Glam Goddess, Sultry Siren, Sizzling Stunner, Dancing sensation, Tantalizing Temptress… That’s some of the prefixes that go with this Bollywood beauty, who is the current hot favourite of Tamil and Telugu films. You can’t grudge the happy state of affairs in her reel career. She has every reason to be over the moon.
Reema Sen, who made her debut with Chitram in Telugu and Minnale in Tamil, has a number of hits to her credit. Her success rate is so high that, if grapevine is to be believed, six out of her seven films have been hits. Some of her other well-known films include Dhooli, Rendu and Thimiru! Her movies in Hindi may not have been great hits but she is still a name to reckon with in Bollywood. Glamorous, yet as amicable as the girl next door, Reema, who was in city to shoot for Chal Chalaa Chal, spoke to our correspondent about why she believes she is a success.
Excerpts:
How has the journey been?
So far great! Absolutely no complaints… God has been great.
Did you always want to be in the movies?
No way! Movies was never at the back of my mind. I had no plans as such for my life. But I was sure I did not want to waste my life. Modelling just happened (Reema has more than 45 ads to her credit) and after that I think movies was a natural transition.
If it hadn’t happened, would you think about it?
I am basically lazy by nature. I am not overtly ambitious. If the offer hadn’t come to me on a platter, I possibly would never have gone behind it! I’m plain lucky and like I always say, God has been great to me. I’m no go - getter.
But you are doing so well?!
I am neither a born go-getter nor am I the type to give up! Once something nice happens to me, I always give it the best shot and may be that’s why I’m still here!
In spite of your first film Chitram (Telugu) doing well, you preferred to be choosy about roles offered to you?
Well. I don’t really know. With all humility I say, I have some intuition that some roles will work. Generally if I smile in the first 20 minutes of the script narration, I know I’m doing the movie and have chosen the right role. Moreover for me, I need to be comfortable with people whom I work with, gel with them. A couple of times when I haven’t listened to my intuition, it actually hasn’t worked! I did walk out of a prestigious banner. That’s my intuition again.
Your foray into Hindi films was by chance?
I started off in the South. After Chitram, I was offered Hum Ho Gayi Aap Ki opposite Fardeen Khan, who was a hot number then. The movie may have not done very well, but I enjoyed doing it. Then Jaal followed as other movies like Aan - men at Work, Malamaal Weekly and now I’m shooting for Chal Chalaa Chal.
Bombay girls come down South as the last resort?
Please! If that question is directed at me, I’m the wrong person to be asking it to! I started off in South, doing very well here and Hindi films have been a part of my career. Let’s accept it. When any actor is offered a role in any language, nobody is doing a favour! Films are films in whichever language they are! The South has given me everything and I haven’t been here because I was a flop in Bollywood.
Okay! You came in at a time when five new faces are seen on screen every Friday? Your survival mantra?
I am in my sixth year of acting, with 26-27 films behind me and am very much around. Maybe because I am the flavour of the day, flavour of the year and the flavour of the season!
What gives you that special flavour?
My never-say-die attitude and my patience! I don’t belong to what you call the 'method school' of acting. I am very spontaneous and it shows in me as person and as an actor.
You’ve starred with almost all the hit stars in Tamil and Telugu. Had any childhood crush?
Sunny Deol! God! I was in awe with him and always will be! Imagine when I got the offer to do Jaalthe trap with him! It was great! I was all gooey eyed! The film may have not done well, but did I enjoy doing it? Oh boy! I did! There’s no romantic angle to it all. But I am still in awe with this man!
Did you adore an actress too with the same fervour?
Kajol and only Kajol! She has been my favourite and will continue to be. Her terrific screen presence! It’s magical! Her presence mesmerizes me! I haven’t met her but we did attend a function at Hyderabad. I generally don’t go around introducing myself to people. So I simply kept watching her. We flew back together to Bombay and on the flight she was sitting in front of me and I just kept watching her. The way she keeps rubbing her nose! Wow! It’s so cute. There’s no one like her.
You have also earned the title as a “cute” actress! Given a choice would it be romance or comedy?
Undoubtedly romance! Hard-core romance! I love it. I love films for all its grandeur and make believe. I do enjoy watching movies like ‘Page 3’, but am a total commercial potboiler buff! Comedy is also my forte.
How come you still haven’t forayed into Kannada?
I am already doing three languages, which gets too much at times. I don’t want to diversify a lot until I get something that’s really outstanding and mind - blowing.
There must be lot directors still that you’d love to work with?
In Tamil, definitely Mani Sir. In Hindi, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar and my favourite Sanjay Lela Bhansali.
Riding on success all the while, how would you see yourself 5 years down the line?
I don’t want to give you one of those golden lines. It will sound very cliched. We’ll leave it at that.
What’s your dream?
To see myself as a content and happy person. Whether I’m rocking in my personal or professional life, contentment is what I look forward to.
Marriage on the cards?
No way near the corner! Not in the near future at all. You need to reach a certain mental frame of mind to get into a relationship like marriage. I am no way where there!
Nandini Srinivasan
Courtesy: Star of Mysore
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