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Ishaa's first film Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan, which was ready for release in '97, never saw the light of day, and Ishaa's debut, techinically, was in a cameo in Fiza (2000). Then came Aamdani Atthani Kharchaa Rupaiya, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, a song in Rahul, and finally-thanks to Ram Gopal Varma's vision-that stunning item number in Company, that sent her carreer spiralling up wards.
Since then Ishaa has been on a multifarious roll, with another item bomb in 'Ishq samandar' (Kaante), a peppy number in Tujhe Meri Kasam, and meaty roles like that of the sassy vixen of Qayamat, the sweet friend of the hero in Dil Ka Rishta, the obsessed lover ghost of Krishna Cottage, the saheli in Pinjar, the college lass of Darna Manaa Hai, the over-the-top carrer woman of Hum Tum and now the psychopathic lesbian in Girlfriend. Excerpts from an interview.
What did you do in the period between your first film and first release, Fiza?
I went down South and did 10-15 films in the lead. I even won the Filmfare Best Newcomer award for Kadhal Kavidai.
Why do you sign films here both in the lead and as a supporting artiste?
I've been around for some time and am not a fresh newcomer. I am somewhere in between, so that's my problem. Luckily for me things have been much better since the last two years with my songs 'Khallas' and 'Ishq samandar' and my performances in Qayamat, Krishna Cottage and Girlfriend getting noticed.
Girlfriend has come in for flak from activists.
I wish people would go and watch the film before commenting on it.
The general opinion is that the sensitive issue of lesbianism has been trivialized. Did the film turn out the way it was narrated?
Absolutely! I was not conned in any way. It's sad that a film meant fot enterainment is being taken so seriously. We have no message and have not offended anyone's sensibilities. All lesbians are not psychopaths, and viceversa. This is a film that happens to be about a girl who is both because of a traumatic experience as a kid. The censors have passed the film with very minor dialogue cuts and tickets are being sold in black. I think that we should all grow up. Adults are mature enough to know the difference between right and wrong. That said, it does make me uneasy to feel that people are uncomfortable about something that I have done.
Which of your roles so far have been satisfying as an actor?
I think that with every role I discovered a different side of me. I never knew, for example, that I could scare people till I played the obsessed ghost in Krishna Cottage! It took a Ran Gopal Varma to project me as a 'hot' number in Company and change my image from that of a simple girl-next door that I had done in my first few films. And now that people do not associate me with the simple girl image, I am playing exactly that in Humrahi, bisides attempting comedy in Balaji Art's Kya Kool Hain Hum!
But isn't a hot image an asset, because as the girl-next-door, you can get slotted as a sister, saheli or bhabhi.
Not necessarily! The heroine's character in Tere Naam is an example. Look, playing different characters is important. Journalists often ask me about my dream role.But to me a dream role is that which tickles me when it is offered. Once it is over, it stops being a dream role and becomes passe. Dream roles are temporary and are all about growth.
What is Kya Kool Hain Hum all about?
It's a mad, hilarious, maddeningly confusing comedy of errors and mistaken identities. Tusshar, Ritesh Deshmukh and mostly Neha will be my co-stars. Sangeeth Sivan is directing.
Your output is rather limited.
Come on, I have three releases happening in the next three months and three already released this year and the Balaji film at the end of the year. Hamrahi will come in soon. It's a love story directed by Hansal Mehta in which I am cast opposite Aamir Ali. Sohail Khan, Aamir and I co-star in Hansal's Raakh, while Sahara's Intequam, a psychological thriller directed by Pankuj Parashar with Manoj Bajpai as my hero, is coming up too. Why keep signing films unless I am offered something good? Yes, I have two films coming up with two of the biggest banners in the country next year, but I'm not going to talk about that now!
But what are the pros and cons of a sexy image?
Which normal girl would not want to be called hot and sexy? A girl has to be crazy if she does not like being called that! I am very lucky that I look good with or without make-up, and can carry off both Indian and Western attires equally well. And I am not saying this-my filmmakers are!
So how professional is Ishaa Koppikar?
Well..umm...I am on time, I do not throw tantrums, I am strong because of my superb upbringing, I have been brought up to respect producers and their time and money and my parents have inculcated good values in me.
What made you do the music video of Bhor?
One day after a Girlfriend shoot, choreographer Bosco told me to come along to his car and listen to 'something'. His car is equipped with a system so mindblowing that I call it a discotheque! Within ten seconds of hearing the track, I told him that it was superb and should be made into a music video. And he said, "That's why I made you listen to it." So after the Girlfriend unit moved out of Mauritius, I stayed back and shot for it.
And is Ishaa the sensitive person also superstitious?
Not at all. I belive in a superpower and that everything happens for the best. When I get up in the morning I pray for positive things.
What about love and marriage?
Love and marriage will happen one day. I definitely believe in the sanctity of marriage as I have grown up in a happy home and have had a lovely childhood and amazing parents. But right now I am focused on my career.
Does the obsessed Girlfriend have any personal obsession?
I am a health freak and strongly believe that health comes before wealth. I think that you are what you eat and you also are what you think. So eat healthy and live healthy. Besides, I'd rather eat good stuff than apply something to my face to enhance my looks!
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