Bhatt camp signs on two newcomers

Two new girls have joined the Bhatt family and they are completely new to the glitz and glamour of Bollywood. Kangana Ranaut is presently doing Gangster directed by Anurag Basu and the other newcomer Onjalee Nair is acting in Pooja Bhatt directed Holiday. Although a novice in Bollywood, Kangana Ranaut seems to be avoiding the media glare. She doesn't seem to be showing any excitement at being given such a big break. Ranaut, a Delhiite, was into theatre earlier. It was on a holiday to Mumbai that she was spotted by director Anurag Basu at the J.W. Marriot hotel.

"I was having coffee with a friend when director Anurag Basu noticed me and sent a note across asking whether I was interested in doing films. I said yes. It was then that he spoke to me about Gangster. He narrated the role and I liked it," says Ranaut. She is not very open about her life and work in Delhi. "I was doing professional theatre," she says. About her role in Gangster, she adds, "I play the role of a simple girl who dreams about a beautiful life, husband, home and children. The film is about her journey in life and the men she meets. Emraan falls in love with her, while Shiny plays the role of a gangster who is also interested in her.

Onjalee Nair, a graduate in literature from Jai Hind College, had first auditioned for Pooja Bhatt's Paap but lost the role to Udita Goswami. Undeterred, the girl tried her luck again and managed to get a plum role in the forthcoming Holiday. "When I came to know that Pooja Bhatt is making a film again, I went to Goa for the audition. I didn't know anything about the role but she gave me the script and I liked it and was chosen for the role," says an excited Onjalee. Quite the opposite of Ranaut, this bubbly youngster seems to be eager and full of energy to talk about her role in the film.

"I play the underdog. I am this girl named Muskan who goes to Goa on a holiday with her parents. This trip changes her life and she blooms. I've also got a lot of dancing to do in the film." Onjalee Nair is a trained Kathak dancer. Was she chosen on the basis of her dancing skills?

"Yes, but the dance in the film is very different. Here we have included jazz and ballet and for this we were trained from April to October. We had to get the steps right." And what about Pooja Bhatt? "Being an actress she used to narrate very well but at times was a tough task master," says Onjalee who is also a trained Hindustani classical singer.