Kashmera, Ramu together again

Courtesy: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

Kashmera Shah Listerman, who is just back from the screening of husband Brad Listerman's, My Bollywood Bride at the Palm Springs Film Festival, is now excited about bagging the lead in Tamil-Telegu bilingual, Ah Ammai (Telegu) and Ava (Tamil) - both meaning "that woman".

Ramu rules

Confirms Kash, "It's true that I am working with Ramu after six years. This my first regional film; we had first worked in Jungle. If Ramu thinks a role is right for you, only then will he call.

Ramu is producing the Telegu version, while Prakashraj is producing the Tamil. It will take me some time to rehearse in the language, as it's unfamiliar to me, and this is my first south film. But it's a great role and I couldn't refuse Ramu."

Other woman

So how did Ah Ammai happen? "Ramu always surprises me. One day, he called me for the Shaque (Telegu) song. He said it's a five-minute appearance, but I can think only of you, so will you do it. I said yes.

When I kept asking him how it had turned out, told me to stop fishing for compliments! I told him I wanted them to come from him. After Shaque, he called and said he wanted me to play the title role in Ah Ammai.

Ramu said the role was of a very passionate woman, where I play the hero's (Prakashraj) lover, the other woman, and Manisha plays his wife. Milind Rao, Mani Ratnam's first chief assistant, will direct the film. I said yes, I would love to do it. It's a love-story cum-thriller."

Kashmera's working with Ramu after six years - has she observed any changes in him? "Yes, he's definitely changed. Ramu has become less shy and is less reserved with compliments. He's more open. Ramu tells me that I have become better as an actress."

Festival gupshup

My Bollywood Bride got a very positive response at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

"Yes, Variety magazine gave us a great review. Eight days before the show, all the tickets were sold out. And out of 233 feature film presentations, My Bollywood Bride was one of the four selected.

It even got the Best of Fest Award. I had dressed up for both the events - the Saturday premiere and the opening night - one was an outfit by Anhus Arora and the other was by Thia, with a Red Indian necklace."