Koena returns to Sanjay Gupta's camp

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Monday, November 27, 2006
After performing the Saki saki number in Sanjay Gupta's Musafir (2004), Koena Mitra disappeared from his camp. There was speculation that Koena and Gupta had a fall-out, prompting her exit. But both insist that was a rumour.

Says Gupta, "Koena has signed two films with White Feather Films. There was no fallout or rift between us. Koena always attends our parties and pujas and we have a very cordial relationship with her. The reason we didn't take her on for previous films was because we didn't have a role that was good enough for her. Koena is like a baby to Sanju (Dutt) and me. We are extremely protective and super proud of her. The idea was to give her a good platform to perform after her launch in Musafir. We have that today. Now that we are launching multiple productions, we are taking her on."

Protective shadows

Koena laughs, "Both Sanju and Gups are so protective that whenever I sign a film they call me and ask a whole lot of questions! When I signed Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, both called to wish me luck. Gups told me that I needed to do films with younger heroes, which I have done with Fardeen and Riteish.

People kept asking me why I wasn't working with Gups and Sanju, but Gups told me that the day he had a role worthy of me, he would call. The films he has offered me are of totally different genres. One is a comedy: a young, fun film. We haven't discussed the other film in detail."

She remembers the first day of shooting for Musafir very well. "I was very scared as I was a newcomer and there were big, senior stars like Anil Kapoor and Sanju acting alongside me. I didn't know how they would behave. But to my surprise, I was accepted right away. I was treated like a princess on the sets. When it comes to work, Gups will never compromise on quality."

Post Apna Sapna Money Money, she is doing another film with Subhash Ghai's Mukta Arts. "Anant Mahadevan's mystery thriller Anamika is almost complete. My parents are very happy with the way my career is shaping today. My grandmother in Kolkata makes it a point to watch all my films on DVD. When I go there next, I will give her a DVD of Apna Sapna Money Money."

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