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READY FOR THE KILL!
With 'Josh', Priya Gill is back in the reckoning
BY TANUJ GARG

"People think of Priya Gill only when there's a performance-oriented role. Why can't they understand that I want to do lighter roles. Even I want to be a glam-doll and wear fancy clothes."

You made an impressive debut with 'Tere Mere Sapne' but began fading out?
I've never got an opportunity to play a character that is 'me'. I'm always stuck with roles where I have to portray a quiet, sensitive and shy girl. I just wish people would give me roles where I'm doing comedy and portraying a fun-loving girl. I've always been told that I've got a fresh and innocent look. What they don't realise is that I have a versatile face which can portray a wide range of emotions. I would also love to run around trees and look like a glam doll rather than doing roles with only substance in them. I'm dying to wear fancy clothes in my films.

Are you trying to say that you would not mind wearing revealing clothes?
If I am comfortable in a certain attire,why not? What's also important is the director I'm working with. If he convinces me that the scene and my character demand that I wear revealing clothes, it's fine.

So far, how would you evaluate your career?
So far so good (laughs). I think it's too soon to evaluate. But I've definitely enjoyed my work so far. People tell me that the roles that I've played don't generally come that early in one's career. When we were shooting for 'Sirf Tum', Sushmita commented that she would do anything to do the role that I was playing. But like I said, now I want to do lighter roles as well.

Describe your role in 'Josh'
I'm playing a Goan Christian girl who's a little snooty. It's a cute role, where the heroine is not chasing the hero. It's the other way round. Shahrukh is chasing me in the film and I don't give a damn for his efforts. The more he tries to woo me and impress me, the more I push him away. I find him rowdy. Later on, of course I'm captivated by him and hang around with his gang. I even play football with them. It's a look which people haven't seen me in before.

People feel that you should have been cast opposite Chandrachur Singh?
No one has told me that before! In fact, my fans keep writing to me that I should work opposite Hrithik and Salman. So I'm sure they'll be happy that I'm opposite Shahrukh Khan.

Films with a Catholic background don't generally work with the audience; take 'Khamoshi' for instance?
I don't think it's got anything to do with the story. As long as the film has a story line, which is acceptable to the audience, I don't think the background really matters. There is a certain look about the film, that old, groovy kind of look. It's got the feel of old Goa to it. There is never a dull moment in the film. 'Josh' has a lot of 'josh' in it!

'Josh' has been long in the making. Don't you feel that it might have lost its appeal?
I can't say anything about the appeal because the expectations from the film are high.

You have been linked up with director Mansoor Khan?
Gosh, this is pathetic! Though I have a good sense of humour, I can't laugh at this one!

Though Chandrachur and you have done two films together, the two of you ignored each other at the 'Josh' music release function. Why?
Chandrachur entered after me and we were all standing together and chatting. We've even done a television interview together. Had we been chatting constantly, people would have said that we were going around! Either ways, there's a problem!

Has Ashok Ghai cleared your dues for 'Shyam Ghansham'?
No.

During the making of 'Bade Dilwala', you made up a story about breaking your feet while shooting and annoyed Shakeel Noorani?
No comments. I love the way people turn around and say that I broke my foot just to annoy the director. I'm tired of justifying myself. I have nothing to say about the guy and his film. All I can say is, if he's still shouting from the rooftops about this, then someone please give him some attention!

You seem to have the tag of a troublemaker in the industry. Naveen Vadde, a Telugu actor, recently called for a press conference asking the Telugu film industry to ban you! True?
Really? I don't know of this. To the best of my knowledge I don't think something like this has happened.

You were good in 'Sirf Tum' but it hasn't really benefited your career?
To a certain extent, the 'herd mentality' is very rampant here. I told you that I'm thought of when there is a performance-oriented role. If there's a role, which involves only glamour, then I'm not even considered. It's nice to be doing my kind of roles but someone please consider me for a footloose and fancy-free character. I want to experiment with different characters and roles.

Despite your looks and talent, you still haven't made it in the top league?
(Smiles) Thank you for complimenting me on my looks and talent. The policy in this industry is that you have to go around saying- 'I'm the best!' My PR is bad, I can't go around smooth-talking people and asking for work. I'm not pushy and I don't have a Godfather. Whatever I am today is because of myself and I owe a lot to God and my family. In the initial stage of my career I had Jayaji who guided me. Sridevi complimented me on my performance in 'Sirf Tum'. Anyway, I'm optimistic and sure that the industry is going to realise my worth.

Future projects?
'Border Hindustan Ka' with Aamir and Faisal and a Priyadarshan film.

Readers and fans may e-mail Priya at [email protected]