Cover Story: Twinkle Khanna

YOU CAN'T COMPARE ME
TO A NATIONAL AWARD
W I N N E R
She is the daughter of Rajesh Khanna and Dimple. And stardom came to her on a silver platter. But soon, Twinkle Khanna realised that life wasn't a bed of roses after all. Though she didn't have to struggle to get a foot in the door like many others, her career path was far from smooth. But she refused to give up and settle down to a more mundane but secure career as a chartered accountant. It didn't take her long to realise that the film industry was her home, this was where she belonged. And despite the scepticism, she was going to make a niche for herself here. Only it wasn't easy being constantly compared to one of the most beautiful women in the world, who also happened to be a brilliant actress and her mother. Twinkle had a history to live up to. The determined actress on the trials she faces....
After a slow start you must be thrilled to find yourself in the position you are in today.
Hey, I haven't achieved anything yet. I am still only a learner. I have been learning ever since I started my career. (Smiles) I guess, this is the only job where you get paid to learn. When I look back at the kind of work I have done, I think I was silly and naive. But then, you learn from your mistakes and today, I feel my acting is more polished. I have learnt the ABCs of my craft and while I've still got a long way to go, I'm getting there.
Well, you had your famous parents to tutor you.
Yeah, thanks to them I didn't have to struggle for a break and because of that, I thought my career would be smooth sailing all the way. I was very laid-back, I never took things seriously. But then I realised that being the daughter of famous stars wasn't enough. If I wanted to make it, I'd have to really slog. And I needed destiny on my side.
What was the industry's reaction when the daughter of Dimple and Rajesh Khanna decided to explode on the big screen?
(Sighs) Many of them had this pre-conceived notion that I am here because of who my parents are. They thought I would never be as skilled, efficient and serious as my parents. Many still feel I'm not as ambitious or as sincere as someone who has had to struggle a lot. And the sky-high expectations people have! My God! It's really tough being the daughter of famous parents.
Were you a spoilt brat?
No, I never had a chance to be spoilt because I went away to a boarding school early and that made me pretty independent. In fact there were times I wished I were spoilt. I wanted to be pampered all the time. I wanted my mom to come and kiss every little bruise and cut when I fell and hurt myself. But she never did and that used to hurt more. But now I have become so independent that today if she is not there on my sets, its okay. I can manage on my own.
How does it feel to be compared with your mother?
The comparison between me and my mother is always going to be there whether I like it or not. I'll just have to live with it. It's actually quite funny when you think about it. I'm not compared with my contemporaries but with a living legend. Never mind the fact that I am her daughter, but how can you compare an actress who has done so many films to another who has done barely three? Maybe one day I will reach the stage where I will no longer be just Dimple Kapadia's daughter but will have an identity of my own.
You sound as if you hate being compared to your mother.
I am very proud of her. But I feel its unfair to compare me to the most beautiful woman in the country. You are comparing me to a National Award winner when I have just begun my career. It's just not right.
Would you be nervous if you had to face the camera with your mom?
Nervous? No way! Knowing her, both of us would be bickering and cribbing before the shot was even taken. She'd be very happy if she was given a chance to tell me how to say my lines, blah blah blah.
What is your goal? What are you striving towards?
I want to be the best. I don't want to be one of those who have a hundred films to their name, not one of which is worth talking about. I don't mind having few films, but they should be really good films. I want to move up and be right there at the top.
Tell me, were you pushed into acting?
No, never. But yes, when I signed my first film, I wasn't very sure I wanted to join the industry. But when Barsaat came along I thought I might as well give it a go and see what happens. At that time acting wasn't the be all and end all of my life. I wanted to become a chartered accountant. In fact I still want to become an accountant. I'm very good with numbers.
So films are a temporary fling?
No, now I am quite comfortable in the industry because I know this is where I belong. I don't think I could have been as happy anywhere else.
Not even as an accountant?
(Laughs) I don't know.
Did you at any stage feel you were not cut out for this profession?
Of course, several times. Even today when I don't give a good shot, I feel I won't be able to make it. But, then, there are days when I give a perfect shot and I say to myself, this is where I belong.
How different will your next release, Itihaas, be from the kind of films you have already done?
Oh, it's an entirely different sort of film. First of all, my character in the film is that of a village belle and I have never played a gaon ki gori before. Secondly, the audience has always seen me as a spoilt, rich girl in Western outfits, but in this film they will see me as a poor orphan. It's been a different experience for me because I don't usually use my hands too much while talking, but as a village girl I have had to do so. Before we began work, Rajji (Raj Kanwar), the director of the film, warned me about how difficult and important my role was to the film. The film's plot moves because of my character. It was difficult, but not as difficult as I thought it would be.
Was this change of image a deliberate career move?
No, it wasn't deliberate. It was basically the script which demanded I wear ghagra cholis. And I don't think this image will stick even though I play a village girl once again in Mela. Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hain is coming up where I am completely westernised.
What did you like best about Itihaas?
The portion where Ajay and I fall in love. It's so subtle. Both of us keep quarrelling throughout a journey. When we fall in love we don't even realise it's happened. And the love between us is so tender and innocent. It's not a sexual, physical kind of love. Ajay is supposed to drop me to the city. He doesn't know why he is taking me there and I don't know why I am going. It's a job assigned to him by Amrish Puri. By the time we realise we are in love, we are separated.
Itihaas will be a big film for you. Are you nervous?
Not really. Today everything is so unpredictable. You don't know what is going to do well. It doesn't matter how big a star you are, the only thing one can do is give one's best and the rest is luck. It's 90 per cent luck and 10 per cent hard work. Every actor goes through this phase. You could be a superstar today and tomorrow a nobody. I have realised that whatever has to happen will happen, come what may. There's no point in being tense or nervous. It doesn't help. But I do hope people like the film because if they do, then they'll like me as well. My main concern will always be how people react to my performance.
Which was the most difficult scene to enact in Itihaas?
The scene where I fall at Raj Babbar's feet and say that I will marry him on the condition that he doesn't cause more pain to Ajay, who is my lover. I am crying as I say, "He (Ajay) is a stupid village bumpkin, he is a nobody and he doesn't mean anything to me", when actually he means the world to me.
What, according to you, makes a good film?
I believe if each one puts in his best, works as a team and does not think only about his own character, then we can come up with a fairly decent film.
You have worked with several directors. How do you rate Raj Kanwar?
All his films have been hits and that says it all. I have been working with him constantly for three years now, and what I like about him is that he is very clear about what he wants. He comes well prepared. I have worked with directors who are confused all the time. If the director who is the captain of the ship is confused, then the whole crew goes haywire. Rajji is very competent. There are certain scenes which he lets you do yourself. He is one director who doesn't impose his ideas on you. He gives you that freedom. No wonder he is such a successful director.
As an actress how much have you grown in the last three years?
Quite a bit. Rajji was the first director I worked with because I began shooting for Jaan much before Barsaat. So I have literally grown with him and his unit. At the time of Jaan, Rajji would sit with me and explain what he wanted and how it was to be achieved. With experience, I now understand exactly what he wants.
How was it working with Ajay a second time?
I think I know Ajay quite well by now. He is one of the few people I really like working with. I particularly liked him in a film which bombed, K. Vishwanath's Dhanwan.
Do you confide in him?
It's the other way round. Ajay confides in me. And his basic grouse is that I tell everybody whatever he tells me. Actually it's true that a couple of times I did leak out some of his secrets. I know I shouldn't have. And he really told me off.
What is the one thing you would like to change about yourself?
I wish I didn't need to workout to keep my weight down. It's so boring.
Knowing the ways of the industry, would you encourage your sister to join the movies?
Why not? Of course, I'll explain to her that she should be prepared for brickbats rather than bouquets, especially because of who we are.
Is she planning to make a career in films?
Not at the moment.
Finally, congratulations! We believe you are back with your boyfriend, Gattu.
No comments. The interview is over. Bye.

THE MAKING OF ITIHAAS

To the world, Itihaas may be Raj Kanwar's film, but very few know that this film, which aims to make box-office history, was possible only because of K. Pappu, Raj's elder brother who is a producer-director himself. K. Pappu put his own plans on hold after making Raghuveer so that he could give his brother his undivided attention and support. The unofficial producer of the film, K. Pappu talks about his brother's ambitious venture and how it all began.
"Itihaas is my brother Raj's dream project and he has left no stone unturned to make history with this film," Pappu reveals with a tinge of pride. A successful director with several hit films to his credit, it was the bada bhai's desire to see Raj as a successful producer as well. Which led to Itihaas being conceived.
Raj had narrated the story to Pappu during the making of Raghuveer. "I liked the story very much. The plot had everything to make a commercially viable film... drama, romance, action. But I was extremely busy at the time and couldn't possibly get involved with another film just then. So I suggested that Raj go ahead and produce it himself, and he agreed," discloses K Pappu. Thus the banner, Inderjit Films' Combine, was born.
Though Pappu was confident of his younger brother's abilities, he felt Raj might find production to be a bit of a handful and so promised to help him. Having decided to complete the film in a year and a half, Pappu put his other plans on hold so that he could devote time to his brother's film.
When it came to selecting an actor to play the lead role, Ajay Devgan was the first choice. "In fact Raj conceived the story with Ajay in mind. Even when narrating the story to me, he would say, "Ajay aisa karta hai, Ajay waisa karta hai." And I too feel that Ajay is the only actor appropriate for the role. Iss film mein itne saare ras bhare hain ki woh Ajay ke siva aur koi nahin kar sakta. His role has different shades and he has performed brilliantly."
Twinkle, of course, was selected later. In fact she wasn't even on the list of prospective heroines which they drew up, because the Kanwars thought she would not suit the part. "We were actually looking for a newcomer who would suit the role of a village girl dressed in chaniya cholis."
The hunt for a new girl began. They scrutunised all the hopefuls but came up empty handed. They found their heroine on the sets of Jaan. "Twinkle was required to wear a chaniya choli for a particular scene in Jaan and on seeing her I remember thinking, she looks so beautiful. That's when Raj decided to sign her for Itihaas," Pappu informs.
Amrish Puri was signed on to play Ajay's father in the film, while Raj Babbar was cast as the villain. The film was launched with the recording of the song Aachko machko at Kamalistan studios.
"We had a good team. No one gave us any problems. Even Shakti Kapoor, who is the busiest actor in the industry, was very cooperative with dates. He is playing a double role for the first time... the role of a father and son," says Kanwar Sr.
Pappu remembers shooting in a small village, a few kilometres from Jaipur. It was winter and since the days were shorter they had to start by 5.30 am and complete the shoots by sunset which was at 4 pm. Rekha Chinni Prakash and her dancers were always ready by the time the rest of the cast and crew reached the location. Twinkle would dance all day and then rehearse from 8 pm till 11 pm.
K. Pappu is also all praise for art director R. Varman. "With the use of four truck-loads of furniture he managed to transform a hotel in Goa into a modern house. He did a fabulous job!" applauds K.Pappu.
A lot of hard work has gone into the making of Itihaas and the Kanwars are optimistic it'll do well. "I am confident Itihaas will make history," big brother K Pappu beams.