KA Articles Archive - Page 38

We catch up with star parents as their kids gear up for their summer holidays. It turns out, they all have big plans for their little ones

It's hardly been a fortnight that Ronit Roy made a stunning entry as the rich NRI business man Aparijt Deb in the post leap Kasamh Se as Prachi Shah aka Bani's love interest and he is already making news! The effervescent actor is gorging on the screen space; and is seen overshadowing the boastful method actor Ram Kapoor.

We think Ronit carries the look and body language with a panache that is almost invisible to find on screen. In fact it reminded us of his entry as Mr. Bajaj in the now lost soap Kasautii Zindagi Kay. Recently in another scene with Bani's Daughter and Jai Walia, he over shadowed Ram Kapoor like a dark cloud over the moon; poor Naman Shaw appears like a prune in comparison to Ronit which almost broke our heart in sympathy.

The look is designed with a certain wicked aspect in mind and it seems to have worked perfectly well of the show. Its TRP's are on a rise however the applause is bring in a lot of unspoken bad blood to the stars of the show. Bani though doesn't need to worry about her role, the men have gone into extreme silence and latent insecurity regarding their roles. Pawan Shankar has been on a forced sabbatical regarding the same though under the pretext of his upcoming movies. However our sources confirms, "The unit bonds very well on the sets but don't let that fool you!"

In our opinion this is going to be one big hide and seek game It's a problem that won't surface for long as Ronit seems to be Ekta's new replacement and TRP back-up to Eijaz Khan barring Shabbir Aluwalia of course.

As the show gains pace, there will be more meat to offer… so stay glued!

The actress will soon move out of her maternal bungalow in Andheri to a sprawling duplex apartment in Juhu Scheme

Let's Move House: Amrita Singh with her kids Sara and Ibrahim

Amrita Singh is getting ready to move out Belscot, the Lokhandwala bungalow she shared for many years with former husband Saif Ali Khan.

Three months from now, she will be moving with her kids Sara and Ibrahim to Peninsula Towers at Juhu Scheme.

Amrita has bought two floors in the building and a duplex flat is being readied for the trio.

In order to buy the new property, Amrita liquidated some of her property in Delhi and Goa.

However, the Belscot bungalow will remain with her.

Contrary to popular belief, the bungalow does not belong to Saif but to her mother, Ruksana.

"My mother owned it, and Saif and I lived here after our marriage. After my mother's death, it passed on to me," she says.

In the house

Doing It Up: Designers Sandeep Khosla and Abu Jani

If it hadn't been for close friend and designer Sandeep Khosla's persuasion, Amrita wouldn't have shifted out.

"Sandeep kept saying I had lived in this bungalow for over 20 years and that it was time to get a new place.

He even came along to see the Juhu flat and suggested I buy two floors and convert it into a duplex. I bought the two storeys in Peninsula last year," she says.

Sandeep will now do the interiors of Amrita's duplex along with partner Abu Jani.

"They are geniuses at their work. I am blessed to have friends like them," she gushes.

Space concerns

Naya Ghar: Peninsula Towers in Juhu Scheme

The change of residence will not affect Sara and Ibrahim, adds the concerned mommy.

"They both go to Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Bandra-Kurla Complex, which is an hour's drive from Lokhandwala.

Once we move to Juhu, the distance will diminish and they'll save a lot of time travelling to and fro."

When asked if she is sad to move out of a place where she spent so many years, she says, "Not really. I am through with this house.

I have many non-filmi friends in Juhu and I am looking forward to my new home.

We'll have more space and that is going to be great."

As for what she wants to do with Belscot, she says, "Let's see. I think I'll give it out on rent. I don't plan to sell it off for a while at least."

In this month's release, Shoot Out At Lokhandwala, Amrita Singh plays a lower middle class Maharashtrian woman with an abusive tongue.

What's more, she plays mother to one of the gangsters in the film, played by Viveik Oberoi. Initially, she wasn't convinced about the part in director Apoorva Lakhia's film.

Over a hot cup of tea at her bungalow in Lokhand-wala, the actress lets on why she finally agreed to play the role.

How did Shoot Out at Lokhandwala happen?

Sanjay Gupta (the producer) sent me the script for one of the stories in Dus Kahaaniyan. Two days later, he called to say he'd prefer me to play Viveik Oberoi's mother in Shoot Out At Lokhandwala. I had no issues, because I believe an actor is determined by the age he/she portrays on screen.

Haven't I played a heroine opposite Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, who are my father's age? In fact, Bachchan and my father were in college together (pauses). Then came the hitch.

What was the hitch?

Gupta said he wanted me to play a rough, ambitious Maharashtrian 'aai' from a lower middle class family. I asked him, 'Do I look the part?' He replied, 'I see you in that.' I shot back, 'But I don't see myself in that role.'

Why couldn't you see yourself in that part?

I am used to Western clothes and high heels. I couldn't see myself in cotton sarees and rough hair. It was not just a deglamourised role, it was much more than that.

I had to speak with a Maharashtrian accent using a lot of crude language. I don't speak that way and I don't know Marathi.

And then?

The charmer, (director) Apoorva Lakhia, came home. He is an intelligent guy. He sold the story to me in a jiffy. I enjoyed working with Lakhia as he was crystal clear about everything.

He has treated the subject very well. He has brought out the interaction among all the characters and this was imperative in a multi-starrer.

Tell me about your role in Shootout.

My character is the motivating factor behind her son (Viveik as gangster Maya Dolas) going astray. If Maya Dolas became a criminal, it was because of his mother.

I even asked if she is alive and if I should go to see her, but they said, 'No. Stay out of that zone.' This mother hero-worships her son because he saved her from an abusive husband by killing him when he was only nine years old.

We heard you beat up some actor in the film?

Yeah! I have a scene where I beat up a machiwallah. It was not a cheat shot and I think I got into the character a little too much. I hurt his hands and face (smiles).

Lakhia called me up from the editing room and joked that he was grateful he wasn't in the machiwallah's place. All in all, I gelled very well with all the guys and I am very happy with the film.

You play an ambitious mother in Shoot Out. What kind of mother are you in real life?

I am not ambitious, for I wouldn't let my kids (Sara and Ibrahim) become terrorists when they grow up! (laughs)

What is your daily interaction with them like?

They leave for school by 7 am. If I've slept late after watching television till 2 am, which is often the case, I don't get up with them.

I have maids and they help get them ready, but my kids don't leave home before waking me up for few minutes to hear me saying, 'I love you.' I try to be home and have lunch with them when they return from school.

Then they go for tennis and swimming in the evening. Dinner is one meal that we always have together. I don't like to party and I usually am home in the evenings.

A little later, I read out stories to Ibrahim. Neither of my kids is into watching television much, so they are fast asleep by 9.30 pm.

Why don't you like to party?

I hate those same old questions that are thrown up at parties. And I don't drink. I'm an on-off drinker, actually.

I don't like the smell of alcohol and I shake a bit after consuming it. Why have something that doesn't agree with you?

How about doing TV after Kavyanjali?

I loved doing that show. Ekta Kapoor pampered me no end and I got away with a lot of things. She is a great boss, but I got tired doing TV. Now, I want to spend time with my kids.

Even with films, I don't prefer long outdoors and because of this I've lost out on a lot of work. But I don't need money now. Kavyanjali gave me a lot. I did that show because I wanted to keep myself busy since I was going through a tough period and was stressed out.

Are you in touch with Saif today?

We talk about things related to Sara and Ibrahim. If there is something urgent concerning the kids, we do talk.

Are Sara and Ibrahim in touch with Saif?

Yes. They go to him whenever they want. They go for all his trial shows and see his films before they have released.

I must say that he is a very good father. He loves them immensely. I will never interfere with that. It would be stupid to do that. It is imperative that kids have both parents in their lives.

Do you see Saif's films?

No. I don't see many films these days. I prefer watching English TV shows.

Do you think he is unlucky in love? Recently, he split with Rozza too.

He will be able to answer that better.

Is reconciliation possible between the two of you?

No.

Will you marry again?

Never. Why do I need a permanent man in my life now?

Will you fall in love again?

Yes, I will. I admire good things in life (smiles).

Slain gangster Maya Dolas's mother sues producer Sanjay Gupta for alleging that she encouraged her son to become a gangster, in his forthcoming film Shootout At Lokhandwala

Amrita Singh plays Viviek Oberoi's mother in Shootout At Lokhandwala