RINKE KHANNA

Raring to go!
She’s petite but passionate. Rinke Khanna packs quite a punch in her pronouncements. The inauspicious beginnings in Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi haven’t dampened her spirits one bit. Now, looking forward to a total make-over as Govinda’s city-slick love interest in Mahesh Manjrekar’s Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rahta Hai, Rinke seems eager to grab her spot of sunshine in the stratosphere of stardom. Currently shooting for a Tamil film in Chennai, Rinke skips dinner to have her say on her career plans. She talks fast and she means business. A conversation with the young actress....

In Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rahta Hai you seem to be having a lot of fun in Govinda’s company...
I think I did. He helped me ose my inhibitions. Just watching him, I learnt so much. He’s so natural and spontaneous. Absolutely effortless. The whole concept of letting down one’s hair and dancing so un-self-consciously was alien to me. For my generation of youngsters in Mumbai such dancing seems so way-out. That’s not how one behaves in real life. But when I actually got down to doing the jhatkas and matkas, I quickly lost my awkwardness. One has to be in rhythm and give a number of appropriate expressions in the course of a song.

Did Govinda help you with the dancing?
Sometimes he used to watch me from out of the camera’s range and call out in encouragment. He was a big help. I have always appreciated Govinda’s performances. Now working with him has helped me appreciate him even more.

Is this a conscious decision to move away from the girl-next-door image that you acquired with Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi?
It’s certainly not as though I’m disowning what I did in Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. I’m still very proud of my first film. However, in mainstream Hindi cinema there are a limited number of slots, and it’s an actor’s job to fit into them. I’m trying to make a place for myself. Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi was one type of film, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai is another. I’m not for one or against the other. I’m open to all kinds offers as long as I can be real, believable and likeable.

Did your mother and sister help you make up your mind about what you should do after Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi?
I learnt quite early that one has to make one’s own decisions and stand by them, so that if tomorrow anything goes wrong, one blames no one but oneself. I did Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi because I had certain convictions as a human being and an actor. But I guess many things are just not under your control. The film industry had its own plans for me. When I started out, I didn’t know where I would fit in. I knew I was not the conventional heroine. But I am not against running around trees. That is part of our cinematic culture. That’s how couples express their love. But I wasn’t sure if I could fit into the mould. So I tried something different in my debut film by playing the believable girl nextdoor.

If only Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi was better made, you’d have continued on your chosen path...
Like they say, nothing is certain about showbiz except uncertainty. There was a certain comfort level about working with a set-up I was familiar with. In a way, it was a launch-pad for me, and I did hope for the best. If Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi had worked, it would have opened up new avenues for a whole lot of people. But I’m glad Sanjay Suri is doing well for himself. He’s just been signed for Meghna Gulzar’s film.

Sanjay is doing television as well. Is that a viable option for you?
Well, the same audience is watching you on both mediums. But I haven’t made a place for myself on the large screen yet. I wouldn’t be comfortable doing television until I establish myself in cinema.

Your sister Twinkle says you’re much busier today than she is.
That’s because she has voluntarily chosen not to do everything that’s offered to her. But she’s got a fabulous role in E.Niwas’ Jackpot. As for me, I’m busy trying to consolidate my position. Hopefully I’ll be able to select my roles later. There’s so much that I want to do. Right now I’m just trying to see what works. I’m very scared to be slotted. I don’t want to be slotted and saughtered... One does films for various reasons like creative satisfaction and the visibility factor. It isn’t tough to choose roles when you know your mind. There aren’t too many roles for heroines to choose from. One can only select from what’s being offered.

Rajesh Khanna as your dad, Dimple as your mom and Twinkle as your sister... Was that an advantage or a disadvantage?
Neither, actually. The only advantage if one comes from a film family is that certain producers and directors are accessible. People meet one nicely. That’s where the advantage starts and ends. Then you’re on your own. I’ve come to the conclusion that no one is there to help you. And the sooner you realize it the better. You may think doors will open for you because you’re a good soul. But it doesn’t work that way. If I had asked my parents to speak to film-makers on my behalf, I wouldn’t have liked myself for it. There are certain things which I had to do in my own way, and I’m doing them.

Tell me about yout Tamil film. Have your learnt the language?
(Laughs)... No,I’m memorizing the lines. But I’ve asked for someone to help me with the diction. It’s being produced by the gentleman who produced Jeans. I’m paired with Prashant in the film, and the director is Mr K Ravi Chandran. I think he’ll be directing a film for Rajkumar Santoshi next year. I play a conservative Muslim girl in a family from Calcutta.

That’s interesting, because you can carry off the Muslim look.
You think so? I am a girl who comes to Chennai and gets caught up in a crisis situation. Prashant helps me get away. It’s a very intense film. It’s funny how I got this role. An assistant for Kalpana Lajmi called up my mother for a role.

You mean the same one that you’re doing?
(Laughs)... No no. Imagine me and mom vying for the same roles! Then again, considering how gorgeous my mom is, I wouldn’t be surprised. Anyway, Govind Nihalaniji also called about this role. He said I was the one most suited for the role. My producer selected me right away. But the director had the final say. Fortunately, the director approved. And here I am shooting for the film. I’m enjoying it thoroughly. It’s good to be doing something so challenging. It’s a commercial film, but a sensible one. I’m also excited about this film I’m doing with David Dhawan. I’m cast opposite Sharad Kapoor who’s trying to win me over throughout the film, while I spurn him. Interestingly enough, Rishi Kapoor plays my father. I really like him. Most of all, I like what I’m doing in the film. And hey, I’m also doing Satish Kaushik’s film with Tushar Kapoor and Kareena. I’m playing a very interesting character. You just wait and see.

Tell me about your much-lauded stage appearances.
I’ve done three plays: Inshanallah, Magic Pill and It Could Only Happen In London with the legendary Satyadev Dubey. Obviously I was nervous before I went on. But finally, you have to do what you have to do. It isn’t as though I had to re-adjust my acting drastically on stage. I performed at Prithvi which is a cosy little theatre. I didn’t have to raise my voice to be heard. I’m very comfortable on stage. But right now I want to concentrate on my movies, though acting on any medium is acting.

I believe your stage appearances have got you lots of critical praise.
People have praised me for my stage appearances. But I haven’t become complacent by the praise. The praise has helped me improve myself. But I’ve kept moving. Let me tell you, my experience on stage has been so gruelling and yet so rewarding that I can act in any medium after this.

How was it working with Satyadev Dubey?
I gained immensely from the experience. He really drove me into performing. He’s a tough task master. But given a chance I’d go through it again ten times over. He’s such a brilliant teacher. And he understood me as a person and an actress. He worked around my awkwardness and shortcomings. I’d do theatre any day. And so what if there’s no money in it? People clapped so hard after every show. I don’t know whether it was in appreciation or relief (laughs). But for me, the applause at the end of my play was my success. What more could I possibly want?

But theatre doesn’t reach to as many people as cinema?
But you can’t take my success away from me just because it’s on a smaller scale. Stage may not be glamorous. How can you say success in cinema alone is success? Why look down upon the stage when such great actresses as Mrs Jaya Bachchan are doing it? If more stars do it, theatre will survive.

Do you hope to derive the same satisfaction from your film career?
I hope to. Right now, I’m just testing the waters. If Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rahta Hai clicks, I’ll be flooded with similar roles.And you know what? I’m going to enjoy every single one of them.

Subhash K Jha