It's all about surviving in style
SREEDHAR PILLAI
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Reema Sen, labelled a lucky mascot after five super hits, is on the crest of a wave.
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OOZING WITH CONFIDENCE: Reema Sen
For a heroine, survival in films has never been easy as not only is the field highly competitive but audiences too look for a change.
Today the average lifespan of a heroine is not more than two or three years, before they lose out to younger girls! And in our films, especially in Tamil, it is totally hero-oriented and the girls are there just for the song n' dance routine and the glamour.
Against this background, it is a miracle that Reema Sen has survived for five years and her 25th film is `Thimiru.'
So far the pretty actress has done 11 Telugu, six Tamil and five Hindi films and a film each in Bengali and Kannada. Kollywood has labelled her a `lucky mascot' as five of her films have been super hits and her `Malamaal Weekly' in Hindi is one of the big hits of the year.
She is currently working for `Vallavan' with Silambarasan and `Rendu' with Madhavan, both big projects.
Reema is clear in her thoughts, speaks directly and replies bluntly. A Bengali by birth, Reema was brought up in Kolkata before she migrated to Mumbai where she did over 45 ad films and music videos.
Stardom
Reema shot to stardom overnight with the success of the Telugu blockbuster, `Chitram' followed by Gautham Menon's `Minnale' in Tamil with Madhavan and became a craze down south.
When asked what makes her tick, Reema answers, "I honestly believe in myself. So many of my decisions have backfired, still I stuck to my beliefs and it has paid rich dividends."
Reema attributes the reason for her long survival to self-confidence and her choice of roles. She makes no bones that commercial cinema is her cup of tea and it is the acceptance of the common man that matters to her more than off-beat roles and awards.
Adds Reema, "I think movies are for the masses and I don't do films for my personal archives. I choose a film by looking at it in totality and not just my role. In Dharani's `Dhool,' I was not the heroine, but the film and its songs gave me immense reach with the masses. For me the bottom line is box-office success and nothing else matters."
With no background in the film industry, Reema should have found the going tough, but it wasn't so, she insists.
"Fortunately for me, I have done six films in Tamil and still managed not to get typecast."
She elaborates, "By the time I came into films, I had done enough ads to know all about basic camera angles, make-up and things like that. So I knew how to look good on screen."
Believes in destiny
She says, "I firmly believe in destiny. I was not academically very bright, so when I got [an offer for] my first film, I knew that this was what I would be doing."
The `in-your-face' sexuality and attitude of today's heroines could be a turn-off for Tamil audiences who have grown up on a staple diet of `traditional and conservative looking heroines.'
But Reema says, "Have you seen that sensuous song `Vaseegara... ' in `Minnale'? Is there any vulgarity? I wear a salwar kameez throughout the film and still managed to get the image of a glamorous heroine in the industry.
"Do you know that I have never worn a swimsuit nor done any kissing scene in any of my films? I think that I can carry off the role of a village belle with as much conviction as that of an ultra modern character. I want to look glamorous without being vulgar and trust me it is not easy to carry off such a role with dignity and ιlan."
On the over-dependence of the Tamil industry on North Indian girls, Reema begs to differ: "Today even girls from Kerala are doing well. South Indian girls like Trisha and Asin have the right attitude and have become successful. But Mumbai girls come well-groomed and know even the minute details of how to present themselves which makes it easier for the directors."
For a girl from a conservative and orthodox family in Kolkata, Reema Sen has done pretty well.
She says: "My greatest assets are a supportive family and a lot of good friends."
She confesses that she is a spendthrift who loves the good lifestyle and is proud of her watch collection that has (brand) names such as Tag Heuer, Gucci and Riviera. She is also crazy about designer stuff.
She says that she plans to settle down at the right time with the right person who should have a lot of mental strength and a mind of his own.
Reema concludes, "Cinema has given me everything and I am a very happy person. What more could I ask for?"
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Factfile
First film: Chitram.
Five big hits: Chitram (Telugu) Minnale, Chellame, Thimiru (Tamil), Malamaal Weekly (Hindi).
Favourite food: Thai .
Best friend: My 12-year-old sister.
Favourite holiday destination: Goa, New Zealand and Dubai.
Favourite music director: A. R. Rahman.
Idea of happiness: Live life my own way.
I lose temper: When people lie.
Marriage: Not in the near future.
Current state of mind: Chilled out!
Prized possession: My watches.
My next life: To be born as Reema Sen.
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