“I’d love to work with Raju Hirani and Anurag Kashyap” – Aarti Chabria

“Manoj Bajpayee isn’t about a hit or a flop. He is about what we call ‘performance'” I’ve worked with Mr. Bachchan, Govinda, Read More">Akshay Kumar and Vivek Oberoi. But Manoj Bajpayee falls into a different league of actors. He isn’t a super star. He is just a good actor. I’ve always looked up to him asRead More

"Manoj Bajpayee isn't about a hit or a flop. He is about what we call 'performance'"

I've worked with Mr. Bachchan, Govinda, Akshay Kumar and Vivek Oberoi. But Manoj Bajpayee falls into a different league of actors. He isn't a super star. He is just a good actor. I've always looked up to him as an actor since his Satya days to Raajneeti. Even his films which haven't done well at the Box Office like Acid Factory or Jail, he really stood his own. Manoj Bajpayee isn't in the industry because of his hits, because a hit or a flop doesn't matter to his career as much as his performances matter. There is Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar and then there is Manoj Bajpayee. I'm proud today to have got a chance to work with an actor like Manoj.

"Directors get so influenced by external forces to alter their story but not Ajoy"

This is Ajoy's first film. He is my Shyam Benegal right now. I have to work with people who give me opportunities and Ajoy got the best out of me so far in my long ongoing career. I want to work with him again. He kept his stand and what's good is that what he narrated to me and what we saw at the premiere night was the same. He didn't fiddle too much with the story. Directors get so influenced by external forces to alter their story but not Ajoy. That's why I respect him.

"I am very superstitious"

I have two films that I have promised my time to. I am so superstitious that I don't want to disclose anything beyond this. There was a time when I started to shoot films but mid way or even before that, the films got shelved. I'll talk about my films once they are nearer completion.

“All that shines is not Gold” It is a loss if the audiences haven’t watched Dus Tola on the big screen. In times when films like Dev D, Udaan, Tere Bin Laden, etc. are working well, Read More">Dus Tola falls under the same category. The next best thing for the audiences who’ve not seen the filmRead More

"All that shines is not Gold"

It is a loss if the audiences haven't watched Dus Tola on the big screen. In times when films like Dev D, Udaan, Tere Bin Laden, etc. are working well, Dus Tola falls under the same category. The next best thing for the audiences who've not seen the film can catch it on the DVD. Dus Tola isn't senseless. It's got a beautiful moral. Its humour filled in bits and places and intelligent. Dus Tola isn't about cheap comedy and stupid jokes. Dus Tola is unique in its comic genre and drama because it shines and how... and is truly priceless.

"I'd love to work with Raju Hirani and Anurag Kashyap"

I am great fan of Raj Kumar Hirani and would love to work with him someday. I believe that day is not far away. I am sending messages across the universe every day saying, 'Somewhere, someone please make this happen'. But the list is endless. There is Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Anurag Basu and Madhur Bhandarkar.

Read More">“I’ve waited for the solo film where it’s just the hero and I and Dus Tola gave me that” Most of what I’ve done till now have been glamorous roles and being a part of multi-starrers. But I’ve really waited for the solo film where it’s just the hero and me. Dus Tola gave meRead More

"I've waited for the solo film where it's just the hero and I and Dus Tola gave me that"

Most of what I've done till now have been glamorous roles and being a part of multi-starrers. But I've really waited for the solo film where it's just the hero and me. Dus Tola gave me that opportunity. It doesn't matter how the film is doing but what matters is the appreciation coming my way which I'm happy about.

"Dus Tola should do the rounds of the various festivals I think"

Dus Tola is a kind of film that should go to the festivals. That is completely a call that the producer and the director have to take. As much as I want it and Manoj Bajpayee wants it or we all want it, I don't know whether it'll go to the extent of being a part of the many festivals around the globe.

"I've never been a part of any controversy to gain limelight"

Aarti Chabria fits into a space of her own where everyone knows me today as a good actor. Many who used to doubt that saw Awara Paagal Deewana's and have appreciated my role. That was just my second film. Being from a non filmy family, never a part of controversy to gain limelight, being no big hero's girlfriend has made me struggle more than others. I've made a mark of my own because of my ability and passion for acting or else I would've got married and happily settled in life like everybody else has.

Sexiness, it turns out, is not something Aarti Chabria takes all that seriously. Acting? You bet. Relationships? We’ll figure that out soon. Politics? Don’t get her started. On meeting her at her Andheri residence, Read More">you first fall in love with her beautifully decorated spacious terrace apartment on the seventh floor. You further get impressed withRead More

Sexiness, it turns out, is not something Aarti Chabria takes all that seriously. Acting? You bet. Relationships? We'll figure that out soon. Politics? Don't get her started. On meeting her at her Andheri residence, you first fall in love with her beautifully decorated spacious terrace apartment on the seventh floor. You further get impressed with the bright colours around the dining area and the hall. Then she says, "I hate bright colours. I am more of a 'white' person. I love white. It's so pure and clean." And that's when you look at her from an arm's distance and ask yourself, "Where the hell was this lost diamond all this while?" She purses her beautiful lips, drops her chin, and lifts her striking eyes coyly. But she can only hold the look for about five seconds before dissolving into a fit of laughter. Chabria has prepared a delicious surprise. It's 'Ragda Patis'. We sit on the dining table as she serves me some with a tangy tamarind sauce over it and says, "I've helped my cook prepare this. I hope you like it." I grab a bite and dream of self inviting myself for a dinner next time." As I return back to awareness, I notice Aarti again. She has cut her hair and is looking sweet in her comfy denims complimenting her green top. But the truth is, even dressed in the simplest of attire; Chabria has an innate and magnetic sensuality. That quality is on display when you are lucky enough to meet her in flesh. But all that's personal. Professionally, Aarti has done small roles on the big screen and her new movie Dus Tola is getting her all the critical acclaim she has been waiting for since her debut. Relationship and marriage can wait for Chabria. What can't is her enduring passion to act in Hindi films. Her life's goals are "to be a good person, to follow my passion, and to expand my mind." And no doubt she'll use every weapon in her arsenal - confidence, laser-beam focus, and an unparalleled ability to make any man fall for her. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent finds out more about Aarti Chabria and her love for movies over some delectable Ragda Patis, Malteasers and Toblerone.

"Dus Tola isn't a huge starrer but it got critical acclaim"

Dus Tola is a film to doubt the most out of all the releases all the releases of last Friday. All the films released are of different genres. Although I've always been an ardent fan of Ram Gopal Varma and I've worked with Vivek, Rakht Charitra is a very gory film with lots of bloodshed. A film like RC isn't for all types of audiences. Jhootha Hi Sahi too hasn't had a good opening and Hisss too has fallen prey. But Dus Tola has got the critical acclaim that we were so longing for. Yes, we too never expected a large opening because it isn't a huge starrer. Dus Tola is a word of mouth film and can be termed as a 'khara sona' (true diamond).