Amrita hai na

Amrita Rao is still ecstatic about the amazing success of her film Ishq Vishq, and this year will bring more rewards for her. She stars in a film that could be the biggest film of 2004,- Main Hoon Na. The petite Amrita talks how she bagged such a big film, about her director Farah Khan and of course, she tells us what makes Shah Rukh Khan the King Khan of Bollywood.

In your very first year in the industry you seem to have made quite an impact?
It feels great because I don't come from a film background. Whatever I achieve is on my own steam, so my success feels even better, it is huge thing for me.

Starring in a Shah Rukh Khan home production and a Farah Khan film, takes your career to a different level.
Yes, I am really excited about it and thankful that I got this opportunity. Farah Khan's film happened at a very critical stage of my career. Gauri Khan spotted me in a coffee commercial and suggested that Farah should audition me.

Considering Farah is a choreographer-turned-director, the most important aspect of the audition must have been dancing?
The first thing Farah asked me - Can you dance? My heart skipped a beat because I am not formally trained in dance or acting. I had to audition for a dance sequence, then she gave me a scene to check my acting skills. She told me it was critical that Shah Rukh meets me, because he is the producer of the film. I crossed my fingers, met Shah Rukh, and then I was in.

Did you feel nervous, sharing the screen with King Khan?
Only after working with him you will know why he is called the King Khan. He is absolutely amazing and I have learnt so much from him. Above all, the one thing he told me that I will always remember is, nothing else matters between action and cut, everything else is secondary. That was amazing and so true; because while working we have to do all kinds of scenes So what he said makes so much of sense.

Are you playing a role similar to the college girl cutie you played in your previous hit Ishq Vishq?
Yes, in Main Hoon Na I play a college student again, just like in my last release Ishq Vishq. In Ishq Vishq I was a shy, sweet girl next door; but what is really interesting about this film is that I am a tomboy, unlike a typical actress. It is a look that Farah had conceptualised the character in. For the first time, you will see a Hindi film actress who is dressed like a rock star.

Filmfare.com