Kulraj Randhawa Fan Club ... - Page 6

Swarleen Kaur

"You look too old to play the role of a youngster" is the worst criticism a young actress can receive. But Kulraj Kaur, our own Chandigarh 'di kudi' and Kareena- Kareena Zee TV serial fame, didn't let this affect her morale. She boasts of a complement, which she received from one of her fans 'You are so natural on the screen that a viewer can relate with the character'.

Keeping faith in herself and performing at optimum level has helped her. In fact, a critic can help you improve and make you deliver the best, Kulraj said. She can talk for hours together. And her talk won't bore you.

Today, It was a homecoming of sorts for her. "I love Chandigarh. Though life here has not much pace, still I have many reasons to spend my time here. The best thing about it is that it is not polluted and has a peaceful ambience."

Bollywood would be the next destination and good scripts her priority. Her father wanted her to be a doctor but she was inclined to pursue a business management course, she said.

"Initially there used to be a lot of arguments between us. But slowly everything settled down when I participated in the Ms Bangalore contest without informing him. He saw me taking the prize on the stage. But now he feels proud of me and appreciates my talent", she said.

As she is from Army background, she has travelled a lot and didn't face difficulty in adapting to Mumbai culture. But yes, she had to struggle to make her mark on the screen.

It was her confidence and easy-going nature which helped her in touching the realms of life.

Film's real-life script impresses cast and crew

Chandigarh, August 28
The music release of Anurradha Prasad's Punjabi motion picture 'Mannat' (under the aegis of her film production house BAG Films) was a cheery affair with many promises made and fulfilled by the politician mentors in tow. With the film boasting of an integral role being played by Punjab Arts Council Chairman and Vice-President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Kewal Dhillon and the music being launched by Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla, the request for a tax exemption for the film was readily given on the dais. "The fact that a non-Punjabi (Anurradha and her politician husband Rajiv Shukla are from Uttar Pradesh) has worked towards understanding the ethos of Punjab and has made a film in Punjabi, is actually doing a service to Punjabiyat," declared Singla about Anurradha's maiden Punjabi venture.

As for the stars of this film, both Kulraj Randhawa (of television's 'Kareena Kareena' fame) and Jimmy Shergill provided the glamour for the evening.

This is Kulraj's debut into filmdom and she is thrilled to have got a chance to start her film career in her mother-tongue Punjabi. "The script and the role should matter and the language is really of no consequence. I am grateful that I was trusted to carry this role through on my shoulders." Even the dapper Jimmy Shergill, (a Sikh by birth) is clear about doing one Punjabi film every year as his contribution to the region he comes from. "Last year Manmohan Singh's 'Yaaran Naal Baharan' was my first foray into Punjabi films and this is the second.

As for next year, the script of the film has been almost finalised and I will announce it very soon," he declared.

Jimmy's career is on a roll. "It may be slow but it has been steady. I live the lifestyle I want to and do the films I wish to. I believe in destiny. If something better has to happen, it will."

He has been shooting steadily for the past one year and a half and at least half a dozen films of his are up for release which include the eagerly awaited 'Bas Ek Pal' starring Juhi Chawla, the Sanjay Dutt starrer 'Lage Raho Munnabhai', 'Eklavya' and Rak Kanwar's 'Rakeeb' amongst others.

As for the ideal part, "there is some youngster who is watching the kind of stuff I do and writing a role with me in mind, that is my dream-role," smiles Jimmy.

As for Kulraj, this debut helps her widen her vistas because, "television can get stagnating where you are required to play only one or two characters at a time, films afford a greater scope to play many different roles," she avers.

Indeed 'Mannat', based on a real-life incident, seems to have enthused the cast and the crew into being a part of it. Says Anurradha, "When director Gurbir S. Grewal narrated the story to me, I was moved to tears. I come from a hardcore news and current affairs background and have moved to entertainment from there, so I know what will click with people.

This is not a television story, it is a tale for cinema and it literally took me 10 minutes to make the decision to make this film." 'Mannat' is slated for an early October release.