By
Upala
KBR,
Mid-Day
Tuesday,
November
21,
2006
Jiah
Khan,
Ram
Gopal
Varma's
18-year
old
discovery,
seems
to
be
loaded
with
oomph,
talent
and
an
attitude
to
match.
Though
she's
been
approached
by
four
big
banners,
she
has
not
signed
any
film
yet
as
she
is
under
contract
until
the
release
of
Nishabd.
But
few
people
know
that
Jiah
is
a
trained
opera
singer
and
recorded
six
pop
tracks
when
she
was
16.
Jiah
now
wants
to
record
an
album.
Are
you
planning
to
launch
a
music
album
soon?
I
have
written
and
composed
the
music
of
a
few
tracks
with
the
help
of
friends.
I
recorded
six
tracks
in
pop
arandi
when
I
was
16,
but
ran
out
of
finance
to
launch
the
album.
Now
I
would
like
to
do
something
experimental,
a
mix
between
Madonna,
lounge
music
and
Britney
Spears.
I
put
my
thoughts
and
ideas
and
structure
them
into
songs.
Maybe
today
someone
can
help
me
with
the
album
or
if
someone
wants
me
to
sing
in
his
film
I
will
do
that.
But
I
love
acting
and
I
am
in
this
industry
to
be
an
actress.
That
is
my
first
love.
I
am
not
really
a
singer.
It's
my
love
for
music
and
dance
that's
draws
me
into
singing.
Have
you
had
any
formal
training
in
music?
Yes.
I
have
learnt
classical
opera
since
a
very
young
age.
I
have
learnt
the
piano
and
in
dancing
I've
trained
in
reggae,
belly
dancing,
lambada,
salsa,
kathak,
jazz
and
samba.
I
have
been
learning
dance
for
nine
years.
In
Ramu's
Nishabd
you
play
a
teenage
seductress...
It's
a
rebellious
character
with
lots
of
insecurities,
and
that
comes
across
in
the
way
she
talks
and
dresses.
It
was
quite
a
challenge
for
me
as
I
am
a
simple
person,
but
my
character
was
very
complex.
Mr
Bachchan
was
there
to
guide
me
through
the
emotional
scenes.
Also,
the
fact
that
I
come
from
a
school
where
they
teach
method
acting
helped.
Many
feel
that
you
have
stepped
into
the
glamour
slot
left
behind
by
another
of
Ramu's
protÉgÉs,
Urmila
Matondkar.
Urmila
is
amazing!
Rangeela
inspired
me
to
enter
Bollywood.
I
watched
that
film
when
I
was
six
and
was
in
love.
It's
a
huge
compliment
when
I
am
compared
to
her.
What's
the
best
compliment
that
Ramu's
given
you?
That's
a
secret
I
can't
reveal
it,
as
it's
very
special
to
me.
I
can't
reveal
even
Mr
Bachchan's
compliments
to
anybody.
They
are
things
I
want
to
keep
to
myself.
Are
you
disappointed
that
Ramu
didn't
take
you
in
Sholay?
No.
I
was
in
London
so
I
didn't
even
know
what
was
happening.
I
am
still
so
wrapped
up
in
Nishabd
that
nothing
else
is
on
my
mind.
Jiah,
my
character,
is
like
me
in
so
many
ways
-
my
age,
fun
loving
with
no
responsibilities,
nothing
holds
her
down,
saying
shocking
things.
What's
your
idea
of
a
dream
man?
I
don't
have
a
boyfriend.
Right
now,
I
am
too
young
to
get
into
a
relationship.
But
yes,
I
find
myself
extremely
attracted
to
powerful
men.
They
are
very
cool
to
hang
out.
I
think
it's
the
Mr
Bachchan
phase
that
has
put
me
in
this
mode.
I
don't
go
for
good-looking
guys,
as
they
are
always
the
meanest.
I
should
know,
I
am
a
really
mean
girl!