Meet the cute foursome of Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na

It rarely happens that a film (Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na) captures the collective imagination of a giant wave of people. It is even more surprising when a film with absolute newcomers maneouver the pilot’s box with such confident dexterity. Of course there were the huge marketing muscles of producer Aamir Khan, Read More">but still one can’tRead More

It rarely happens that a film (Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na) captures the collective imagination of a giant wave of people. It is even more surprising when a film with absolute newcomers maneouver the pilot's box with such confident dexterity. Of course there were the huge marketing muscles of producer Aamir Khan, but still one can't take away anything from the solid performances put in by young Imran and Genelia. Apart from the lead players, the bunch of chirpy new birds Nirav Mehta (Jiggy), Karan Makhija (Rotlu), Alishka Varde (Bombs) and Sugandha Garg (Shaleen) that form the gang had distinct extended roles and they've done full justice through very fine performances. We let you peep into their lives and allow you to find out how different are they from their much -loved characters.

Karan Makhija (Rotlu)

"Give me coca cola on the rocks"

A heartbroken Rotlu asks for his poison when he realizes he doesn't have much chance with kabhi chirpy kabhi moody Aditi. "Yaar ye to ek aur rotlu ho gaya hai…main to insecure ho raha hoon," he says at a rather somber moment in the film, making everyone in the cinema hall crack up. Well, 'timing' is his strength as an actor and that's where a substantial theatre background comes in handy. "I've done 18-20 plays," he says. Makhija made his debut in films with Anurag Kashyap's No Smoking as one of John Abraham's friends. What's the best reaction that you've got for Jaane Tu? "We were at INOX, Nariman Point and were talking to the audience when a boy said, hey he is Karan Makhija, he was our senior in school (Green Lawn, Breach Candy). Its great being recognized in malls, signing autographs. We were stopped 5 times in a Delhi mall." Alright and how was the experience of going to cities like Pune and Nagpur with Aamir post the release of the film? "He talks to 10, 000 people...watching him interact is amazing. He really cares about audience." Karan Makhija shall be seen next in Saeed Mirza's Savdhan Meri Jaan. He plans to do few good films at a time rather than joining the rat race...Why do we smell 'perfectionism' already...its infectious I guess.

Nirav Mehta (Jiggy) “The kind of reactions we’ve got in smaller cities is nothing in big cities like Bombay and Delhi, ” says this Narsee Monjee BMS graduate who’s still coming to terms with the huge response his first film has generated. In the film, when he tells Rotlu outside a Disc, “Hisaab rakh” or instructs, Read More">Read More

Nirav Mehta (Jiggy)

"The kind of reactions we've got in smaller cities is nothing in big cities like Bombay and Delhi," says this Narsee Monjee BMS graduate who's still coming to terms with the huge response his first film has generated. In the film, when he tells Rotlu outside a Disc, "Hisaab rakh" or instructs, "Rames light to dim kar" as soon as the melodious 'Kahin Toh Hogi Woh' wafts along in night air and you know he isn't a trained actor. But instead he's someone who naturally enjoys himself before the camera. Just for record's sake, he could have missed being a part of the film if the production house hadn't given him a go-ahead to finish his exams during the course of the shooting. While he is a conventional Gujju boy (dressing boringly) in the film who invites people for his own 'surprise birthday party'; in reality he's smart and handsome. In fact for a video interview in our office he kept all of us waiting while he groomed himself royally in washroom. So, Jiggy (oops Nirav) what's your acting background? "No acting background. I've done lots of street plays and that's how got spotted during a college play. When the assistant directors asked me for a test and I khaod a lot of bhaav." Khaaod bhao..but why? "I didn't want to do cinema at all. I was really happy doing my own thing." Alright now that you've done the film what's your favourite scene from the film? "It's the scene where the police man says, sir terrorist meow meow kar raha hai..." Nirav is biding his time for the time being waiting for scripts that excite him and basking in all the adulation that is pouring in from all sides. Way to go dude!

Sugandha Garg (Shaleen) “Aur Aditi ke papa ne Jai ko dus laakh ka check de kar kaha meri beti ko chod do” Well, Read More">that’s the kind of cracking lines Shaleen spits out effortlessly in the film. Even the building-the-curiosity moments at the stroke of interval come from her too. “O yeah…like crazy”. That’s her takiaRead More

Sugandha Garg (Shaleen)

"Aur Aditi ke papa ne Jai ko dus laakh ka check de kar kaha meri beti ko chod do"

Well, that's the kind of cracking lines Shaleen spits out effortlessly in the film. Even the building-the-curiosity moments at the stroke of interval come from her too. "O yeah...like crazy". That's her takia kalaam whenever she has to stress on the huge highs during the entire filming process. She sings really well and she hit all the right chords hit while strumming guitar in 'Kabhi Kabhi Aditi' and 'Nazrein Milana' melodies. "No particular acting background but I feel very instinctive about it. It's something that has happened to me and I'd like to stick to it for the rest of my life," she says. As for her stylishly streaked red hair, here's the spoiler, "The hair were not actually streaked. They are extensions...there's a lock of red hair and there's a little comb attached to it." How was the experience of working in an Aamir Khan Production? "They took care of us. Aamir came during the workshop and heard us read a bit. But I think he was quite sure of us...I know it's a bit presumptuous to say that but he was like it's going to be fine." Life post Jaane Tu for this 20 something is a mindboggling 100 let's-be-friends requests (in a day) on a networking site and the fact that her film is starting the day at 6.50 am in the morning at a Mumbai multiplex is an understandably unbelievable experience. "I've been reading a lot of scripts, doing auditions, meeting really interesting people. We are at a very good time in the industry as there's really nice work happening for everyone." She ended with a judge-banging-in-his-sentence expression, "I'm hoping to be a superb actress one day." We'd say, girl, you are one already

Alishka Varde (Bombs) Now, she’s absolutely non-filmy. Although she is pretty, Read More">she hasn’t had a photo portfolio done. Her home baked pictures nicely rub off on the realistic flavour of her first film. She is a wedding planner and takes her work damn seriously (she didn’t skip office to do a celebrity chat with usRead More

Alishka Varde (Bombs)

Now, she's absolutely non-filmy. Although she is pretty, she hasn't had a photo portfolio done. Her home baked pictures nicely rub off on the realistic flavour of her first film. She is a wedding planner and takes her work damn seriously (she didn't skip office to do a celebrity chat with us in office...and we applaud her commitment to work). "I've done an interior designing course from SNDT, Juhu," she informs when we chat up on phone. Interestingly, the manner in which she got to do the film is straight out of a filmy script. "I was sitting in a Barista with my friend Paakhi. She told me that the man sitting in that corner is famous writer Abbas Tyrewala. Later, Paakhi married Abbas and their wedding happened to be my first assignment as a wedding planner." Alishka added that Paakhi's mum Veena Mehta happens to be a fine acting teacher and she did a two month workshop followed by a ten day workshop with Abbas at Panchagani. Now that the film has been declared a blockbuster, Alishka is "surprised" by its success and her phone hasn't stopped ringing. So, will we be seeing you in more films? "I'd like to take acting seriously only if I am getting quality work". In the film she may be slightly dumb but in real life this young wedding planner is absolutely sorted out. Best wishes Alishka!