I am a natural actor: Himesh Reshammiya

Excerpts from an Interview:

You seem to be worried that your film Aap Kaa Surroor is clashing with two other releases Awarapan and Apne.

Three releases on a single day means that the audience will get divided. But I have a lot of faith in destiny and feel that somehow things will work out in my favour. I have achieved so much and God has always been there with me. I have learnt from my dad (Vipin Reshammiya) to not only pray for your success but also wish good for others.

Looking at the promos of the film, one gets a feeling that it will be a long music video.

(Cuts in) Initially, people may have perceived it to be something like a music video because we were airing only the songs. That was a part of our strategy. We had devised a two-and-a-half month campaign, of which the first month was to be dedicated to song promos. A Himesh Reshammiya film has to have popular music and it's heartening that all the five songs have become superhits. However, since the last one month, we have been airing dialogue promos and action sequences that dispells any notions of it being a music video.

So, what can we expect from the film apart from the rocking score?

It's a fast paced entertaining thriller with a love story as its backdrop. I play HR, a rockstar who goes to Germany for a concert tour and falls in love with Riia. But before he can profess his love, he finds himself trapped in a sting operation. He is charged with murder and the FBI is hot on his heels. He has to prove himself innocent to win over Riia's love. Mallika Sherawat brings in the negative angle. There are some elements of mystery too. What I promise is a two- hour hardcore masala film with lots of action, love and drama. And no, it is not autobiographical at all.

We have been seeing the action with rickshawallahs. How did you conceive the idea of incorporating the three-tiered vehicle?

It was Prashant's (director) idea to shoot with the rickshaws. They are used in a pre-climax scene where the rickshawallahs come to save me. These rickshaw drivers have helped immensely in popularising my songs. When I used tabla-dholak in my compositions 'Tere naam...' and 'Odhli chunariya...', the rickshaw drivers played it in their autos. Later, I changed my style from Indian rhythm to Sufi-rock and churned out 'Jhalak dikhla jaa...' and 'Zara jhoom jhoom...' which were popularised not only by the Club DJs but also by the rickshawallahs. This is my way of paying a tribute to them.

This entire look with a cap and beard was styled by Rupa Chadha for my first video. Since then I have been sporting it. There's a ten- minute portion in the film where I have shot without the cap. Besides the cap which has become an enigma, some others oft-asked questions like why I never smile, about the intensity in my eyes and why all the girls leave me in my videos have been smartly answered in the film. Initially, we had shot two endings for the film, one where the girl, as usual, leaves me and one wherein we unite. After a lot of speculation, Prashant has retained one ending which will be revealed on June 29.

You have got an animated version of yourself...

Yes, that too was Prashant's conception. That's a comic character and the kids will love this HR2. In fact, there are 2-3 sequences in the film including a BMW and chopper chase that will appeal to young ones.

In the last one year, you seem to be courting controversies...

I honestly don't know how the controversy with Sonu Nigam started. All I can say is that I rate him as the best singer in the country today. With Asha Bhosle, it was a case of a misunderstanding. I had said that RD Burman used to sing in a nasal voice which upset her. She retorted that she wanted to slap me. I felt that I had done a grave injustice and I apologised to her. She forgave me and sang 'Mehbooba...' with me in Aap Kaa Surroor. That's my tribute to RD Burman.

Why are you always being dogged by controversies? Do you think it springs from jealousy?

I have changed four professions, so the rivalry is four times more. I started my career as a TV serial producer, turned composer, became a singer and now I am making my debut as an actor. I am also doing shows, so I guess people are feeling I am encroaching on their territories. However, I would like to clarify that 99 per cent of industry has been very supportive. Only one per cent has been against me which I will win over with my film.

You are the butt of jokes for your nasal voice...

I think that is the root of all the controversies. For one year, I tried to defend the nasal voice, justifying that when a singer sings in high pitch, suron ki shrutiyaan nasal ho jaati hai, but that went against me. So, now my line is "Yes, I am a nasal singer."

She has a full-fledged negative role with two songs filmed on her. Mallika also has dialogue and scenes. She has 35 minutes of footage in the film. How can anyone say she's only doing an 'item' number? Even she was miffed with the issue.

How did you zero in on Hansika Motwani, a child-woman, as your heroine?

Hansika has already done a South film as a heroine. She is 16 years old. Didn't Dimple make her debut at that age? Hansika's worked very hard and looks very pretty. She plays Riia, an extremely positive, almost, divine character.

When you announced the film, none of the heroines wanted to work with you. Did that hurt you?

Overall there's been a lot of criticism. But that's part of the game. It's very difficult to accept anything new and I have been doing unconventional things from the beginning of my career. As for heroines, we never approached anyone in the industry, we always wanted a fresh face.

Talking about shows, recently there were reports that somebody from your end distributed CDs of Aap Kaa Surroor during Sonu Nigam's concert?

I don't know who the culprit was but I assure you I am not connected to that incident at all. I wasn't even aware of it, someone's played mischief.

You yourself had a packed audience when you performed at Wembley last year. How was the experience?

I made my parents proud that day. It was probably the first time an Indian singer had a capacity crowd at that international arena. I announced Aap Kaa Surroor there on October 29.

Did you undergo any formal training in acting?

No. I am a natural actor. I have seen so many legends performing, I consider them my gurus. I know this film is a big test for me and I will be judged with a telescopic camera. Whatever I have done so far, be it composing, singing or acting, it has been from the heart. I feel every emotion HR feels, every word he utters in the film. Passion is my strength. I have followed the director's vision. He has done all my videos and I have a fantastic understanding with him.

I got a lot of applause as an actor in my music videos. It was Prashant who insisted that I take to full-fledged acting.

Can you give us a brief rewind about your journey from being a TV producer to actor?

I was just 13 or 14 years when I decided I would be a composer. I wanted to work with Salman Khan and around that time Maine Pyar Kiya was releasing. Salman promised me that whenever I would be ready, he would give me a break. Meanwhile I ventured into TV and my first serial Andaz did very well. When I evinced my interest in composing, Salman kept his word and gave me a break in Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya. My song 'Odh li chunariya...' was a huge hit and since then there's no looking back...

Did you harbour a desire to be a singer too?

I did, and I was supposed to make my singing debut with some other director. But Aditya Datt liked the cue I had given while recording the title-song for Aashiq Banaya Apne. He insisted that I retain the song in my voice. When the song became popular, I introduced the re-mix version. It was Bhushan Kumar's (T-Series) idea to make a music video with me. Even that turned out be a superhit. In fact, Bhushan Kumar and lyricist Sameer have been instrumental in my success.

So far, you have had a Midas touch. Are you confident about your acting debut too?

I have a lot of faith in destiny and a conviction that everything will be a hit. Of course, I work extremely hard. I think there's a divine connection. My kind of a face doesn't lend itself to a conventional hero but unconventional things work in today's era.

Do you believe in reality shows?

Reality shows are here to stay. Music is an integral part of life and a stress-buster. It also helps in finding new talent that we are always looking for. I have given a break to many contestants in the past including Himani, Vineet and Amrita Kak.

But where are they now?

All you judges seem to have a lot of fights over contestants. Is that affecting your personal equations?

Vishal-Shekhar, Ismail Durbar and I are personally very close to each other. As judges we do have differences of opinion over a contestant but they restricted to the show.

What next? Will you turn director?

No, I don't have the patience required for that profession .

Copyright 2007 by MusicIndiaOnLine.com