Substance over Money

Forget the money says Riya Sen as she opts for meatier roles.

Apna Sapna Money Money is a hit. And Riya Sen is happy. Because all she needed was a flop to change her mind on playing conservative. For that is exactly what she played in the film, the role of a conservative girl.

She was banking on producer Subhash Ghai's assistance and director Sangeet Sivan's skills to carry it off and the little experience she has in playing similar roles (Sen played a conservative girl just once in an earlier film, Santosh Sivan's Ananda Bhadram (2005)). And yes, she also depended on her lineage for some much-needed in-house inspiration from grandmother Suchitra Sen and mother Moon Moon.
Excerpts from an interview ...

e+: What made you go for Apna Sapna Money Money?
Riya Sen: There are so many reasons. It was a fun script. And most importantly a Mukta Arts production, which is a dream company to work for. Then I had the chance to work with Subhash Ghai and Sangeeth Sivan. Ghai is a thorough professional. Anyone who works with him wants to give his films their best.

Is it a different Riya Sen we are getting to see in Apna Sapna Money Money?
Yes, but I really don't know why people think I only like glam roles. I am like any other girl who loves wearing Indian outfits. In Apna Sapna Money Money, I wear traditional Indian outfits, but that doesn't mean that it's a deglamourised role.

This is another comedy film for you ...
I love doing comedies. All my films with the exception of Silsilay (2005) have been comedies. When I shoot for a comedy, the energy level is extremely high. Besides, it's fun working in such films. Basically we have a ball while working. There is so much activity on the sets.

In Apna Sapna Money Money you share screen space with quite a few stars. What's your role?
I play a simple, conservative girl, a typical girl-next-door type. Even though there are so many stars in this film, I feel everyone has enough scope to perform. So I am not worried about my performance.

How was it working with so many stars?
It was great fun. Shreyas Talpade with whom I am paired against shared a great rapport with me. I also have quite a few scenes with Riteish Deshmukh. He is a brilliant actor. He brings so much energy and life to every frame.

Any memories from the shoot?
Yes. During the climax. The scene almost turned into a stampede with everyone falling over everyone else. And another time was when Riteish asked me to dance in the middle of a scene. My character is actually supposed to be extremely conservative but here I was dancing like crazy.

How was it working with director Sangeeth Sivan?
The comfort level was amazing. We were allowed complete freedom, but Sivan maintained his focus throughout the process. Basically, we had a blast while shooting with him.

What's next on the cards?
I am doing another film with Sangeeth Sivan. We will start shooting from April 2008. other than that I am busy with advertisements and music videos. One of the videos is with Shaan and Biddu. That will be coming out soon. I am very excited about that.

You were going to do a Bangladeshi film and another one with Anjan Dutta.
Both are not happening. Neither the Bangladeshi film nor Dutta's.

Riya fact file:

- Before getting into the modelling business, she studied at Loretto House and Rani Birla College in Kolkata. She later dropped out for modelling.

- Her first movie offer was Kailash Surendranath's Love You Hamesha.

- Her favourite leading men are Keanu Reeves, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

- Her previous boyfriends have been John Abraham, Ashmit Patel and she has even dated Akshaye Khanna