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Naghma denies charges of interfering |
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Naghma, who had shot to the top in the Telugu industry in the shortest possible time, found it fairly easy to make it big in Tamil cinema. She had top banners and top heroes wooing her. But just when everything seemed to go her way, there was trouble. Naghma was accused of having a showdown with director Shankar of Janakiraman, and demanding that co-star Rambha's role be cut. The film also co-stars the man in Naghma's life, Sarath Kumar and she is being accused of using her clout to get things done... and of breaking his marriage.
The two-heroine film Janakiraman starring you, Sarath Kumar and Rambha, they say, is in trouble because you, with Sarath's help, are pushing the director to cut Rambha's role to size.
On the contrary, it is my role which is being cut to size in the film. A full song picturised on me was re-shot with Rambha wearing the same outfit without me knowing about it. And in a scene where all of us come together, I am made to look like a dummy. When I asked the director about it, he just ticked me off saying it was too irritating to talk about such petty things. I felt what I had achieved in nine years and 60 films was just wiped out in nine seconds when the director ticked me off like that. I wept like a child, nobody had treated me so shabbily ever. Apparently, someone had told Sundar that I had dismissed him saying he didn't know his job. And he believed it! So did his unit. Why will I talk ill of a director I am working with? It is untrue that Sarath has been interfering on my behalf. I never wanted him to. Because of the controversies, shooting for the film became a nightmare. Now the producer comes and tells me that I am like his daughter and I should complete the film like a dutiful child. I have no problems with that whatsoever, so long as they are fair to me.
Do you think they are sidelining you in favour of Rambha because she is more in demand now and has all the big banners rooting for her?
I never wanted to talk about the films I had turned down, because it's not the done thing. I find it strange that some actresses should be talking about my accepting films turned down by them. Do you know that I am the only heroine to do two consecutive films with Rajni Sir (Rajnikant)? He offered me the third one, Arunachalam, as well, but due to date problems I could not do it. Then, Sundar wanted me to do his Ullathe Allitha, but I didn't because I felt I did not have much to do in it. He took Rambha for the role and later told me that that he modelled Rambha's hairstyle and outfits after mine. You can see for yourself now that she has copied me. I have decided that I will do only one film at a time. I don't rush to the press with a list of my films or bluff that I am doing 12 films but don't know their names. I want to work on my own terms. As soon as the two films — Janakiraman and Vettiya Madichu Keetu — are complete, I will give dates to other producers.
You are said to fuss too much over your scenes. Directors are bugged because you keep pestering them about your scenes...
I have always done that, because I like to keep track of my scenes. Even while doing Rajni Sir's film and Bhagyaraj's film I made sure I knew what my role was and what my scenes were. I don't think you can call this interference though.
You had done two-heroine films before in Telugu. Did you have any problems there?
No, I never had any problems. Only once in a Balkrishna-starrer there was a problem. They were trying to change the climax. I stuck to my guns and insisted that the scene had to be shot the way it had been narrated to me and they relented. It was the other girl's mother who was politicking. I deal with my directors directly and handle my own dates, unlike others who have a front person to shield them.
You have been accused of breaking Sarath Kumar's marriage.
True?
No, I cannot be blamed for his marriage breaking up. I have not even seen his wife Chaya and I don't know anything about her. From what I gather, the reasons for her estrangement from Sarath have nothing to do with me. It's true that Sarath and I are seeing each other and are more than just good friends, but I am not thinking of marriage right now because I want to do more films. If I want to marry, no one can stop me, but I don't intend to right now. Because marriage is not my priority at the moment. I want to work. There is a feeling in the industry that I might marry Sarathji and leave my producers in a lurch. Even Bhagyaraj Sir asked me about this. But I will not do anything like that. I want to be around and do more films. I need more time to think about marriage.
You are doing two more films with Sarath.
I think I will be doing only one of them, to be directed by Bharthiraja. I want to do a film with K Balachander Sir and many other great directors.
What about Hindi films?
Well, the Bhagyaraj film has a Hindi version as well. Earlier, there was an offer from Amitji (Bachchan). I was to act opposite him in a home production of his but I had date problems and could not accept the film. I will do Hindi films if I get the right offers and I have dates to give.