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Meet Manini...

SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY speaks to TV actress Manini De, now seen on the big screen too

WELL-ETCHED Manini De will soon be seen in Rakesh Roshan's forthcoming film, "Krrish" PHOTO: ANU PUSHKARNA

Flaunting an off-shoulder top, golden curls, an unwavering attitude and a broad smile, Manini De is a head turner, outgoing and gorgeous, with a strong mind. You soon find out that she has an interesting lineage too. Her mother hails from Uttar Pradesh, her father is an Oriya, her paternal grandmother was from Andhra Pradesh, her husband is from Uttar Pradesh and she got the second name, De from her first husband.

"Well, I am quite a mix. People say mongrel is the most intelligent animal and I look at myself as one and feel good about it," says a smiling Manini in her husky tone.

In New Delhi the other day to promote her role of Ragini in Sab TV's brand new serial Twinkle Beauty Parlour that has opened its innings this week, Manini says she has narrowed down her appearances on the telly to just this lone Monday to Thursday prime time soap.

"I have played enough negative roles in tele-serials. I am tired of rolling my eyes and giving those cynical looks. Ragini's character is different. She is a lawyer, a single mother, juggles between fighting hard to make her place in a man's world and the responsibility to bring up her only daughter Antara. She is a very real character," she relates.

Image change

When Manini was approached for the role, she recollects, "I was told this is the toughest character of the serial. So far, I have the image of `a very hot dame' and I thought by doing this role I shall be able to add a new focus on to my public image."

Remembered by most viewers as Pari of Jassi jaissi Koin Nahin on Sony TV, and also for doing some good dancing with her husband, Mihir Mishra in Nach Baliye on Star One, Manini has recently co-hosted the EurAsia Cricket Series on Sahara One and Filmy with VJ Gaurav. She says she got well-noticed on the show. "Thanks to it, most probably, you would see me doing an India league match in Abu Dhabi this July," she informs.

Herself a kick-boxer, Manini says she keeps interest in sports like Formula One races, football and boxing but cricket was never in her frame of things. "I was quite surprised when I got the offer to do the show because cricket has never interested me. But when I actually got on to doing it, it turned out to be different," she says.

Starting off as a model and then graduating to tele-roles that stretched to 10 years now, Manini has but managed to go out of the box off and on. She has three movie roles to her credit so far, and is excited about her next big screen appearance, in Rakesh Roshan's Krrish.

"I met Rakesh Roshan's wife in Singapore some time back and she said she loved me as Pari in Jassi... and told her husband that I should feature in one of their films. Next I got a call for a role in Krrish," she says. In Krrish, she plays the role of "a very sweet but wicked TV executive."

"So far I have been seen in films like Rules Pyar Ka Superhit Formula, Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part 2 and Sare Saat Phere. And I am looking forward to Krrish's release," she adds. These roles aside, Manini would like to see herself as a TV show producer one day.

"Television in India is a full-blown industry today. It not just generates money and entertainment but is a great medium to spread awareness about issues that concern our society. I would like to be a part of the medium not just as an actor but as someone who would do some meaningful shows," she signs out making you feel the lady is on the right track.

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