Paresh B Mehta (MID-DAY; August 31, 2018)

mid- day catches up with the glam doll who stole a million hearts from day one of her debut film as an actress. Now she prepares to steal a million more, with her debut as a producer and actor of upcoming film DESI MAGIC.

How do you manage to look hot and hotter with every year passing by?
Well thank you for you lovely compliments. Firstly I don’t see myself as hot (Ameesha gives out a big laugh) and for this I need to thank my fans who think of me that way. I am so delighted with my fans who have loved me all throughout since the time I played a simple Gadar girl and then the innocent wife I played in Bhool Bhulaya opposite Akhshay Kumar to the times of my ‘Sexy lazy lamhe’ song.

How do you manage to play so well and look so apt for each character with so much ease whereas it surely seems difficult?
Well it isn’t so hard for me and I am sure it isn’t for other actors as well. Sometimes when you are blessed with certain features or looks where you can look sexy as well as the homely wife, then it certainly becomes a lot easier for sure. For instance, in Race 2, I played this bubbly girl and that was fun and I really loved being a part of that action thriller. Coming to your question – Yes playing the bubbly character was almost like me in real life but in the future as an actor I would like to venture out doing various roles where as an actor I can showcase my real talent to my fans. I promise them that I shall always good quality work like something I’ve always done in the past as well.

As an actress how does that feel to become a producer too?
It feels great and I cannot wait to showcase my first film as a producer and as an actor very soon. Desi Magic is my debut film as a producer and finally it is now around the corner. We would announce its release date very soon. My business partner Kuunal Goomer and myself have left no stone unturned to make sure that Desi Magic lives up to the expectations, specially considering the time it has taken. All I can say is very soon its trailer will be out and I pray and hope all the curiosity and questions generated around the film will be answered once my fans get to see a glimpse of the product we have created. As of now, all I can say is confidently that as first time producers we are very proud the way it has turned out!

What is the film Desi Magic about?
It isn’t a slapstick nor is it a serious content based film. Desi Magic is and out-n-out entertainer with family emotions, comedy, great music and romance. It will appeal to all kinds of audiences as it is a full on masala film

Your recent photo-shoot with ace photographer Subi Samuel has become the talk of the town.
I am pleasantly surprised that even the social media has taken great notice of my recent pics, with some of them commented as ‘Shocking loads’ (giggles). Thanks for your lovely compliment which Subi equally deserves as he has done a great job.

You been quite active on social media of late .. is that a intentional decision?
Well I wasn’t active until the last 15 months. But now I think social media is a wonderful way to reach out to your fans and interact with them and also at the same time if it is used constructively, it can be very knowledgeable as well in several ways.

Who do you think is currently the most handsome Bollywood hero?
For me it was and will always be Hrithik Roshan as I always feel no one can match his looks and his dedication as an actor, at the same time no one can beat the charming and classy personality of SRK. I have also worked with Salman in Yeh hai Jalwa and with Aamir Khan in Mangal Pandey, both of them are simply amazing actors and super human beings as well. And of course each of them is thoroughly professional.

What do you feel about the journey ahead for you? Where does it lead to?
It may sound funny but I think my journey has just begin (she says it with a big smile). In time to come I hope that I can deliver some great performances and hopefully make my fans proud and happy and of course to my God above all - because of whom I am here. I heartily thank my business partner Kuunal Goomer who is very much involved with me in every aspect of Desi Magic and its making. He is so meticulous and remains particular about every small detail. He remains firm on what he wants in the film and he makes sure he executes things the way he has imagined it to be.

How is it working with Mr Randhir Kapoor who is playing your on screen father in Desi Magic?
Randhir Kapoor Sir is a delight to work with and he is a great human being. I feel so lucky to have worked with him.

Finally, how was it working with Sahil Shroff who is your co- star in the film?
Saahil Shroff is a top model and has a class of his own. He has an awesome personality and remains our surprise factor in the film. I am sure that the audience will be charmed by his performance and hope his pairing opposite me will be appreciated as well.

BOMBAY TIMES (March 6, 2017)

BOMBAY TIMES (July 24, 2016)

MID-DAY (May 5, 2016)

Ameesha Patel talks about turning producer with Desi Magic, reuniting with Gadar co- star Sunny Deol on screen and the fun of being single

How is your maiden production, Desi Magic shaping up? There was a lot of buzz around it after you released the teaser.
Desi Magic is turning out to be better than what was planned and imagined. My business partner, Kuunal Goomer, who came up with the concept and is keenly involved with every aspect of this film, decided to delay the film’s release by over a year — it was a decision that we weren’t really happy about initially. However, with all the changes that he has made to the project, he has taken it to a whole new level. The team is extremely happy with the film and we are looking at completing it in approximately three months. And does the time frame to make and release a film really matter? I don’t think so. What matters is how the film has shaped up when it hits theatres and not how long it took to be made. I can name several films that have only been in the pipeline for five years or so with nothing progressing post an official announcement. The audience goes to the theatre on the merit of a film’s content.


How were Zayed Khan and Saahil Shroff as co- stars?
I am highly fortunate to have been working with two great, good looking, cool guys who were highly professional. I couldn’t have asked for better co-stars in Desi Magic. They were just tailor- made for their characters.

How is your other film, Bhaiyyaji Superhitt, with Gadar (2001) co-star Sunny Deol progressing?
Sixty per cent of it has already been shot. Sunny is the most amazing of all my co-stars till date; he is a great human being. Hopefully, our on-screen chemistry will work wonders again.

How was the experience of working with Bhaiyyaji Superhitt director Neeraj Pathak? Is he a taskmaster?
Oh, he is just amazing. He knows what Sunny and I can do; he gets the best out of us. He has created an out and out commercial entertainer. Preity Zinta, who is also playing one of the lead roles, is someone I am really fond of. And then there is Arshad Warsi. He is terrific as always.

Why have you been away from the big screen all this while?
It was a purely professional decision, but now, I am all geared up for a comeback.


Mehul Atha, director of Desi Magic, belongs to the ad fraternity. Did he come with a different vision?
Unlike many others, Mehul focusses more on characters than stylised shots. He has several big ads to his credit and is extremely thorough with his work. I am sure he will make a mark in the industry after Desi Magic releases.

You and Kuunal appear to be positive and strong minded...
You have hit the nail on the head. Yes, Kuunal is very strong minded and positive, and I can confidently say that his thoughts, vision and plans will be the talk of the industry in the near future. He and I believe in doing everything with utmost positivity.

What is more appealing to you — acting or producing?
They are equally appealing and challenging, to be honest. I would like to do both. Working in films under other banners is more important for any actor than sticking to home productions. And making good films under one’s own banner is a challenging task. I am hopeful, with time, our production house will rise to the challenge and deliver.

You got your first break with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000). Any plans to give struggling actors a chance to make it big through your production house?
Post Desi Magic, we would love to launch new talents for our other projects.

Was turning producer on your to-do list?
No, it was never on my to-do list. In fact, it was Kuunal who forced me into this! But I am happy that I went ahead with his foresight. I couldn’t have asked God for more; I am in a very happy space at the moment.

What about the news of you being offered a TV show in America?
It is one of the top 10 shows on air today, but I declined it since it would have taken up all my time. At the moment, I am happy with my production venture and also busy doing a film with Sunny. There was no way I could leave India for several months on end.

Who among the present Bollywood actresses do you admire?
I am proud of the way Kareena Kapoor Khan and Alia Bhatt have done for themselves. They deserve every bit of the success that they have earned. Hats off to Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone as well for the wonderful work they are doing and making us proud.

You are known to be a fitness freak and your trainer is said to be the best in the business...
Yes, Klinton Rebello is one of the best trainers, who mentors Olympic athletes. He deserves credit for my fitness.

What is your beauty secret?
I do not believe in starving myself and abusing my body. But I feel blessed to have genes of my mother and grandmother, who are extremely beautiful women. Not having too many vices also helps.

Is love on the horizon for you?
I guess men don’t find me worthy of them. Jokes apart, I am currently focussed on my work. Maybe, a year or two down the line, I will think of a relationship. But doing good films is my priority now.

BOMBAY TIMES (February 14, 2016)

Designer Archana Kochhar launches her latest Summer Bridal collections 2016 this Valentine's Day with stunning actress, Ameesha Patel

Subhash K Jha (DNA; March 18, 2015)

Ameesha Patel’s first home production Desi Magic got delayed because Ravi Kissen played the villain…. in more ways than one. The Bhojpuri star took off for three months to fight the Lok Sabha elections while Ameesha and her team twiddled its thumbs.

She says, “Ravi was stationed in his constituency during the elections. Obviously, he couldn’t shoot for us. That did slow us down. So did the fact that our leading man Zayed Khan tore a ligament in his leg, and Randhir Kapoor, who plays an important role, took off on a holiday”.

But she isn’t complaining. “We are in no hurry to release Desi Magic. We will release only after the school examinations and the IPL end. Our film is for an audience from the age of six to 60. As the name suggests, there’s a magical quality about it. The film has the innocent romantic charm of Karan Johar’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and my own Kaho Na…Pyar Hai.”

Ameesha feels commercial mainstream cinema has lost its innocence. “We either have the Dabangg kind of action films or the cheesy comedies that no family can watch together. We feel Desi Magic brings back the pleasure of the rom-com.”

The actress, who saw great success in the initial stage of her career has been going through a slump period. She is hoping to revive her career with DM. “A lot of our cinema today looks like an extension of television. Why would the ticket-buying public pay to see on the large screen what they already have at home? Desi Magic will hopefully revive the magic of the moves,” she concludes.

Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; January 26, 2015)