Entertainment | Film & Cinema
Meet the new comedy queen
Lara Dutta doesn't want to be chased around trees. She'd rather make people laugh. Manjusha Radhakrishnan caught up with the sultry actress, who was in Dubai filming her upcoming romantic caper Do Knot Disturb
- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:43 November 4, 2008
- Former Miss Universe Lara Dutta is generating the laughs in Bollywood.
- Image Credit: Francois Sel/Gulf News
Lara Dutta doesn't want to be chased around trees. She'd rather make people laugh. Manjusha Radhakrishnan caught up with the sultry actress, who was in Dubai filming her upcoming romantic caper Do Knot Disturb.
Tuesday proved to be an eventful day for the dozens of labourers who were working near the construction sites on Marina Boardwalk in Dubai.
It was one of the unusual days in which they had the opportunity to watch the spectacle of a Bollywood movie being made. Clearly, watching the actors Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh in action, was a welcome distraction and made their hard day's work in the sweltering heat a fun one.
Naturally, the one who garnered the most number of eyeballs was the statuesque actress Lara Dutta who seemed adept at handling the stares, catty remarks and whistles.
Seemingly oblivious to the interest she was generating, Dutta was alternating between reading her script, retouching her make-up and goofing around with director David Dhawan.
"You have caught us at a great time. We are all returning home [Mumbai] tonight and boy, are we excited! As much as we enjoyed shooting in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Hatta, the last day of a shooting in a foreign location makes us incredibly happy. I can't wait to hear the words ‘pack-up'," says Dutta just as she is called for her next shot.
In the UAE for the last 16 days, the former Miss Universe and the 80 plus Bollywood entourage had set up camp in the UAE to shoot for their latest romantic caper Do Knot Disturb. Dutta plays the role of an iconic Indian pop singer with a diva-like attitude.
Five minutes later, Dutta returns to her seat and signals her assistant to retouch her hair-extensions. It will take another hour or more before she is called for her next shot.
"Shooting is mostly about waiting and doing nothing. After hours and hours of waiting, the moment the cameras are switched on the real magic happens. So, unless you are director or an actor film shootings can be a snooze fest."
Case in point: after hanging around for more than three hours on the location, a shot where Dutta makes a surprise public appearance at a mall and mouths a couple of lines was the only visible activity that was caught on camera. But no one was complaining, least of all Dutta, who is excited about the nature of her role in the movie.
Her forte
"Do Knot Disturb gives me a chance to play yet another comic and fun role. I don't think there are many actresses in Bollywood who can make people laugh. You look at an average heroine, they are busy being chased around trees or playing the romantic lead," says Dutta.
Hailing herself as the most-happening comedy queen, Dutta believes that making people laugh is her forte.
"If you look at it, the last comedy queen of Bollywood was either Sridevi or Juhi Chawla. Ever since their exit, there has been a lull in that scene and I hope to take their place. And comedy comes naturally to me. So, I plan to capitalise on that vacuum,' says Dutta.
But does acting in a film made by David Dhawan, who is believed to churn out crude slapstick comedies, the way to go?
"I think Dhawan is a master entertainer. And I would rather pay good money to watch his movie than head to the theatre to watch a tragedy. I am in the business of entertaining," she says defensively.
Dutta, 30, who enjoyed her last hit Partner in 2007 with the same filmmaker, is also confident that 2009 would strengthen her position in Tinsel Town.
"In many ways, it's a make or break year. My two projects, Billo Barber and Blue, are releasing early next year. I play a barber's wife in the first one and an expert deep-sea diver in the other," explains Dutta, who had tackled hydrophobia for the latter.
So, has it been all work and no play for Dutta?
"Contrary to what people may believe, I am not really into partying or endless networking. Sometimes, I have a feeling I am almost anti-social. And I don't attend parties unless I really have to," says Dutta, who had poured herself into a super tight pink and white spandex number.
"On a normal day, I don't walk around in these clothes either. I am a more white shirt-blue jeans kind of girl," she says sheepishly.
Preferring to live life on her own terms, Dutta says she had moved out of her family home at 16 (a sacrilege for many Indians) to pursue her dreams of modelling.
She still finds Bollywood as unfathomable as the first day of her shooting in 2001.
"I feel like a novice even today. But I am enjoying every bit of my time in the industry. And I take pride in the fact that I have made it on my own."
Dutta on her co-stars in the movie Do Knot Disturb
Riteish Deshmukh: "This is our third film together after Masti and Bardasht. He is fantastic."
Sushmita Sen: "This is the first time that two former Miss Universes are sharing screen space. Though we don't have many scenes together, I think she is a wonderful person and we have been twisting Davidji's [director David Dhawan] arms to include more scenes featuring us."
Govinda: "He is a great comedian. It's a pleasure to watch him act."
Did you know?
Her fitness secret: Yoga and meditation — I have been practicing both for the past eight years.
Favourite mall in Dubai: The Mall Of The Emirates.
Her most prized procession: My pets. I live alone and I love my two white Boxers. They are like my family.
The best part about being an actress: I get to be a different person everyday.
The worst part about her job: You are away from home for way too long.
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