IN PASSING
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SUCHITRA BEHAL
The chatterati was out in full strength when actor Soha Ali Khan donned a ‘sexy’ image for a recent photo shoot. “My mother, who is 64, did not mind; why should others?” retorted Khan when asked if her mother, actor Sharmila Tagore, had objected to it. “In fact she said, ‘this is nothing you should see what I did way back in the 1960s’,” said a smiling Khan.
Khan, who has managed to make her place in Bollywood after “Rang de Basanti”, said that even as a young girl she was into acting. “I did numerous plays in school and college and I think I am most comfortable while acting. This is where I should be.”
But she is clear that Bollywood is hero-driven, unlike Bengali cinema which has a strong penchant for well etched female characters. “I feel Bengal is home,” remarked Khan.
Asked if there was any pressure from her parents Khan replied, “Well now that I’m ok financially, my mother wants me to marry and have kids.”
Incredible journey
For every actor that makes it to the top are ten who don’t. So it is not that surprising when, after having hit the big time, many reflect on what they feel has been an “incredible journey”.
This time it’s actor Bipasha Basu who, while recollecting her initial days of struggle,, paid herself the ultimate tribute by announcing “it is a place where you cannot be lazy and hope to achieve anything”.
Basu said that, though she had a tough time, well meaning friends in the industry advised her on how to cope.
While she was ready for any contingency, she added the occasion to use weapons “never really arose. I found most people were trustworthy and good.”
Her advice to newcomers? “It’s a city that forces you to go fight for your own space but it’s a warm city for all that.”
Lend a hand
He’s been referred to as the "thinking face of Indian cinema”. Rahul Bose, who refuses to be typecast, has proved once again that acting is more than being a presence on the silver screen.
This time Bose is involved in a project with other actors and activist Teesta Setalvad to help the Ahmedabad blast victims.
Said Bose, “I do know that Gujarat is a very politically sensitive zone and our efforts are not to tell the government that they are not doing enough for these people. But, at the same time, I feel that there are a lot of people who cannot afford the costs of their treatment and it is our duty to get them back on their feet.”
Bose decided to lead from the front “because I feel nothing is enough,” and has gone around meeting the victims. “Many of them are daily labourers, who live a hand to mouth existence. They are the first ones to be overlooked,” said he adding “somebody had to flag off the operation, so I decided to do it.”
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