An Exclusive Interview With Lara Dutta

Lara talks about her upcoming releases, performances in item numbers, long time boyfriend Kelly Dorjy, and her relationship with rival Priyanka Chopra.

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What sort of a person are you?
Though I've been exposed to a lot of influences I basically come from a traditional Punjabi family. That, I think, gives me an edge. I can be sensuous as well as the girl next door. I may have exposed my bellybutton in films. But in real life I've never worn a top that exposes my midriff.

Your item song Aisa Jadoo in Khakee was a rage...
Raj Kumar Santoshi handled it well. We shot for 12 hours a day over a period of five days. To maintain that level of energy over that period of time wasn't easy. But the response has been quite overwhelming. People have called from outside India because they want to hear my voice after seeing the song. But those are Sunidhi Chauhan's vocals. As Jaya (Bachchan) jokingly said, "I can't wait to see you perform that song at the next public concert."

Weren't you apprehensive about doing an item song so early in your career?
I was. But the decisive factor was Raj Santoshi. I hadn't met him before. But he had a track record of successful item songs with Mamta Kulkarni in Ghaatak , Urmila Matondkar in China Gate and Lajja ; so it wasn't just an exploitative gimmick.

Among the new faces of 2003, you've made the optimum impact.
Being a complete outsider in the film industry with no formal training in acting that truly gives me a feeling of satisfaction. A lot of hard work has gone into getting here, to prove that I'm not just a flash in the pan.

  I thought you were miscast in Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost
Well... if you work so hard on a film, you're bound to be disappointed, when it doesn't work. But I'll say one thing. What I did and what finally went on the screen weren't the same. I shot a lot more. When I first met the producer and director, they had a very clear image of what my character should look like. We worked hard on my look. They wanted me to be sensuous and not vulgar. I guess it didn't work out.

  How do you avoid being exploited on screen?
You learn as you go along. Right now I'm doing Boney Kapoor's No Entry , where I play a traditional wife and yet there's a sequence where my husband (Anil Kapoor) imagines me doing a hot number. I guess that's bound to happen. But I don't want my hard work as an actress to be undermined. I'm growing aware of how to avoid this pitfall. Because once you get the image of a hot babe, you can't get it out of the audiences' minds.

  What are you doing with Anil Kapoor in No Entry ?
I'm part of two comedies, Masti and No Entry . Apart from the fact that there're three married couples in both stories, there're no similarities between the two films. Bipasha Basu plays the catalyst in "No Entry". Anil Kapoor is the main lead and I play his wife.

  Do you feel there's a dearth of leading men for you?
Not at all! I've worked with everyone from Akki (Akshay Kumar) to Bobby Deol to Anil Kapoor. The only problem is I'm not a small-built girl! So to be cast with everyone isn't possible... I was recently offered a role with Saif Ali Khan. Much as I'd have liked to work with him I don't think we'd look compatible.

  How do you keep the audience from getting bored with your looks? Obviously with your performances! I want the audience to look beyond my body and face.
One newspaper in Mumbai claims producer Feroz Nadiadwala, who was on the Screen jury, was rooting for you (for the eponymous awards). I'm not going to get into this. I guess this kind of talk is inevitable. I've done one film Aan with him and I'm certainly not the central character. Aan is a boys' film. Yes, No Entry is a men's film too. But Anil and his wife have quite a lot to do. There aren't too many central roles going for actresses. I was approached to play the protagonist in Pritish Nandy Communications' Fidaa . The only reason I'm not doing it is it's similar to another film I'm doing.

  Since Priyanka Chopra and you are vying for the same roles, isn't it ridiculous to claim you are friends?
We've never claimed to be best friends hanging around with each other every day. We're not just acquaintances but we aren't friends either. At the end of the day, we're competitors in the same field. But I'd hate to have an attitude towards her just because she's vying for the same roles. We've had our ups and downs. We've been upset with each other over things that have been said. So far we've thrashed it out. I think Priyanka is very talented. I don't think we're up for the same slot. Both of us will definitely create our own slots. And filmmakers will know whom they want for which role.

  So what's there to look forward to from Lara Dutta?
I thoroughly enjoyed doing Vikram Bhatt's Jurm . It's very different from anything I've done so far. In E Niwas's Bardasht I get to be a lawyer. It's a hard-hitting and realistic film. I've another film with Vikram, Elaan , which is challenging in another way. I've done all my stunts myself. So I guess I've finally done a Lara Croft! The stunt director says I'm like one of the boys in the film. I've been so busy that there hasn't been even one day of a breather. I'm so lucky to be busy. Now I've a fairly good idea of what I can do and can't do. I'm signing fewer films. Apoorva Lakhia's "Just Punjabi" with Amitabh Bachchan and Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) is one of the films I've signed. I've something interesting brewing with Prakash Jha.

  You and Prakash Jha!
Yes! I know (what you mean). I met him for a film called Rajniti . Now he has offered me another role. It's very much a female version of what Ajay Devgan did in Gangaajal . A crusader's part totally from a woman's point of view. I think the coming year is crucial for me. It won't take me to a superstar's status. But we'll know whether I'm here to stay or not.

  You belong to the exclusive faithful-boyfriend club.
Having Kelly Dorjy around makes a world of a difference. Having been in a relationship with him for many years, there's no insecurity or anxious moments, no have-to-be-with-him-every-moment feelings. We're mature and secure in our relationship. Having him around makes my co-stars treat me like one of the boys.