| Soha Ali Khan - The Star Kid Grows Up |
| She's got to live up to standards set by mom Sharmila Tagore and brother Saif Ali Khan - besides her dad in the world of cricket. When the male Khans matter so much, she has to prove that the female of the species is no less. Soha Ali Khan's first three films Dil Maange More, Pyaar Mein Twist and Shaadi No.1 went for a toss but Soha was fourth (and fifth) time lucky with Rang De Basanti and her Bengali film Antarmahal. And now Soha is all set to prove that she has it what it takes with her meaty turn in Sudhir Mishra's Khoya Khoya Chand. Excerpts from an interview: |
Would you say that a meaty role like Khoya Khoya Chand was offered to you only after Rang De Basanti and Antarmahal?
Soha: Yes, the offers got more varied. I did a solo film, Ahista Ahista, a film special to me but unsuccessful. The challenge in that role was that I have always been a very confident person and my character had to be under-confident and radiate fear and nervousness. But in Khoya Khoya Chand I get to do everything in one film - sing, dance, laugh, cry, seduce and do the whole spectrum like the classical Hindi film heroines of yore.
You have gone all out to look and be Nikhat, the starlet who turns into a superstar. Is the role modelled on any actress of the '40s or '50s?
Soha: It's not, but because it is a tribute to that era and its people I guess they have incorporated incidents from the lives of those stars. Well, I did go all out to exploit the resources - we begged, borrowed and stole genuine garments and accessories from mom as well as Begum Para-ji, the '40s siren who is mother-in-law to the film's dress designer Niharika Khan.
The bouffant came in, as did the tight sarees and the sleeveless blouses. And the character's dresses acquired finesse as she moved up from junior artiste to star. I took lessons in Urdu, body language and Kathak - though Urdu is spoken at home. I actually also watched some 200 DVDs that Sudhir-ji sent over for me to watch the cinema of that era!
Does your brother Saif ever advise you in professional matters?
Soha: He is experienced enough to read my scripts and visualize the film and its outcome, and it is sensible to take advantage of that. There have been times when I have got carried away, for example, by a filmmaker telling me that a script has been written with only me in mind and Saif has been able to see through that and tell me, "Soha, this is rubbish!" And he has been right each time!
Is your family prone to give you feedback too on your films and work?
Soha: Yes, I get a feedback on everything from both Saif and my mother.
Saif till now has never worked with your mother on screen, though she did cameos in his Aashik Aawara and Eklavya. You have an advantage there.
Soha: I am really looking forward to Aparna Sen's Jewellery Box, in which I work with mom - but yes, I have already done an ad film with her.
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