MUMBAI: There is no denying that Minissha Lamba has the looks, but the petite actress who was in town to take part in a fashion show turned out to be quite different from her on-screen image Picture 'Cher', Alicia Silverstone's character, from the beloved Hollywood teen classic 'Clueless' sans a vestige of her adorable vulnerability and Silverstone’s comic timing, and you have Minissha Lamba's sub-par portrayal of (an unconvincing) 17 year-old in 'Kidnap'. And yet her haughty claim to us is, “Characters have to be realistic. That's what I endeavour for.” Not the first hypocrite Indian cinema has seen, and definitely not the last. With her fragile-as-a-flower looks, the natural presumption is that Lamba would possess a befitting pleasant disposition. But after a four-hour long wait, and a condescension-inflected tone, Lamba's behaviour transcends from acceptable to fairly unpleasant.
Post ‘Kidnap’ you received plenty of criticism for being unable to pull off the look of a 17 year-old. Weren’t you ever apprehensive about playing such a young part?
I definitely was apprehensive. But there were other dynamics involved. At the end of the day, everyone has to look good onscreen. The older we made the daughter, the older her parents would have to be. And we needed the parents to be young and dashing, because they're not just parents, the father is also the hero of the film. So, that was the dichotomy that we were caught in.
Was it hard work losing all that weight for the role?
Yes, it was very hard work! It took me a total of eight months. I lost about 5-6 kilos. But that's about it. I mainly needed toning up.
But even though you looked stunning, you were also criticised for your excessive skin show in the movie.
That I was. But I've taken it constructively; I’ve learnt from it. There were certain things that I was uncomfortable doing, but when there are four-five people sitting in a room, someone can talk you out of that, and you’re convinced that it'll be alright. But when the film comes out, and you have four-five hundred million people watching, the very same apprehensions are brought up by the audience. So, that is the lesson I’ve learnt.
So, then, do you plan to refrain from skin show from here on out?
No, that’s character driven. I will still be playing glamourous characters in films. But I won't play a college girl who's in love with a college guy, and be an ultra-glam girl, unless, of course, she's Reese Witherspoon from 'Legally Blonde'.
Tell us a bit about your future projects.
Well, I have no clue about them. My future projects will not be available right now, because I don't know about them myself. I'm looking at projects, at things that are going to get set up. So, let's see. I think in the next two-three months, it should be clearer.
Which genre would you like to try your hand at next?
A period film for sure. Also, definitely a full-on, situational comedy. And also a beautiful romantic story.
A decade ago, someone like Kajol, who didn't have the perfect figure, but did some fine acting in her time, was acceptable. Today, have looks become more essential?
They have. Now, everyone expects you to look your best. Every weekend you have a new film on. A lot of stuff lacks quality. And therefore, when you are paying Rs250, a ticket, to watch a Hindi film, you want quick entertainment. You want it to grip you for every moment that you're in a theatre. And for actors to wow you. That's why people are more fierce about their demands. It has become a consumer society, and that has extended to demands to see something perfect on the screen.
One would like cinema to be a great medium of change. But we haven't had any instances where a film has revolutionalised people's lives. That hasn't happened till now. But we're hoping to at least keep people entertained.
Recent trends indicate that directors like to work with younger actresses. A lot of older actresses aren't doing much these days.
It's a phase, a part of life. When you're fresher, people are willing to watch you experiment. With someone who's been there, you have a particular image of them in your mind. Audiences can't see them in very drastic roles. As an actor you yourself also realise that, and you don't want to shock your audiences. It's cyclical; the new always gives way to the old.
Who's your favourite lead actor?
All of them. How boringly diplomatic! I look up to Amitabh Bachchan. Because he's extraordinarily tall, so you have no option but to look up to him (laughs).
Someone you fancy working with, as an artist?
Hrithik Roshan and Amir Khan. Actually the list is endless. There'd so many people that I want to work with. One can only hope that one’s around for that much longer.
Favourite actress from your contemporaries?
(Lengthy pause) More than contemporaries, it's the actresses of yesteryear that one looks up to, and that would be Madhuri. She’s the entire package. You couldn't segregate her as an actress or a fine looker or a dancer. There was a charisma about her. She was the representative of the quintessential Indian woman in the post Nargis and Madhubala years.