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Hey folks! I found this chat transcript at Indiatimes.. its not very new but it was still very interesting 😃 Enjoy! (Btw hope this hasn't been posted before )
Transcript of LIVE CHAT with Gautam Rode, Model, at 14.30 Hrs on Wednesday,12 January, 2005 in Mumbai
Gautam Rode
Model
"In the film industry today packaging, presentation and publicity is more important than performance"
Monica > Hi Gautam, when is your birthday? Were you a model before? How did you get your first role (cinema or soap)? Which was your first serial?
Gautam Rode > It's 14th of August '77. Yes, I was always into commercials. My first campaign was the close-up ad. I auditioned for it when I came to Mumbai (before that I was in Delhi). And the only serial I did was called Apna Apna Style, which was my first.
Vipul > Hi, why you quit working in serials?
Gautam Rode > Because I wanted to join films. Once you are a known face in serials it is very difficult to get a main lead in a decent banner film.
Monica > Who do you think is the hottest female in the film industry? Who do you want to work with? Who is your dream model? Do you have any girlfriends?
Gautam Rode > Lara Dutta is hot. I am great fan of Aamir Khan, and I have already worked with him. I don't have a dream model. No girlfriends.
Jij > You are a Delhi guy and were modelling before you turned to acting. What sort of hiccups did you face in your career because (you) were an outsider?
Gautam Rode > I struggled a lot. I distributed my pictures in every production house for commercials. I have always believed in quality work, never believed in quantity. So whatever work I have done up till now in terms of commercials, films or music videos they are all quality (work).
Monica > Can you tell us about your family?
Gautam Rode > My father was a stock broker in Delhi. He retired in 1996. And my mom is a housewife. I have an older sister, who is married.
Mehak > How did you get the coke ad?
Gautam Rode > Director Ashutosh Gowarikerji took my audition. And I was the first guy to give the audition in his office. Aamir Khan was also present at that time. He (Gowariker) must have liked my performance so that's how I got the commercial.
Bijli > How was the experience working with Aamir Khan? Did he give you any tips on survival in Bollywood and on acting and films? Did you seek his advise?
Gautam Rode > Experience was great. I didn't discuss any tips on survival in Bollywood. I believe in giving the other person his space rather than asking him 101 things about Bollywood and acting. Aamir is a very quiet guy (by nature).
Vipul > Will you do a full Monty, if the script demands it?
Gautam Rode > I have rejected such roles, but don't know about future. It depends from banner to banner.
Gautam > I am just curious to know that when you take up a modelling assignment, what do you look for in it personally? Do you see that the ad gives you a scope to emote and act and not just be a typical model? Or is it just the money that comes with it that matters?
Gautam Rode > Commercials are good for survival. I see the scope to emote and act. Money does matter but if it's a bad product and (coming with) a lot of money, I will not do it.
Mariey > Have you accepted any ad assignment in the past because you didn't agree with it?
Gautam Rode > No, I don't recollect any such commercials.
Vipul > What kinds of roles you are looking forward to? Would you do "c" grades films also like Julie and Murder ?
Gautam Rode > Good neat character roles where there is scope to perform is what I want to take up. No, I will not do any 'c' grade films.
Bheja > How did you get your break in films? Didn't you do a film with Suneil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt once?
Gautam Rode > Yes, I did. It was called Anarth . I was in the lead in that film. I got my break (in films) through Suneil Shetty. I was with his company Popcorn Entertainment for eight months but there was no publicity of the film. I am surprised that someone still remembers that film.
Kali > What sort of films would you like to do?
Gautam Rode > To be honest, I am not from the industry. So, it's not in my hands to choose films at this point. But surely, I look for a good and a decent banner, not necessarily it should be established but there should be good people working in that banner. And if it's a good script and there is scope to perform I will surely pick it up.
Blandy > Despite having been in a Sunjay Dutt film, how come you were not noticed in a big way?
Gautam Rode > Because in today's industry packaging, presentation and publicity is very important, more than performance. I got positive reviews in Anarth but none of the three things that I have said before were there. That's the main reason I didn't get noticed and the film didn't do well.
Vipul > Who's your ideal?
Gautam Rode > Aamir Khan.
Vipul > Is the casting couch an initial stage of modelling?
Gautam Rode > Not in commercials, may be in fashion but can't really comment
because I am not into fashion (modelling).
Monica > Which is your favourite hang out where you want to be all alone?
Gautam Rode > Usually I hangout at a coffer joint at Versova (Mumbai) and if I am alone also I can go for coffee there because it's two minutes away from my place.
Beta > Did you come to Mumbai thinking of doing modelling as a stop gap arrangement? How long are you going to model?
Gautam Rode > I thought that I will model for six months and go and join my dad's business (this was the same year I finished my graduation). But by then my dad sold off his stock exchange ticket. He retired and as I didn't want to study further and couldn't do much with only graduation these days that's how I stayed back and continued modeling, along with doing serials and now I am in films. I will model till it keeps me going.
Monica > What kind of person are? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What do you look for in a lady? (Characteristics)?
Gautam Rode > I am both, shy as well as outgoing. I am an extrovert but I take time to open up if I am meeting the person for the first time. A nice clean heart is what I seek in a lady.
Jehan > Are you doing any more modelling assignments?
Gautam Rode > Modelling as of now is slow. But I just finished working in two films. One is U Bomsi N Me and the other one is WOW.
Monica > Who is your dream date?
Gautam Rode > Nicole Kidman.
Ramu > Why don't you try in TV serials? Don't you think it's less of struggle there? And of course pots of money to be made!!!
Gautam Rode > Yes, that's true but everyone has goals in life. My goal at this point of time is to do films and play different characters. No offence but in TV you are stuck with the same character for 4-5 years. Yet, no one knows about future.....
Sign Off Message > Thanks a lot for chatting with me. Love, Gautam.
Transcript of LIVE CHAT with Gautam Rode, Model, at 14.30 Hrs on Wednesday,12 January, 2005 in Mumbai
Gautam Rode
Model
"In the film industry today packaging, presentation and publicity is more important than performance"
Monica > Hi Gautam, when is your birthday? Were you a model before? How did you get your first role (cinema or soap)? Which was your first serial?
Gautam Rode > It's 14th of August '77. Yes, I was always into commercials. My first campaign was the close-up ad. I auditioned for it when I came to Mumbai (before that I was in Delhi). And the only serial I did was called Apna Apna Style, which was my first.
Vipul > Hi, why you quit working in serials?
Gautam Rode > Because I wanted to join films. Once you are a known face in serials it is very difficult to get a main lead in a decent banner film.
Monica > Who do you think is the hottest female in the film industry? Who do you want to work with? Who is your dream model? Do you have any girlfriends?
Gautam Rode > Lara Dutta is hot. I am great fan of Aamir Khan, and I have already worked with him. I don't have a dream model. No girlfriends.
Jij > You are a Delhi guy and were modelling before you turned to acting. What sort of hiccups did you face in your career because (you) were an outsider?
Gautam Rode > I struggled a lot. I distributed my pictures in every production house for commercials. I have always believed in quality work, never believed in quantity. So whatever work I have done up till now in terms of commercials, films or music videos they are all quality (work).
Monica > Can you tell us about your family?
Gautam Rode > My father was a stock broker in Delhi. He retired in 1996. And my mom is a housewife. I have an older sister, who is married.
Mehak > How did you get the coke ad?
Gautam Rode > Director Ashutosh Gowarikerji took my audition. And I was the first guy to give the audition in his office. Aamir Khan was also present at that time. He (Gowariker) must have liked my performance so that's how I got the commercial.
Bijli > How was the experience working with Aamir Khan? Did he give you any tips on survival in Bollywood and on acting and films? Did you seek his advise?
Gautam Rode > Experience was great. I didn't discuss any tips on survival in Bollywood. I believe in giving the other person his space rather than asking him 101 things about Bollywood and acting. Aamir is a very quiet guy (by nature).
Vipul > Will you do a full Monty, if the script demands it?
Gautam Rode > I have rejected such roles, but don't know about future. It depends from banner to banner.
Gautam > I am just curious to know that when you take up a modelling assignment, what do you look for in it personally? Do you see that the ad gives you a scope to emote and act and not just be a typical model? Or is it just the money that comes with it that matters?
Gautam Rode > Commercials are good for survival. I see the scope to emote and act. Money does matter but if it's a bad product and (coming with) a lot of money, I will not do it.
Mariey > Have you accepted any ad assignment in the past because you didn't agree with it?
Gautam Rode > No, I don't recollect any such commercials.
Vipul > What kinds of roles you are looking forward to? Would you do "c" grades films also like Julie and Murder ?
Gautam Rode > Good neat character roles where there is scope to perform is what I want to take up. No, I will not do any 'c' grade films.
Bheja > How did you get your break in films? Didn't you do a film with Suneil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt once?
Gautam Rode > Yes, I did. It was called Anarth . I was in the lead in that film. I got my break (in films) through Suneil Shetty. I was with his company Popcorn Entertainment for eight months but there was no publicity of the film. I am surprised that someone still remembers that film.
Kali > What sort of films would you like to do?
Gautam Rode > To be honest, I am not from the industry. So, it's not in my hands to choose films at this point. But surely, I look for a good and a decent banner, not necessarily it should be established but there should be good people working in that banner. And if it's a good script and there is scope to perform I will surely pick it up.
Blandy > Despite having been in a Sunjay Dutt film, how come you were not noticed in a big way?
Gautam Rode > Because in today's industry packaging, presentation and publicity is very important, more than performance. I got positive reviews in Anarth but none of the three things that I have said before were there. That's the main reason I didn't get noticed and the film didn't do well.
Vipul > Who's your ideal?
Gautam Rode > Aamir Khan.
Vipul > Is the casting couch an initial stage of modelling?
Gautam Rode > Not in commercials, may be in fashion but can't really comment
because I am not into fashion (modelling).
Monica > Which is your favourite hang out where you want to be all alone?
Gautam Rode > Usually I hangout at a coffer joint at Versova (Mumbai) and if I am alone also I can go for coffee there because it's two minutes away from my place.
Beta > Did you come to Mumbai thinking of doing modelling as a stop gap arrangement? How long are you going to model?
Gautam Rode > I thought that I will model for six months and go and join my dad's business (this was the same year I finished my graduation). But by then my dad sold off his stock exchange ticket. He retired and as I didn't want to study further and couldn't do much with only graduation these days that's how I stayed back and continued modeling, along with doing serials and now I am in films. I will model till it keeps me going.
Monica > What kind of person are? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What do you look for in a lady? (Characteristics)?
Gautam Rode > I am both, shy as well as outgoing. I am an extrovert but I take time to open up if I am meeting the person for the first time. A nice clean heart is what I seek in a lady.
Jehan > Are you doing any more modelling assignments?
Gautam Rode > Modelling as of now is slow. But I just finished working in two films. One is U Bomsi N Me and the other one is WOW.
Monica > Who is your dream date?
Gautam Rode > Nicole Kidman.
Ramu > Why don't you try in TV serials? Don't you think it's less of struggle there? And of course pots of money to be made!!!
Gautam Rode > Yes, that's true but everyone has goals in life. My goal at this point of time is to do films and play different characters. No offence but in TV you are stuck with the same character for 4-5 years. Yet, no one knows about future.....
Sign Off Message > Thanks a lot for chatting with me. Love, Gautam.
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