Posted:
Slow & Steady
Years ago I met this honey hued, brandy-eyed girl. She was gawky unpolished and did not in the least look like the star she would eventually become. I was ushered into the drawing room and for some reason (am sure I had one) I sat on the floor. Cross legged and comfortable. And this young girl was on the sofa.
Her mom barged in and barked at her in Bengali and the girl hastily scrambled to seat herself on the floor beside me. Meekly, obediently. At that time Rani Mukerji
had two B-grade films to her credit. Both quite unwatchable but a spark was ignited with these films, if not a star. Then Ghulam happened and of course Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Karan Johar reluctantly offered the role of Tina to this starlet after a dozen actresses including Tabu, Twinkle Khanna,
Raveena Tandon and Urmila Matondkar had turned him down.
Rani of course accepted in a heartbeat and a metamorphosis began. If Karan (Johar) and Manish (Malhotra) took her under their wings, she definitely took flight. After a bumpy start nevertheless.
I believe in slow starts. It gives you the fire in the belly and leaves you with few illusions about the world you want to dazzle. Rani since KKHH only went from strength to strength (Hum Tum, Chalte Chalte, Yuva and Black) to falter again in the middle and then to rise again with No One Killed Jessica.
If the holy grapevine is to be believed she is dating the elusive Aditya Chopra and is all set to become the queen of Yash Raj Films. After five odd years she is back on our cover. And after so many years I had a three hour gupshup session with her which I assure you was much more interesting than anything she will ever say on record. She is reclusive, radiant and radical. And she lives life strictly on her own terms.
Speaking of slow starts, we also have Sonam Kapoor in the issue. Hers was not a dream debut even though everyone thought it would be. But hey, slow starts are a good omen in this industry. And slow and steady sometimes does win the race. In her interview she is marvellously forthright about everything except her relationship status. Ah well…
This issue also has Imran Khan and Genelia D'Souza. Two more example of beginnings that were not all rosy. Imran may have the debut most star and non star kids would kill for but it didn't really take off after that. His acting chops came under severe censure. But
I believe the actor has a composure about him that will see him through any box office hiccups.
Ditto for Genelia. After a debut nobody really cared about that she migrated to the South where she is a bigger star than you and I can imagine. And if she is back here, ready to brave the odds again, it is because she knows that a bumpy road doesn't go on forever.
Speaking of migrating to the South reminds me of Madhavan (also in this issue) who became a Southie heartthrob with Mani Ratnam's Alaipayuthey. And then ventured into Hindi films with little luck as a lead actor. I am terribly happy
for him as he finally seems to have broken the jinx with Tanu Weds Manu. After a shaky start. See what I mean.
The road to stardom is often paved with potholes and lost opportunities. But whoever said this quest was for the fainthearted anyways?
Just look at our cover girl and you will see fortune actually favours those who step over those pesky potholes. Here's to stardom and shaky starts.
http://www.filmfare.com/articles/slow-steady-2224.html
4