Mukta arts wanted me for <i>Aitraaz</i>

Courtesy: IndiaFM

Thursday, August 31, 2006

With multiple movies in her kitty, Celina Jaitley has her hands full.

Tell us about your forthcoming movie, Apna Sapna Money Money.
Well as the name suggests, the movie is about money, but this is a comic aspect about how everyone in the world is crazy about money and how everyone will do anything for money as the ultimate harsh reality of the world is people work only for money. The world is very materialistic as for everything you need money. I need money, you need money, we all need money and that's why we made the film Apna Sapna Money Money.

Tell us about your character in the film.

I play a very characterless person in the film, who is a world famous con artist and her job is to fool everyone for money.

So is that the reason your name is Sania Badnaam in the film. What mischief are you up to?
Laughs...Exactly, that's why the name is so. In the film my character is born with name Miss Sania Badnaam. Whenever I introduce my self I say "Hello, I am Badnaam, Miss Sania Badnaam."

How was it working with Sangeeth Sivan?
Absolutely wonderful! He is one of the nicest human beings I have ever known, a brilliant director, very very punctual and I am an overtly punctual person myself. So it was great working with him. We used to start at nine in the morning and finish at six in the evening and are back home in time and we made most of all sorts of situations. Not for a single day on the sets of the movie did I feel like," Oh my God, I am working" because I enjoyed playing Badnaam so much.

The movie is a multi-starrer and with so many stars don't you think you will be lost in the crowd?
Why should I feel lost? I am a star in my own right. So I won't feel lost. Others may feel lost, but I won't.

How was it working with Shreyas, Ritesh and Chunky?
Oh, absolutely brilliant. All of them are there in the movie and I have interaction with all of them. It's been great, Shreyas is extremely talented. Ritesh has also done an absolutely brilliant job. I don't know how he does it but gets into any character so well and we really enjoyed working together.

You were in Sunil Shetty's first production Khel. How was it working with him again when he is not producing the movie?
It's the same. It has always been the same. He is a thorough gentleman. I get to learn a lot from Mr. Shetty. He has taught me a lot about the industry as well. I do take a lot of advice from him. He is a wonderful human being. He is a brilliant actor and he is a sort of mentor for me and its always great working with him whether or not he is the producer of the film.

Competition from your co-stars Riya Sen and Koena Mitra?
I don't think so. There is no competition. I think I left competition when I was the runner up at Miss Universe. I think I have proved enough and in the film I am just a character and I hope I have done justice to my character.

What about the music of the movie?
Music is very different. You will see every flavor in the film. It's been shot in a very different way. There is a whole song on Miss Sania Badnaam which says Main hoon Sania Badnaam. So that is one of my favorite songs in the film.

Your association with Subhash Ghai.
My association started with him when Mukta Arts wanted to sign me for Aitraaz, but at that point of time it didn't work out because of my decision. I am so glad to be associated again with Mukta Arts. Mr.Ghai and Mukta Arts have signed me up for a contract of three films. Mr Ghai is one person who tells you exactly of what he thinks of you which is very good because you know in world where everyone praises you; it is nice to have someone who tells you what is the truth. But thankfully till now he has been very appreciative of my work and I hope it always remains like this.

Tell us about Suneel Darshan's Shaka Laka Boom Boom
I am opposite Bobby and Upen in the film. I have always wanted to work with Mr Suneel Darshan since the beginning of my career but it just never happened. Finally we have come together in Shaka Laka Boom Boom. It was well worth the wait I must say because I am working on a very bizarre story to begin with. I am glad to be working with co-stars who are my friends and with Mr. Suneel Darshan who is a wonderful director apart from a wonderful human being. We had a great time shooting in South Africa together for the first schedule of the film.

Tell us about your role in the film
Well I play the role of a Public Relations officer in the film. I am an image builder if you may say so. It is a very fun film. Young and romantic!

This film again is a multi starrer. Do we see you in solo leads soon?
Of course you will see me in solo leads. I am doing Vikram Bhatt's forthcoming movie Red. I do not think that multistarrers bring down anybody's value. I got an award for my character in No Entrywhich starred top stars. And it's not about being in multi starrers, it's about being in good films and performing well. All top actors from Shahrukh to Salman have acted in multi starrer films. So I see nothing wrong in doing multi starrer films.

What about Mahesh Manjrekar's Unusual Love story?
Well I don't know since I am not approached for the same.

You were doing a remake of Mughal-e-Azam. What is the status of that film?
The film intends to go on floors end of next year. It is a very long non-stop film. So because of my schedule being busy due to so many films in hand, we are doing this next year in one non-stop schedule as I want to do justice to the film.

What are the cast and crew of the movie?
Rajesh Khanna will be playing Prithviraj Kapoor. The hero has not been finalized yet.

It's a modern day take on Mughal-e-Azam or a period film?
It's a modern day take.

Your forthcoming films?
I have Red, which is a very dark love story. It's a movie in which I will be presented like never before. I have Shaka Laka Boom Boom. I have 3 films with Mukta Arts. I am doing a film with Anant Mahadevan. So my kitty is quite full.

Can we do a mini rapid fire?
Am all game for it. Go ahead

Are you a brand freak or you pick up things at random?
I pick up things at random but I do have my brands.

You shop from...
Everywhere in the world from Bandra to Bangkok

What's your style mantra?
Whatever makes me feel hot that day is style for me.

What is more important for you, being comfortable or being stylish?
Both! I am very comfortable in whatever I carry and wear. I do wear stylish clothes and I am comfortable in my stylish clothes.

Your favorite designer?
There are so many of them. Ritu Kumar is my favorite when it comes to Indian clothes. Manish Malhotra is one of my favorites too. Amongst western designers, I am a big fan of Prada and an equally big fan of Donatella Versace.

Your favorite food?
Biryani is my favorite dish.

Favorite restaurant?
Lucky's in Lokhandwala is my favorite.