeev was involved to an extent but he was interested in other things". And what are these other things? "Unfortunately you will have to ask Kashmera about that. I don't know what she means by other things."

Kashmera's costar in the film is an international top model Jason Lewis who is also a relatively known name on American television and featured in the tele-series 'Sex & The City'. "We were big fans of Sex & The City and we wanted someone who had the sensitivity that Brad has and also somebody who is extremely good-looking" explains Kashmera about the choice of the male lead in her film. "Jason was doing a few films at that time including The Jacket. We wanted someone saleable. And he had to be completely opposite of me. I'm dusky, he's fair. I have black eyes, he has brown. On-screen we had to look as if opposites attract. That's how he came into the picture"

Kashmera is not just restricted to being the actress and co-producer of My Bollywood Bride. "I have written a song for the film and also rapped on it. The song is called 'A New Freak in Bollywood'. A story is unfolding through the song which describes what happens when you fall in love with a film-star. There is another one called Dil Bola. Both these songs are realistic and very situational. There are four songs in the background as well which are picked up from popular Hindi movies like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and 1942 - A Love Story."

But strange is the irony of life that she plays the female lead in a film written-produced by her husband that derives inspiration from their real life romance. And post the film the couple is getting divorced. Does she regret about her divorce with Brad Listerman? "I don't regret being part of any film. I don't regret doing anything in my life. I can't stop people from following their dreams."