"Jay Bhanushali Is The Special Person In My Life"
Mahhi Vij is literally the blue-eyed beauty of the television industry. Today she is popular as the hideously ugly Nakusha in Laagi Tujhse Lagan, but brush your memory a little and you will recollect that Mahhi first created a stir when she featured in the popular and titillating music video, Tu, Tu Hain Wahi. Back then, this gorgeous girl, in her little pink number, captured the imagination of all the men in the country. Now years later, Mahhi has matured and is essaying a strong, author-backed role, something which is a distant dream for most of her female colleagues. In her first ever interview with Showtime, this bindaas babe not only talks about her work but finally reveals the mystery man in her life.
Mahhi started her modelling career at the young age of 16 and was seen in many advertisements and music videos. Originally from Delhi, the actress made Mumbai her base and within a month she was offered the Tu, Tu Hain Wahi video. After that she even dabbled in regional cinema, before she got her big break on television. When asked why she chose TV instead of films, Mahhi says, "Whenever I had to go down South to shoot, I used to miss my three puppies at home and get homesick. And though my mother travelled with me, I missed my family. So finally I decided to take up work, where at the end of the day I could return home. Initially, I was apprehensive and scared about working on television as people would tell me that you have to work for 18 hours a day. And I am a little lazy! I love to sleep. But then, I took up Shubh Kadam on Sahara One." Things after that just fell into place.
She bagged her most popular role to date on television by chance. "When the auditions for Nakusha's role started, I decided to just go for it. I asked my brother to accompany me as I felt I was looking pretty that particular day and was in a good mood." Being the main lead, the makers of the show had auditioned all over India. But once Mahhi gave the auditions, she was confident that she would get the role. "When I finished the look test and came out, I knew that this was my role as I had that intuition."
Still, like with most soaps, even her show has some very unrealistic situations and to begin with, I ask her how she plays a highly fictitious character like hers so convincingly. "But people find it realistic and are relating to my character. Koi kuch bhi bole, it is working for us. People are watching my show. For me, playing a character like this, at the start of my career, is a big thing. I am very blessed. It is also a phase where I am testing myself and my abilities. You know, to wear this make-up throughout the day is extremely difficult. But very soon you will get to see the real me," she promises.
If you have watched her show, you might find a resemblance between Nakusha and Jassi from the popular cult show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi. An ugly duckling transforming into a swan being the common point. When I mention this comparison, Mahhi gets a little irked and retorts, "I don't understand how you can compare me with Jassi. Jassi was not beautiful; she was modified and made to look beautiful. But my character doesn't need to do anything; she is already a very pretty-looking girl. You don't have to modify my looks to make me look good. And I have been wearing simple clothes, but Jassi, once she had a makeover, was wearing designer stuff. There is no comparison."
We tread on the topic of controversies as Mahhi has had plenty. There have been reports that she just cannot stand her co-star and the male lead of Laagi Tujhse Lagan, Mishal Raheja. Understandably, Mahhi starts giggling and denies the accusation. "Mishal and I have lunch, dinner, almost everything together. We irritate each other, cry and laugh together. We are really good friends. Maybe, someone is jealous of our chemistry and so is spreading such rumours. You see, we are rocking as a jodi." Does she think that it is just a publicity stunt on the part of the production house? "Such things don't increase TRPs! I believe in karma and so it's going to backfire on the person who is doing it," she says simply.
Mishal is not the only one said to have problems with Mahhi. Apparently, even her other colleagues can't see eye to eye with the actress and sources suggest that they are conniving to throw her out. When asked about this, Mahhi calmly replies, "I am a very quiet person. I like to talk but only with people whom I am comfortable with. Normally on the sets, I am busy with myself. I do talk to everyone, but only cordially. I don't go beyond that to spoil my relationships with anyone. Anyway, it's the channel's call to 'throw' me out. I don't think anyone else has the guts to do that. I have also heard this, but I think it is baseless.
Nobody has tried doing that and nobody will even try. If someone has a problem with me, I think they should just keep the problem to themselves. Only the channel and the production house have the authority to do so. The actors don't; I, for one, don't have the audacity to throw someone out." Doesn't she feel cornered by such kind of dirty politics? "When you are rising, a lot of people will try to pull you down. I believe I am rising. But all they get are my feet. And I just kick them," she smiles.
We get personal and I ask Mahhi about her relationships. She was rumoured to be dating actor Nikhil Chaddha, of Swarg fame. Though Nikhil had admitted their relationship, Mahhi surprises me when she says, "I was never dating Nikhil; he was always a friend. We were not even friends, I hardly knew him. I have always been open about my relationships. Nikhil Chaddha is nowhere in the picture." After a pause, she adds, "I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to give anyone that kind of importance." She was even linked with producer Vikas Seth. But she refutes that too. "I was never dating Vikas Seth. I don't know him and have never even met him. It was a rumour and I don't know where it came from."
Sensing the discomfort, I change the topic and talk about actor Jay Bhanushali, her latest link-up. To my surprise, Mahhi doesn't deny their relationship. "Jay Bhanushali is the special person in my life, and I feel very blessed to have him." I cajole her into talking a little more about her boyfriend and she says, "What do I say about him? He is an important part of my life and is someone I respect. We are not secretive about our
relationship; it's just that we don't want to talk about it in public and in the media. That's about it." Fair enough. The two are busy concentrating on their respective careers and would like to keep their relationship guarded.
We move back to work and I wonder after essaying such a strong role, what comes next for Mahhi. She says, "God has been really kind to me and so I am sure even after Nakusha, I'll get something better. This is just the start." Will she take up reality shows? "I feel on reality shows you get insulted. Anyway, I charge a lot of money, so let's see which reality show has that kind of budget."
Interestingly, Mahhi has been compared to the beautiful Aishwarya Rai by none other than the Bollywood diva herself. "I was hosting an award function, when I got to know that Aishwarya couldn't get her eyes off me. She thought she saw her youth in me. She said I looked exactly like her, when she had just started off. Even my three-year-old niece thinks I am the heroine of Raavan!" Well, who wouldn't want a career like Aishwarya Rai?
As the interview comes to an end, Mahhi reveals a little about herself. "I am a shopaholic and I love life and want to live it to the fullest. I love my dogs. I get highly emotional when I see someone without chappals and clothes. I also want to be a politician. And when I get married, I want to have lots of kids but I won't give up my career." For Mahhi, her confidence is everything. It won't be surprising if that takes her places.
*By Purvaja Sawant
Debate Mansion
