21 August 2007 THE HUFFING and panting rise of Rakhi Sawant from a routine item girl in long-forgotten movies like Chura Liya Hai Tumne and Mumbai Express to a bourgeoise icon, is indeed one of the most favourite rags-to-riches stories in Bollywood today.
Post her much-eyeballed presence in the reality show Bigg Boss, Rakhi suddenly catapulted to the status of a middle-class heroine who dared to grab her dreams with both her hands... and perhaps a little help from silicone implants. Excerpts from an interview with the bindaas babe.
What's happening in your life right now?
I'm not supposed to tell you. But I can't keep anything inside me. It's Nach Baliye Part 3. Every time I enter the sets, the other contestants say they want their money back and drop out. Everyone feels I'm going to win. Am I over confident or are the other girls insecure?
Maybe they grudge you your success...
Do they know how hard I work? I'm up at 8 and I work like mad till 10 at night. I'm rehearsing day and night for the next five days for Nach Baliye and look at my good fortune.
Do you know I've been signed by Rakesh Roshanji to do an item song in Krazy 4? I had tears in my eyes when he called. I wept in front of God wondering what kind of a miracle this is.
Did you ever dream of being mobbed like a big star?
I always knew there was something very special about me. Imagine a girl who fought with her parents, fought with everyone in her life, who struggled for eight years to get where she wanted and finally forced God to smile on her destiny
Your stardom is a freak case...
Lots of strugglers and aspirants get tired and give up the struggle. But I kept at it. I started by doing item songs and bit roles. Even if I earned Rs2,500 per day I could sustain myself. I chose to do small roles instead of sitting at home.
Today for the promotional campaign of your new film you get mobbed the most, above stalwarts like Om Puri and Anupam Kher. Do you feel vindicated?
I'm the darling of the media. I'm media-made. They felt I spoke my heart, that I was bindaas. The media shows both my good deeds and bad deeds. Somewhere they feel I've got my act right.
Today your popularity equals any of the big stars...
True. Earlier I didn't get any respect from within the industry. Now, it is done in a very grudging way.
So what if I didn't have a father or a godfather to support me? I'm a self-made girl. I wanted to be successful on my own terms, no matter how bindaas I had to be to achieve this. In this industry no one gives you roti for nothing. One has to earn it.
Are the heroines nice to you?
Some are reluctant to acknowledge my stardom. But some like Rani, Bipasha and Ayesha Takia have been kind. Shilpa Shetty loves me like anything.
She came to my set and sat there and watched me dance. She told me she was encouraged to go on Big Brother after watching me on Bigg Boss. But on the whole I'm not given the respect I deserve.
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