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The sign of a winner

P.K. AJITH KUMAR

Khushboo says she is an avid fan of Malayalam cinema.

ACTOR OF SUBSTANCE: I have always enjoyed working in Malayalam movies, says Khushboo.

One of Khushboo's biggest regrets is that she cannot speak Malayalam, admits Khushboo. However, not knowing Malayalam has not prevented her from acting in Malayalam films or being an avid fan of Malayalam cinema.

The actor was in Kozhikode recently to shoot for Ranjith's film `Kayyoppu.' Excerpts from an interview:

Malayalam cinema and Khushboo

"I have always enjoyed working in Malayalam movies. It was fun working in `Uncle Bun,' `Manathe Kottaram,' `Anubhoothi,' `Vridhanmare Sookshikuka' and `Elavankodu Desam.'

`Kayyoppu' came as a surprise though. Ranjith, with whom I have been in touch with from the days of `Chandrolsavam,' telephoned me to narrate the subject when I was abroad. He then mailed me the story, and I loved it. My only regret is that I could not meet Mammootty, who had already left by the time I came here; I really wanted to work with him again.

I like my role in `Kayyoppu,' which I think is a different kind of film. Only in Malayalam can you imagine stories like this.

You seem to have great regard for Malayalam films.

Yes, I do. You have the greatest actors and technicians. Mammootty and Mohanlal are just not super stars; they are great actors as well. I have seen many of their films. I loved Mammootty in `Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha,' `Amaram' and `Hitler' and Mohanlal in `Kireedom' and `Vanaprastham.' Mohanlal has always amazed me. I don't understand how he switches himself on or off as an actor; I am a bit like that, but this man takes the cake. He may be speaking about 20 other things but when the shot is ready, he becomes the character. He is so spontaneous...

I am disappointed that Manju Warrier has stopped acting. Only once in a blue moon does an artiste like Manju come into the film industry. She could have been the female Mohanlal. I used to look forward to her films. It is sad that Samyuktha Varama also quit films.

How do you look back at `Chinna Thambi,' the film that made you what you are?

I am still around only because of `Chinna Thambi.' None of us imagined it would become the kind of cult film it did. I remember we - director P. Vasu, hero Prabhu and I - were very sceptical about the film while shooting. It was a bold subject at the time, and we thought it would either be a huge flop or a huge hit.

You came to Chennai from Bollywood, where you had begun your acting career as a child artiste.

I used to visit Hema Auntie's (Hema Malini) home often when I was a little girl. She had this beautiful make-up room and I would watch her doing make-up and practise dancing. One day, she casually asked me, `Filmom mein kam karogi kya?' (`Would you like to work in films?') She knew director Ravi Chopra was looking for a girl for a role in `The Burning Train' and so she sent me to meet him.

Hema Auntie also recommended me to Manmohan Desai, who wanted someone to play the young Reena Roy in `Naseeb.' And I did quite a few films after that, including `Kalia,' `Lawaris,' `Lootmar' and `Swami Dada.'

There is a controversy involving you regarding the film `Periyar.'

Controversies and I go hand in hand (she laughs aloud). I don't create controversies. As for the last controversy, I had to fight it out because I have two daughters. I want them to grow up as strong women. If I hadn't fought back, some day they will turn around and ask me, `Weren't you weak, why didn't you fight? You just hid yourself.'

It was one episode that helped me identify my friends and it also made me a much stronger person than I was. As a woman it is important to believe in myself and what I do. The strength to fight came from within because I am a woman.

I had to look after my mother and my three brothers when my father left us. I was the only earning member of the family. I told myself that I would emerge as the winner. I can proudly say that I never went out of the way or took the wrong route to come up in life.

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