“Whenever a director wants to cast me in a role, I should not be lacking in anything” - Neetu Chandra 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, October 12, 2005 - 09:22 IST
Neetu Chandra hails from Patna and has a Martial Arts background. Hmm…some competition for Akshay! Has been seen in lots of ads including one directed by Priyadarshan himself. Danced to the tunes of Abhijeet and Bombay Vikings in their videos and is now learning Kathak. Martial Arts and Kathak? An explosive background here.
In the second excerpt from the series of three interviews of introducing the Garam Masala girls, here's presenting Neetu Chandra to you in an exclusive conversation with IndiaFM.
How did this role come about?
Well, I have been doing a lot of ads. I did ads for brands like Mak Lubricant, Mint-O Fresh, IDEA Mobile, Stayfree, ICICI, Maska Chaska, Hero Honda and Cadbury. I then did a video for Abhijeet as well as for Bombay Vikings. While doing these things, I learnt a lot. I was waiting to get a launch like this. And I think I have been blessed to get a director like Priyadarshan for my debut. Also, the banner, Venus has been great. Ratan Jain has been like a guardian while we were shooting. He has been taking care of us, and has been there whenever we needed him. Of course nothing can be better than co stars like Akshay and John. I just loved the entire setup. I'm grateful to God to get this opportunity. And also my mother who has been encouraging me to get into this. I have been working on myself since the past two and a half years. I have worked on my skin, hair, body, etc. Being a north Indian, my Hindi is pretty good. Yeh prove karne ke liye main aapse Hindi main baat kar leti hoon. Sirf bolne se kaam nahin chalta, karna bhi padta hai! Mujhe laga ki shayad mere launch hone ka waqt aa gaya hai. Abhi bhi kahungi ki bahut khush hoon ki aisa setup mila hai!
You sound super excited about your debut!
I am very excited!
When someone makes a debut with such a big banner, the pressure also builds up. How did you feel when you knew that this would be your debut film?
To be very honest, I don't have any feeling! I am completely blank right now! I'm taking everything as it comes. I don't believe in future or past but only present. When I was finalized for the movie, I thanked God and just believed that I am blessed. I still don't know how to react! Being so over excited has made me blank! Sorry, but I don't have anything to say about being excited!
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After every shot I would ask Paresh Rawal if there was any scope for improvement
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How was it working with Akshay and John?
I think both Akshay and John are amazing persons! The first thing I must mention about Akshay is that he is a very hard working guy. Being a senior actor, he could have shown us all attitude and not mingled with us. But he made us feel very comfortable. And it's not only us. Everyone from the art designer to the camera man feels very comfortable because of Akshay. I respect him for his sincerity and what he is today. I have never seen him come late on the sets or shouting at anyone on the set. Once he hurt his head, and being the professional that he is, he was ready to shoot within ten minutes. He said that if he didn't shoot at that time, there would be problems for a lot of people. What else does anyone want?
John, of course is a very good looking guy. Everyone around him used to just go gaga over him. And he is so sweet, that whenever he gave autographs, he wrote the names of the fans. He gave attention to each and every fan. He is a great human being. It was a pleasure working with him.
Tell us about the fun incidents with these guys.
There is a song called Dooba Dooba in which I wear a swimsuit along with these guys. We had to run for the shot. It was almost like a race.. on your marks.. get set and go!. These guys would just take off and I would be far behind. I used to crib that these guys run so fast. It was great fun shooting with them. They have been a lot of fun and mischievous.
Paresh Rawal is like the grand master of comedy! What is it that you learnt from him?
The first scene of Garam Masala that I had to do was with Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. Here I was, this new comer. My expression that day was something to see. My mouth was actually wide open! I forgot the dialogue! I had to keep pinching myself to believe that this was really happening to me. Paresh Rawal has been great. After some shots I would ask him if there was any scope for improvement. Being such a great actor, he said I was doing fine. I took it as a huge compliment, coming from a person like Paresh Rawal.
Were there moments when you felt that you had gone completely wrong?
Yes, of course. I feel that till the last breath, life is all about learning. This is what my mom has always taught me. Coming from a sports background, I take everything positively. Acting is also about knowing the technical aspects of film making such as the lighting and camera angles. These parts are also very essential to film making. Sometimes Priyan Sir has screamed at me, because the co ordination is all wrong. However, I have taken it very positively. It is ultimately for the good of the movie and I have learnt so much. I take him as a principal of a school who has been taking care of us. He has been extremely professional. I remember him shooting for 2-3 days at a stretch without any sleep.
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I represented India in sports and even got an award from the Prime Minister
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You're from a sports background like Akshay. Even John is into sports. So the rapport between all you guys must have been great!
Yes I am from a sports background. I am a basketball player as well as a martial artist. I represented India and even got an award from the Prime Minister. Being a sportsman, Akshay has that spirit. He is full of energy. We did not really get time to have discussions on the set, but because of our common love background, we had a great rapport. I am more attracted to sports people! Their soul is pure. Not that others do not have a pure soul, but there is that mental rejuvenation.
So how did the switch in your career happen from sports to showbiz?
For a woman in India, pursuing sports as a career is quite tough. Probably it is not the right thing to say, but I would like to say it. Our Government should promote the sports people who are really good. Many people have had to leave their sports career because of sponsorship problems. Can you even count five sports, especially for women, that are being promoted by our Government. Right now, tennis is being promoted. There have been times when I have cried, thinking that I want to pursue a career in sports. But I have not seen any way to go about it. I also have a musical background. My mom has a double MA is music. I think art is in my blood! I believe doing my homework is very important. That would include your kathak, martial arts, gym, skin and hair.
How do you unwind after a hectic day?
This is an important question for me, because being from a sports background I am a very disciplined person. I sleep at 9:30 pm everyday! I get up at 6:30 am and do my yoga and dance class. When I am free, I play basketball. That is mental rejuvenation for me. I listen to a lot of music. I love the music of the film Morning Raga. I love shastriya sangeet. Not that I hear it all the time, but whenever I get free time, I want to listen to Sa Re Ga Ma! Though, I don't look like that, but I actually am a very simple person. I have worked hard to be where I am today. After doing so many ads, for two and a half years, it is a dream come true that you guys are taking my interview.
What is your role in the movie?
I play a very hot girl in the film. It had been shot very aesthetically. She is a vegetarian and is very bubbly! She is an air hostess who is in love with Akshay. Akshay is three timing. She is also always very angry and is blasting the servant, played by Mr. Paresh Rawal. This is a small step towards my goal. I don't compete with anyone. I just work on myself. Every individual has their own personality and perceptions. I think there is no alternative for hard work. You must just work towards yourself. Which is why I really need your best wishes and blessings. Otherwise I'll snatch it.
I'm sure people must be hitting on you all the time!
No actually because I am a very tomboyish kind of person! I love being feminine and I think I can carry it well. I am a bubbly character! If someone is dreaming about me, they might also be running away thinking of my martial arts background! That's not fair actually! Because I am a nice girl! I am learning Kathak and adding things to my profile. Whenever a director wants to cast me in a role, I should not be lacking in anything. Whenever, I am free, I try polishing myself more and more.
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Garam Masala: Promo Watch
