Kulraj Randhawa talks abut her debut movie Yamla Pagla Deewana

In your B-Town debut film, “Yamla Pagla Deewana” (YPD), you’re sharing screen space with all the three Deols — Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby. I’m totally over the moon. The project is as big as it can get for a newcomer like me. Working with Dharamji, Sunny and Bobby was the best experience for me. They have been really friendly. Since it was a family film for the Deols, it didn’t take time for me to feel part of their family. I was the only girl in the film and I was pampered thoroughly and never made to feel like an outsider.
Were you scared of sharing the frame with Dharamendra? Initially, yes. Dharamji has 50 years experience in cinema and when you are working with him you know that you are in safe hands. More than intimidating, Dharamji has been helpful. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide.
The switch from TV to films hasn’t been a cakewalk for you. Between “Kareena Kareena” and “YPD” there was a huge gap. What were you doing at that point? I was sitting and moping around (laughs). On a serious note, the decision to leave TV at a time when I was so popular and flooded with offers was an extremely tough choice. I just did one show — “Kareena Kareena” — and I didn’t want to do more dailies at that time. I sat at home for days. People told me I was being silly to leave a safer option (TV) to try my luck in films. But I was adamant. I didn’t want to debut in some inconsequential film. That period wasn’t easy, but I kept pushing through.
So how important is networking in the film industry? People who say that they sit at home and offers come to them are lying. If you are an established actor, the story is different. Networking in our field is very important. It’s not about socializing — it’s about letting people know that you are still around and interested in working.
Your contemporaries from TV — Prachi Desai, Aamna Shariff and Rajeev Khandelwal — have made the switch to films as well, some successfully some not so. What do you think your fate’s going to be? The best part about the film industry today is that they are not biased towards anyone. No one is put in a box. If you are a good actor and suit the role, you are offered a film. I don’t have a Plan B as of now, so I’m really hoping my film works. And I’m sure it will because it’s a complete masala, fun flick.
You haven’t planned anything? I think everyone plans their lives to a certain extent. I wanted to do films and now I’m doing that. As far as the fate of the movie is concerned I can’t control that. I would like to do a 100 films, but practically that’s not possible. I just hope I keep meeting the right people, getting the right scripts and doing the right films. I don’t mind doing serious cinema too. But yes, if my film works, then I definitely expect to increase the zeroes on my pay cheque.
There are rumours doing the rounds that you are dating director Samir Karnik. There are people in the industry who are here for the sole reason of taking a dig at others. I don’t give a damn about what people say. They couldn’t link me to Sunny or Bobby, so Samir it was. But I don’t care. Gone are the days when a link-up harmed your reputation. Today, it’s part and parcel of showbiz. Samir and me both understand that, so there is no awkwardness between us. And I’m definitely not the kind to hide the fact that I’m in a relationship. But as of now, I’m not.

No actor sticks to one production house:Rani Mukherji

Rani Mukerji, who is known to be a Yash Raj Films loyalist, is finally working out of this banner which the industry is lauding. We grilled her with a couple of hard-hitting questions.

You’re back on screen after almost a year-and-a-half. Why have your screen appearances become so sparse?
I’ve not become that selective. As an actor, I do roles that I enjoy. I can’t randomly do roles or be present in a film without contributing much to it. I have done that before. My fans expect a certain Rani Mukerji onscreen. If they don’t get that, they will be disappointed. I can only do roles that are great for me as an actor and that are meaty. I don’t talk about the roles that I have rejected. I don’t say things like, ‘Oh, this came to me, but I said no.’ I’m not an actor like that.
Your last few films with Yash Raj haven’t done well. Is that why you stepped out of the camp?
No actor sticks to one production house. An actor is here to act and pick great roles and scripts. I was getting great roles from Yash Raj at that point — roles that any actor would give an arm to do. I stand by those films regardless of their fate. When I get a film from another production house, I do it. Having said that, Yash Raj is a very important banner. I’d love to work with it all my life.

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