All The Best is a full on comedy - Mugdha Godse

After her critical acclaim in Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion, Mugdha Godse was sitting idle for six months. Critics and cinema professionals were left discussing, 'She ain't getting any business now'.

Now, with a clutch of powerful roles under her belt, Godse is back in business. I remember my first and the last meeting with the beautiful lady at the JW Marriott in Mumbai. 'Then' and 'Now' is how she can be defined today. When she enters the room, she owns it. It crackles with her arrival. She is alone, no entourage, no assistant and no publicist. Walking confident she sinks into the velvet beside me. Her hair not too long, but lustrous. Her eyes, big but glittering. She has a presence now, but it's not necessarily the one you'd expect, not haughty or demanding.

Just two films old and third yet to release, her screen persona seems indestructible now. There's toughness, strength, a determination, and then there's me. Me, who took her first ever interview for All The Best and the same me meeting a different her after a year. She looks right at you as she talks and she's not afraid to be looked right at, herself. This correspondent meets the perfect body, the long delicate limbs, the luscious lips and flawless skin. By the way, she doesn't need 'All The Best' now. She knows she'll crack it. Only for you - the confident and the magnificent Mugdha.

This is your second film and we don't want to wish you 'All The Best'.
Why?

Because we know you and your film are going to do well…
(Laughs) So sweet. I like that confidence.

And how confident is Mugdha Godse today?
I am as confident as I was in Fashion because that's what gets me good results. All I have is my confidence and I'm sure people will love the film because I have a good and a positive feeling about it.

Your first film etched out your character pretty well. Does All The Best give you the depth like Fashion did?
All The Best is a full on comedy. This film is all about timing and making people laugh. There are no emotions and strong characterisation like Fashion had. But yes, my character is etched out in terms of what she does. She is into Vedic science and believes a lot in lucky stones. I have tried to do something different. I wanted to make people laugh and that's what defines your success in a comedy film. I have done my bit and now it's all up to the audience. I'd like to wish my audience All The Best.

What about your belief in Vedic science off camera. Do you?
There are a few things I believe in. I am not as mad as Vidya, my character, in All The Best. In the film, I connect everything to a stone or a pendant, etc. Off camera, I do believe in lucky charms.

Which is your lucky stone?
Diamond

You very jokeeee?
(Laughs) When I bought a solitaire for myself, a lot of good things started happening. I am wearing a yellow sapphire since six years too and it's been progressive. But diamonds are a girl's best friend, right? So I'm sure people will be giving me more of diamonds thinking that it's my lucky stone (laughs). It's a hint, to tell people what gift they can gift me.

I'm sure it's a hint for the man who will be proposing you with a diamond.
(Laughs) Yea! Yea! I will definitely take the diamond from my man and tell him 'tata bye bye'.

This is the first time you're working with Bollywood heroes. How was it to interact with the male personalities?
They came across as quite cool. Cooler I should say. I thought they would have a lot of ego and starry attitude, but no. They are so chilled out. Ajay Devgan is a complete prankster but luckily, I was not one of his 'bakra'. Sanjay sir is very down to earth. I hope all my male co-stars in the future too come across as sweet, cool, mad and confident.

What about your 'life partner'? Fardeen Khan
(Laughs) I think All The Best will just add on to the success of Life Partner. He is going to go a step ahead from that film. I like Fardeen and he is looking very good in the film. He is too good in his comic timing. Off camera, he is a different Fardeen Khan. He is a guy who will only talk in English off the sets but when he is on the sets, he will completely turn into his character who talks in Hindi.

Which has been your favourite comedy film?
I've loved Rohit Shetty's Golmaal and Golmaal Returns. They both were hilarious. But I can keep on watching Andaz Apna Apna. It's one of my all time favourite comedy film. And of course, who can forget the classic called Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro.

Once that you are signed for the film, I want to know what does a female star do after she has been briefed about the story.
When I hear my role out, I jot down my own thoughts on what I'd like to add to my role. Then I write down all the things and amalgamate them. If I feel the need, I 'Google' it and do my own research by watching a lot of comedy flicks. You need to pick up the right things and do the right things once you are on for a certain project. I go with my instinct and go to any length to perfect my role.

Your first promo of Jail is being showcased at the theatres. You're going fast girl. From a serious role to a comedy and back to a serious one.
I'm loving this commercial madness and comedy but at the same time, I think Fashion and Jail are roles which are very performance oriented. All The Best is one too. But there is a different kind of acting required when you do a comic film. Everyone thinks that comedy is easy. It isn't. It was difficult for me to do All The Best as compared too Fashion and Jail. Madhur's films set you up as an actor and a performer. Rohit's films give you all the freedom to express your madness and talent.

What did you learn from your bong co-star Bipasha Basu?
Oh My God! There were so many similarities. We both have worked with Madhur Bhandarkar. Her last co-star was Neil Nitin Mukesh in Aa Dekhen Zara and my next co-star too is Neil, in Jail. She is so sincere and knows how to look her best all the time. That's what I have learnt from her. We did interact a lot about Jail and Madhur sir.

What about a man who is known to shoot the most expensive songs in Bollywood - Rohit Shetty?
What about him? Man, he knows how to blow a car in mid air and get another car coming through the same car. He is an expert in action and not many know that. I even asked Rohit after seeing the first promo whether All The Best is a comedy film, romantic film or an action film (laughs). His answer was that it's a 'masala' film with all the ingredients. You won't believe it but All The Best was one film where I first time experienced how the bullets sound when fired from a gun.

How diverse are two directors? Madhur who is a senior and Rohit, who is relatively young.
Both have their own niche. Rohit's films are larger than life in scale. Madhur sir is more to do with emotions and drama. He captures his character in a different note. Both explore different genres. Rohit is always thinking how he wants the people to laugh after watching a particular scene. Madhur will make people laugh off the camera but when the camera rolls, he comes back to his serious get up (laughs). It's interesting that both are wonderful human beings and both are in demand.

When was the last time you laughed out loud?
On the sets of All The Best. We were shooting the climax scene and there were sixty people shooting for one scene. There were a lot of senior actors too. Everyone was cracking jokes even after the camera was switched off. When we all said 'All The Best', everyone was laughing like mad. I wish someone had shot that entire sequence. It was actually looking like a scene from the film. On the sets, on the last day, Jokes, madness and PJ's galore.

One PJ from you to end this interview please.
I am very bad at this (laughs). I'm sure you'll want to pull my hair off after this. Ok, here goes: Two friends were having breakfast and one of them questioned, 'Tumhe Butterfly dekhna hai kya?' The other friend replied, 'Kaise?' His friend answered, 'Butter ko bahar fek do aur woh fly karega.'

OMG! I really have to end it here sweetheart.
You butter (read 'better') do (laughs).