Anant Mahadevan's Anamika promises to be a spectacular film for its lavish production values, with the film shot in picturesque palaces of Rajasthan 
By Faridoon Shahryar, May 18, 2007 - 09:25 IST
One is tall, lanky, ultra glamorous and high on oomph-quotient. The other one is short, beautiful, intuitive (seems so), intelligent and a fine actress. Together they are as different as
honey-n-ginger. Yet director Ananth Mahadevan thought they were perfect for his “Romantic Mystery” (whatever that means) Anamika which also stars Dino Morea. Oops…we still
haven’t given away their names and we are already talking about Aksar boy Dino. Well…it’s none other than Money Money babe Koena Mitra and Yahaan beauty Minisha
Lamba who were the cynosure of ace photographer Avinash Gowarikar’s camera at the publicity stills photoshoot of Anamika yesterday at Mehboob Studio in Mumbai.
“Let’s not reveal too much about the story. Mysteries have not been seen on the scene off late. And romantic mystery is just what the doctor ordered,” says director Mahadevan who seems to
be turning into once-upon-a-time Mahesh Bhatt factory as he is currently involved with three films i.e. Anamika, Agar and VictoriaNo. 203. That’s what one hit film (Aksar,
musical hit) can do to one’s career. “There’s something about this man (Dino) who gets married to Minisha. There’s something about his place and then this girl lands up at their place and
then one realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye,” the director elaborates trying to conceal the actual plot with efficacious aplomb.
The photoshoot started with Koena in a jeans and tight shirt holding forth a mask on one side of her face. She repeated the same exercise while wearing a sexy black party number. Her
various poses danced away to glory on Gowarikar’s laptop as ‘I’ve been waiting for a girl like you’ blared from the speakers. “These are stills for a mask party where Koena discovers
something,” Mahadevan adds.
“The movie is very interesting. Now it has come to an end but it was great fun,” Koena said. Could you tell us something the film? “Three of us can’t talk. There is romance yet there is
suspense. I play Dino’s childhood friend who looks after his business, palaces…But I can’t say anything about my relationship with Dino’s wife.” Dino’s palaces….Hmmm….what’s that?
“Anamika would turn out to be one of the most lavish and spectacular films of this year because thanks to the production values, we have shot in a very picturesque palace in Bikaner
plus two other palaces,” Ananth Mahadevan informs. “The look of the film is beautiful. Bikaner, Gajner, sandstorms…it’s beautiful,” Koena gushes.
It was time for us to get the man calling the shots to do some talking about what the photoshoot was all about? “We are just doing a photoshoot after the movie has been completed. The
stills will be used for the publicity of the film, DVD covers, cassette covers, hoardings in theatres etc. I am just trying to get the essence of the film out,” Gowarikar said. What is it that he has
to keep in mind before or while doing such a photoshoot? “Essence of the film is important. We are trying to look beyond. They’ve already shot the film. They are out of the character. What
is happening is to get them back into that kind of mood.”
As Minisha Lamba entered the big hall there was a vibrant energy of positivity. The two heroines were warm-n-cordial. Whoever said two heroines can’t be friends or nice must be a bozo. Or
have the duo learnt the tricks of acting to a reasonable degree of perfection….Uhm guess it’s time to be less bitchy and more action.
Lamba shot in three changes, a white flowing outfit being the most notable. “Anamika is a very special film. It is inspired by a book, a classic subject close to my heart. It is a timeless story
and it’s a privilege to be a part of it. It’s a film which is magical in its journey,” Minisha says. Which book has been the inspiration for the film? “I can’t tell you now but maybe later…”
Hmmmm…but you can at least let us know the author of that classic. “You are very smart…ha ha….so that you can find out the name of the book….ha ha” Uhm….never really thought about
the smartness part….but if a pretty lady is saying it…must be true we guess. Hah!
Two heroines, one hero…is it a love triangle offerings scope for histrionics? “It’s not a love triangle. I don’t believe in histrionics, over the top emotions. I believe in subtlety and
understatement as much as possible. It is much more complex in the relationships, complex in the dynamics and what are the things that can drive people apart. The film allowed us to shoot
in locales which were majestic,” says Minisha Lamba.
It was getting late in the night. Maybe time for one last crucial question. Music of Ananth Mahadevan’s Aksar was super hit. Jhalak Dikhlaja is still a chartbuster and will remain
so. But Himesh Reshammiya hasn’t been repeated in Anamika (one of the first films Mahadevan started after Aksar). “Anu Malik is on board. It is a very inspired score. Five tracks.
Each track has its own flavour,” Mahadevan said preferring to say nothing on the man-with-the-cap.
It remains to be seen if Aksar magic is repeated with Anamika. As for this photoshoot, flashbulbs dimmed for the night. It was time for pack-up. Work done for the day…
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Anamika will mark Anant Mahadevan’s first in the trilogy series
