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Not resting on her laurels

I want to have the best of both -- Bollywood and re-mix video music industry, Meghna Naidu tells Madhur Tankha

She believes in swimming against the tide. Normally, re-mix video artistes metamorphose into big-screen actors, but in the case of Meghna Naidu it was the other way round. She had already made a mark in Telugu films when Radhika Rao, the director of "Kaanta Laga" fame, convinced her to do the dance number in "Kaliyon Ka Chaman". Though the number continues to strike a chord with Generation X, Meghna does not want to rest on her laurels.

Meghna -- who performed at Hamsadhwani Theatre in Pragati Maidan here recently for a music-cum-dance show "Remix Magic" organised by Siti Channel -- wants to have the best of both Bollywood and the re-mix video music industry. "Not many people are aware that I was already in the South Indian film industry before Radhika Rao coaxed me to perform in the music video that became a trend-setter."

Pinning a lot of hopes on her upcoming film "Eight", Meghna says the film revolving around bad omen is about a man who wants his girlfriend to do crystal ball gazing. "This is a Karan Razdan film that is basically about Shani (Saturn). I am playing the role of the hero's girlfriend, who looks into his future to warn him about impending dangers." Though a big banner film has so far eluded Meghna -- who has starred in "Rain", "Hawas" and "Husn" -- she is nevertheless optimistic of landing a role in a prominent film project. On her role in "Rain", the actress says: "Honestly, I was apprehensive to act as a blind girl in the film, but after watching Rani Mukherjee's portrayal of a blind and deaf girl in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's `Black' I was inspired enough to take up the challenging role of a visually-impaired girl."

Among her co-actors, Meghna rates Bollywood aging star Mithun Chakravorty very high. "I have had the privilege of working with Mithun Chakravorty in a Telugu film `Coolie'. Undoubtedly, Mithun Da is a fantastic actor. He has absolutely no hangs-ups and even though he has had such a long innings in Bollywood, he is still so down-to-earth," she adds.

Expressing satisfaction over the fact that her glamorous doll image has stood her in good stead in the Hindi film industry, Meghna says that film directors were not laying pre-conditions to do any raunchy numbers in their films but if the role demands she was prepared to give it a shot. On whether she was comfortable doing item numbers in her films, Meghna says: "I think item numbers enhance the film. Nowadays, even big time actresses like Aishwarya Rai are also doing such numbers. But I want to be known for my acting abilities as well. I received a number of offers after "Rain", but I declined as I was on the lookout for big banners and quality work. As far as my acting career is concerned I have interesting projects in the pipeline. I am doing a film "Bad Friend" in which I am playing a devoted housewife." Meghna is keep to star opposite current Bollywood heartthrob Salman Khan.

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