An Exclusive Interview With Urmila Matondkar

Sexy and glamorous Urmila has changed tracks after a series of flops last year. She is not the one to give up so easily. Urmila talks about her forthcoming films.

why have you simply disappeared? Now a days you are no-where in the news and you have not given any releases also lately.
Well I thought I needed a break. I have been working very hard with no breaks and there comes a time when you just want to sit back and relax. Work is always there but I thought that I am also entitled to some time for myself and my family.

You have been lying low for quite sometime now, what caused this retreat?
I wanted to be away from the limelight as there was too much on my plate last year. With my films not doing that well, people were asking the same questions over and over again. So I decided to retreat into my shell, do some thinking, sign fewer films and concentrate on them instead of being in the media glare. Then I should give others a chance too.

Are you happy with the new films you are working on?
Yes. I'm happy with the few films I have on hand. Roles in films like Pinjar, Bhooth and Ek Haseena Thi are a challenge. And as the proverbial saying goes 'quality is better than quantity', I'm happy with these films.

How is it working with Rekha in Ram Gopal Verma's 'Bhoot'?
She is splendid. Professional to the core and very sincere. You have so much to learn from her. I've worked with her earlier. I played her son (as a child artiste) in Govind Nihlani's Kalyug many years ago. Now I have taken a huge leap as her co-star. Her presence makes a lot of difference to Bhoot and I am very lucky to be a part of this film. In fact in this film I am working with all great stars like Rekha, Seema Biswas, Victor Banerjee, Ajay Devgan etc

  They say 'Bhoot' is a copy of the Hollywood flick 'Ghost' and your new hairdo is actually inspired from the hairdo of Demi Moore?
What nonsense. Bhoot is not based on Ghost. And all those stories about my having snipped my hair short and lost weight for a more Demi Moorish look are hog wash.

There are reports every where in the media about your fall out with director Ram Gopal Verma. What do you have to say?
I have no comments to make on this topic. The media can write whatever they wish to. I have nothing to say.

So tell us about your role in Pinjar.
Well Pinjar deals with the story of India-Pakistan partition. It tells the story about two people for whom love just happens and for them religion ceases to exist. It is an adaptation of Hindi-Punjabi litterateur Amrita Pritam's novel. I play a simple village girl who goes through a series of traumatic experiences that change her life. The story is great and I am sure the audience will love it.

Tell us about Ek Haseena Thi?
Well, this is actually my favourite of the current projects. In fact this is the most exciting film of my career. Debutant director Shreeram Raghavan is a very intelligent and intense person. I'm sure he'll make a very exciting film. I am playing the 'haseena' in the film and I am sure the audience will fall in love with me all over again.

It was reported that you are not in good terms with Saif Ali Khan your co-star in Ek Haseena Thi?
Who writes these things? Saif and I never had problems. In fact the 4-5 days that I have shot with him, he has been absolutely cooperative and friendly. Even earlier whenever I bumped into him he has always been very gentlemanly; always greeting me warmly and nicely. He is a very nice person. I don't know what made people think that we had problems.

Deewangee didn't do so well at the box office, any comments....
Well, what can I say. The audience is the best judge. We all have put in our best. I have realized that an actor is like a small fish in the pond; there are many factors on which a film's success and failure depends upon. I just do my best and leave the rest to God. There are situations beyond an artiste's control.

Have you ever fallen in love?
No, no, I haven't really really fallen in love. I keep on falling in and out of love, actually. Life is not very exciting otherwise. But seriously, love has not yet happened to me, it just hasn't so far. Maybe I was busy in my career or whatever. But surely, I cannot fall in love with somebody who cannot promise me marriage. He could be from the industry but never a married man.

what are your future plans. What are your plans of marriage?
Well I don't plan anything. Marriage will happen when it has to happen. I respect the institution. I take each day as it comes. So when the time comes I'll be married. Right now I just want to work hard and concentrate in my work and be happy and contend with what I have and what I am.

Your ideal man..?
A bit of Patrick Swayze, a little of Liam Neeson, a resemblance to Brad Pitt, and the voice of Amitabh Bachchan - there, that's my guy!