sweety
10-08-2004, 07:05 AM
Tanishaa: “Kajol is the saint, I'm the sinner!”
MADHUREETA MUKHERJEE
INDIATIMES MOVIES
She comes from great stock. A distinguished gene pool of talent, beauty and power. No wonder expectations of her to deliver that K.O. of woman power are higher than ever. With elder sister Kajol having made an indelible impact on the silver-screen, the fans have now cast their roving eyes towards dreamy-eyed Tanishaa.
Her debut into tinselville (‘Shssh...’) was silenced early. But Mukherji gals are made of stern stuff. Too tough to be trampled by ‘Friday fate’. Tanishaa may carry the baggage of being compared to big didi, but does it weigh her down?
“I think it’s fabulous that I’m being compared to Kajol. You’re already elevating me to her level. Well, you guys don’t compare Mallika to Kajol, or to Madhuri Dixit for that matter!” reinforces Tanishaa, with the typical Bong fire coming to the fore.
Still, don’t the sky-high expectations give her nightmares?
“I want them to have high expectations. I trust my genes. I’m sure I will prove myself one day. I know I will,” she says with strong conviction.
With many of her family’s traits evident in her, we wonder about the one similarity and difference between her and Kajol...
Cackling with laughter, she says, “Kajol is the saint and I’m the sinner. And don’t ask me why, that’s something I can’t tell you. And the common factor between us is our mother – and from her we get our values and upbringing.”
The last year has seen a complete image-makeover in the girl – from Ms Puppy-fat, to sexy-n-slim.
With a thankful bow at the compliment, she continues, “After my accident I put on a lot of weight, as I was completely inactive. I had to lose almost ten kilos and I don’t have to explain how hard that was. A few months ago everyone would tell me, ‘Oh ... you’re looking huge!’ And I have always been fitness conscious; after all I am very tiny - some 5 foot nothing. So for me to accept that ‘excess’ fat was difficult. I kept telling myself – this cannot happen to me!”
And how important is it for an actress to look glamorous and sexy on-screen?
“I think it was even important in the 60s, and more so now. Basically because models are coming in and with them, the anorexic image; so for a normal, healthy-eating person like me, it’s impossible to be an anorexic chic. But, yes, we have to look good superficially, because it is a superficial industry. It’s all about presenting a pretty, nice picture,” says Tanishaa.
Ever since the Mallika Sherawat syndrome struck Bollywood, every young actress is ready to bare her bod. So how far will Tich go?
Pat comes a bewildered reply, “Now she has a syndrome named after her? It’s amazing! If it justifies my character, I will think about it. But frankly, I’m a traditional Indian girl at heart. There’s not far that I can go. At the same time, I will not wear a burkha. I have already locked lips with Dino, but a lip-kiss on-screen can even be like a peck. While sometimes even holding hands can be more intimate.“
On one hand there were dozens of beauty queens storming tinselville; on the other, a brigade of Bengali bombshells exploding all over the place. What does this Bong beauty have to say about all that?
Her eyes glinting mischievously with typical Tich spirit, she concludes, “All I can say is – Go Bong!”
MADHUREETA MUKHERJEE
INDIATIMES MOVIES
She comes from great stock. A distinguished gene pool of talent, beauty and power. No wonder expectations of her to deliver that K.O. of woman power are higher than ever. With elder sister Kajol having made an indelible impact on the silver-screen, the fans have now cast their roving eyes towards dreamy-eyed Tanishaa.
Her debut into tinselville (‘Shssh...’) was silenced early. But Mukherji gals are made of stern stuff. Too tough to be trampled by ‘Friday fate’. Tanishaa may carry the baggage of being compared to big didi, but does it weigh her down?
“I think it’s fabulous that I’m being compared to Kajol. You’re already elevating me to her level. Well, you guys don’t compare Mallika to Kajol, or to Madhuri Dixit for that matter!” reinforces Tanishaa, with the typical Bong fire coming to the fore.
Still, don’t the sky-high expectations give her nightmares?
“I want them to have high expectations. I trust my genes. I’m sure I will prove myself one day. I know I will,” she says with strong conviction.
With many of her family’s traits evident in her, we wonder about the one similarity and difference between her and Kajol...
Cackling with laughter, she says, “Kajol is the saint and I’m the sinner. And don’t ask me why, that’s something I can’t tell you. And the common factor between us is our mother – and from her we get our values and upbringing.”
The last year has seen a complete image-makeover in the girl – from Ms Puppy-fat, to sexy-n-slim.
With a thankful bow at the compliment, she continues, “After my accident I put on a lot of weight, as I was completely inactive. I had to lose almost ten kilos and I don’t have to explain how hard that was. A few months ago everyone would tell me, ‘Oh ... you’re looking huge!’ And I have always been fitness conscious; after all I am very tiny - some 5 foot nothing. So for me to accept that ‘excess’ fat was difficult. I kept telling myself – this cannot happen to me!”
And how important is it for an actress to look glamorous and sexy on-screen?
“I think it was even important in the 60s, and more so now. Basically because models are coming in and with them, the anorexic image; so for a normal, healthy-eating person like me, it’s impossible to be an anorexic chic. But, yes, we have to look good superficially, because it is a superficial industry. It’s all about presenting a pretty, nice picture,” says Tanishaa.
Ever since the Mallika Sherawat syndrome struck Bollywood, every young actress is ready to bare her bod. So how far will Tich go?
Pat comes a bewildered reply, “Now she has a syndrome named after her? It’s amazing! If it justifies my character, I will think about it. But frankly, I’m a traditional Indian girl at heart. There’s not far that I can go. At the same time, I will not wear a burkha. I have already locked lips with Dino, but a lip-kiss on-screen can even be like a peck. While sometimes even holding hands can be more intimate.“
On one hand there were dozens of beauty queens storming tinselville; on the other, a brigade of Bengali bombshells exploding all over the place. What does this Bong beauty have to say about all that?
Her eyes glinting mischievously with typical Tich spirit, she concludes, “All I can say is – Go Bong!”