Prachi Desai and Rohni Chopra started their careers together in the popular television show, Kasamh Se. While Prachi went on to star in the hit Rock On!!, Roshni is waiting to test her luck in Vikram Bhatt's production Phir.
Directed by Girish Dhamija, Phir will co-star 1920 actor Rajneesh Duggal, and will go on the floors in October.
Roshni tells Rajul Hegde what to expect:
You celebrated India's Independence Day in the US. How was it?
I was invited as a chief guest [in the Independence Day celebrations] in New Jersey. It was a great honour for me to grace the occasion with 50,000 other Indians. I went to the US also for a Zee TV Carnival. That was in New York. I went there with my co-star Ram Kapoor, and we celebrated his birthday on September 2.
How did you bag the role in Phir?
I am really excited about the film. I never thought I would do a film. I had met Vikram Bhatt two years ago when he had come on my show Cinemascope on Zee music.
Recently on the final day of Chak de Bache, he called me and told me that he had a role for me. When I met him, he narrated the story and I liked it because it has many shades and scope. I did a photo session and everything was finalised.
What is the story about?
It's a thriller set in London. I play a NRI girl with Indian values. I am a chartered accountant by profession and married to Rajneesh Duggal, who plays a doctor. We will start shooting in October.
Your first film Lets Enjoy didn't do well.
Let's Enjoy was not a Hindi film; it was a small budget English film. It was my husband's experiment. It had a bunch of Delhi theatre kids. I did that film before even being a part of this industry. It was a festival film, not a commercial one.
So this will be your Bollywood debut?
I have done a cameo in Bhram opposite Dino Morea. I had two-three scenes. I did only for [director] Pawan Kaul. Yes, this film will be my Bollywood debut in a lead role.
How does it feel moving from the small screen to the big one?
There is not much difference in television and cinema today. The pace at which entertainment is moving is so fast that both the mediums are almost on par with each other.
Will you quit television for films?
I owe lot to television, it's special to me.
You are hosting Chak De Shehar Di Kudiyan Te Galli De Gunde.
I am having a blast with Raveena Tandon and Salim-Sulieman. Bipasha Basu had come as a guest judge for the first episode. There is so much energy in them. All the participants are electrifying and it's going to be lot of fun.
The first episode of Chak De Shehar Di Kudiyan Te Galli De Gunde was not appealing compared to the first season of Chak De Bache.
The success of the first season has encouraged us to go in for the second one. The format is different from the first one. Boys v/s girls is the USP of the show. Girls never win and I hope girls win this time.
In the picture: Roshni at the Bridal Asia 2004 exhibition in New Delhi in 2004.
