The
famous
1986
Football
World
Cup.
The
infamous
'Hand
of
God'.
Quarter
Final
between
Argentina
and
England.
Rings
a
bell?
Where
on
one
hand
Diego
Maradona
scored
the
goal
of
the
century,
back
in
India,
Maradona
Rebello
was
born.
Thanks
to
his
father
who
kept
his
name
Maradona
after
getting
inspired
by
the
Argentina
-
England
match.
Today,
this
young
actor
is
making
his
debut
opposite
Bipasha
Basu
in
the
most
talked
about,
controversial
film
of
this
year
–
Pankh.
Rebello
is
a
rebel,
when
you
meet
him
in
person,
you
know
he
wants
to
spread
his
wings
and
fly,
fly
high
in
Bollywood.
On
the
flip
side,
he
too
knows
that
before
he
learns
to
soar
high
in
the
sky,
he
needs
to
be
rooted,
grounded
and
a
bit
more
careful
in
the
big
bad
world
of
Bollywood.
This
correspondent
met
Maradona
who
shared
his
debut,
his
fears,
his
individuality
and
sexuality,
his
embarrassment,
the
censor
board
and
the
diva
who
repeatedly
lingers
in
his
mind
even
after
the
film
is
over
-
Bipasha
Basu.
Maradona
is
ready
to
kick
some
balls,
but
the
only
question
is
-
Will
he
score
well
at
the
box
office?
Maradona
and
Bollywood
Bollywood
means
stars.
I
am
not
a
star
yet.
I
am
taking
baby
steps
in
the
industry.
I'd
love
to
be
here
for
the
longest
time.
I
have
banked
a
lot
on
Pankh.
I
left
my
college
while
I
was
in
my
final
year
of
BMM.
I
was
doing
my
advertising
from
St
Xavier's
when
I
was
offered
to
do
this
film.
Miles
to
go
before
I
sleep.
Fears
Initially
I
had
a
lot
of
fears.
When
I
was
signed
on
for
this
film,
after
they
short
listed
me,
took
my
auditions,
and
I
was
selected,
I
went
chickened
out.
I
was
apprehensive
in
doing
Pankh
because
I
had
a
different
Bollywood
in
mind,
the
cliche
one
with
romance
and
drama.
Pankh
was
way
different.
But
when
I
got
a
script
narration
from
my
director
Mr
Sudipto
Chatopadhyaya,
I
was
completely
bowled.
I
said
'yes'.
Bipasha
Basu
I
have
to
confess
that
Bipasha
does
come
in
my
thoughts
even
after
Pankh.
That's
the
magic
of
a
diva
like
Bipasha
Basu.
She
is
gorgeous.
When
she
walks
on
the
sets,
you
melt.
But
yet
when
I
met
her
at
her
place,
she
was
so
simple
and
basic
that
the
Bipasha
on
sets
wasn't
real.
Before
we
started
shooting,
my
director
took
me
to
a
place
where
he
assured
me
that
I
did
not
have
to
be
scared
and
I
did
not
have
to
be
intimidated
by
Bipasha
Basu.
She
was
very
sweet
and
helpful
and
took
care
of
me.
I
couldn't
have
asked
for
a
better
co-star.
Individuality
&
Sexuality
In
my
personal
life,
I
am
a
heterosexual.
In
the
film
too
I
play
a
heterosexual.
The
character
I
play
in
Pankh
is
of
my
past
that
is
nagging
me.
It's
not
keeping
me
happy
because
my
mother
in
the
film
played
by
Lilette
Dubey
cross
dressed
me
when
I
was
young.
As
a
kid,
your
mind
is
so
impressionable.
Pankh
is
a
one
day
story
of
this
guy
who
is
confused
about
his
sexuality.
I
did
have
to
push
myself
in
wearing
a
girl's
wig,
putting
on
lipstick,
etc.
It
was
definitely
odd.
Embarrassment
Yes,
it
was
embarrassing
shooting
for
Pankh,
whether
it
was
my
nude
scene
in
front
of
Lilette
Dubey
or
my
kissing
scene
with
a
man.
My
director
also
knew
that
I
was
a
bit
uncomfortable.
When
we
shot
the
nude
scene,
the
crew
was
kept
to
a
minimum.
But
I
was
in
safe
hands
at
the
end
of
the
day.
I
never
imagined
that
my
debut
would
be
in
the
form
of
Pankh.
I
am
blessed.
I
also
feel
that
if
Pankh
would've
come
immediately
after
Dev
D,
it
could've
worked
better.
But
this
is
the
right
time
for
it
to
make
it
to
the
cinemas.
Censor
Board
Even
if
the
censors
give
an
'A'
certificate
to
any
film,
they'll
still
come
up
with
things
like
-
'This
isn't
good
for
the
society.'
So
what
are
we
to
do?
Directors
are
pushing
the
envelope
and
are
coming
out
in
the
open
and
opposing
the
censor
board.
There
should
definitely
be
a
better
rating
system.
It's
time
that
the
directors
don't
want
to
compromise
on
their
making.
Story first published: Thursday, April 1, 2010, 15:18 [IST]