Iulia Vantur says she sought Khan's opinion before giving her nod to her Bollywood debut, given his ability to pick good scripts
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 20, 2018)

As though her association with Salman Khan wasn't reason enough, Iulia Vantur's Bollywood debut is certain to attract eyeballs for another reason too — it sees her play a rape survivor at a time when debate around sexual abuse has taken the nation by storm.

Well aware of the sensitivity that attaches itself to the subject, Vantur tells mid-day of her film Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyun Kaala, "My character endures a traumatising experience. Though she has been raped, she doesn't let it impact her life. She seeks justice, doesn't give up, and prevents the painful experience from changing her life. It's about a sexual assault survivor finding the strength to move on."

Having launched the film's poster earlier this week in the company of Khan, her rumoured love interest, Vantur admits she did seek his opinion before giving her nod to the film. "Salman has a good sense [of selecting the right] script. He has it in his genes. I trust his knowledge and experience. He has been in the industry for 30 years, and I feel grateful to have him guide me. In fact, he was the one who encouraged me to do the movie."

Prem Soni's directorial venture is inspired by a true story, we hear. Even though the Romanian model has made her singing debut in India, she says she's uncertain about her vocals being used in this offering. "We are still working on the music. It would be ideal if I sang [in this film] as my voice would match that of my character. Probably it will happen. But, we'll have to see," she says, adding that the film's pressing subject served as motivation for her to greenlight the project.

"I wanted to be part of a good movie that has a strong social message. And, of course, my director is a positive and kind person. He convinced me to do the movie." Having always been inclined towards the arts, Vantur reveals that as a child, she took on the roles of presenter and singer, among other creative titles. Even though an acting course did occupy her time when studying law, she says she never thought about pursuing the craft actively. "Acting, singing and presenting are artistic ways of expressing oneself. In Romania, I've acted in a musical play too, even though I was playing myself in it. This film will give me an opportunity to explore myself further."

Back home, Vantur admits that news of her Bollywood shenanigans raises many eyebrows. "My family is always surprised when I tell them what I'm doing. When I say I am singing, they say, 'What? Really!' Now that I told them about my acting debut, they had the same reaction. But, my family trusts me and wants me to be happy. Everything that I have done in my life has been guided by my heart, so they trust that I would only do something respectable," she says, adding that it was her father who was keen on her pursuing law.

While she had initially hoped to take tutorials in learning Hindi, the singer-actor says she's stripped of time, given the film's schedule. "We have less than a month to start shooting, so I don't know if I will have the time to learn as much as I would have liked. But, I am sure Prem will help me."

Itishree Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 1, 2018)

 As Iulia Vantur walked confidently into a hotel on Sunday in a peach dress, the Romanian TV host-singer looked quite comfortable and relaxed, greeting everyone warmly. She was unperturbed by the curious glances of many who wanted to catch a glimpse of Salman Khan’s alleged girlfriend. In a chat with us, she spoke about her love for India and why she doesn’t want people to label her or her relationships.

You’ve made India your second home... what do you like best about this country?
It’s beautiful. It’s a challenging experience for me because I have to learn so many things. But I enjoy all this learning process and I love Indian culture and the warmth of its people. I think it’s a life-changing experience for me. Living in a different country with a different mentality is not easy. Of course, there are quite a few similarities, in the way we girls grew up, for instance. The fact that the family bonding is so strong. You know, the kids might be living somewhere away from their parents but they still keep that bonding. That’s very important because it gives you stability in life and a base because there’s nothing more important than having your dear ones near you, right? When you feel weak, when you are down, if you have your family next to you, if you have a brother-sister, I think it’s amazing. I’m the only child, so I understand even more what it means to have close bonds and relationships.

On your first visit to India, you visited Rishikesh. Tell us more about that visit.
I had heard about the place from several people that it is very beautiful and serene. I’m very passionately curious about my personal development. I want to grow as a person because I know that’s the most important thing in your life – to be a better person with every passing day of your life. No matter what your job is, no matter how much money you have in your account or even if you don’t, to become a better person, that one can do, without money, without power without any other advantages. I think that was my first goal, to become a better person in life. So, I searched for places that help you to go on that path, so Rishikesh was one of them. I had heard about it too, from friends and people who had been there. And honestly, I wanted to see what was it like living in an ashram. It was so beautiful!

So, do you visit the ashram often?
No, I don’t go back very often. But I would love to go back. Actually, now that you’ve reminded me, I will. I think it’s a very good idea, thank you for reminding me. (laughs)

You must have had some idea of India before you came here. Is what you’ve seen and experienced here so far better than what you had imagined it to be?
Yes, but what I have discovered here is so much more than I had thought of ever. The first time when I was here, I remember I loved it so much that when I had to go back to Romania, I was crying. The vibe, the energy, the bonding that I had with this land was so strong that I was like, ‘Okay, I actually should come back here.’ I knew that I would come back here, yet I was crying while going back. So I came back, I came back many times!

How has having friends like Salman Khan helped you feel more comfortable here in India?
It means a lot to have good friends and good people around you. I discovered so many beautiful things because of these people. It feels good to have someone who can teach you things about the culture, who can show you another world, right? Salman’s family, for instance, is such a beautiful family, it’s perfect. They are an example for everyone to follow. And the amount of good work they do, every single day. Not just feeding people, they help people in whatever way they can. Medical camps, and so many other ways in which they all help anyone they feel is in need.

Are you happy that people now also know you as Iulia rather than just Salman Khan’s friend?
I’m happy with myself, anyway. I know the value that I give to myself because I know who I am and what I am capable of, and the people who are close to me know who and what I am. Perhaps better than me. So yeah, people can put labels, we tend to do these things. But after some time I think, we remove that label and we see the person. So I would like people to know me Iulia, as I am, without these labels.

What do you have to say about Salman?
What can I say about him? He is a beautiful human being and we all can learn from him.

How’s the music going on? Have you started learning Indian classical music?
Oh, that’s going very well. Yes, I have started learning music and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy the whole process. I never thought I’ll love it so much. But I really love to spend time in the studio, I love to jam with Vishal and other friends. I spend a lot of time in the studio when we’re jamming, recording or playing a new song. I love it.

Iulia Vantur takes on trolls, opens up about good friend Salman Khan and describing Mumbai as her home, says ‘Home is where the heart is’
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 16, 2018)

For someone who is seen way more than she is heard in the public domain, Iulia Vantur instantly registers her presence with a pronounced accent and wit. She is also strikingly articulate in a retelling of her discovery of India — walking through the streets of Rishikesh during her maiden visit, exploring art in Rajasthan, and acquainting herself with the vibe of Mumbai, which she has come to call home over the last few years. In this interview, the 37-year-old TV host-singer (she was never an actress, she clarifies after frequently being called one) talks about lesser-known aspects of her life in Romania, her equation with Salman Khan and Bollywood aspirations.

Your friendship with Salman Khan and proximity to his family has made headlines in the last two years. Is it somewhat tiring to remain silent on the subject, especially since you live in Mumbai now?
I was 19 when I walked into a newsroom for the first time. I had heard that a channel was looking for an anchor. I was going to drop in my CV and leave, when an assistant told me that the producer hated blondes and I didn’t stand a chance. I insisted on giving it a shot anyway. As luck would have it, the producer walked by right then and upon learning that I wanted to be an anchor, asked me if I’d take the test right away. I was young and hesitant but I aced it and landed the job. I worked as a news anchor for the next 15 years, writing, editing news stories and becoming an independent, working woman in the process. I was winning at life. I went on to host Dancing With The Stars for eight seasons. So, I don’t scare easy. And I don’t focus on the negativity.

Nobody knows this side of you…
Nobody knows me here. They even call me ‘Lulia’ here, when my name is spelt with an ‘I’. I am a respected personality in Romania. A news anchor receives a certain status symbol wherever they are based. Here, people don’t know of my life and journey. They don’t know my struggles and the hard work that I have put in for decades. They look at me and they see a girl with big Bollywood dreams. (Laughs) But that’s not me at all! I’ve lived the famed life, the rich life, and I don’t crave for it. I never thought life would bring me to India but I followed my heart and here I am.

Online trolls have been merciless, constantly using uncharitable words to downplay your professional achievements…
Many friends have told me that I need to have a reaction to things that are happening around me. But my life is filled with beautiful moments and beautiful people, and I choose to stick to that. I’m a single child, born to caring and protective parents, and they get really pissed off when they hear things about my private life. After I finished law school, my father was sure I’d become a court magistrate one day. And despite my foray into television and eventually music, they have supported me. It upsets them to hear negative comments about their only child. But they know who they raised at home, and I like to guard their privacy.

You’re a Hindi singer now. Do you also have plans to become a Bollywood actress?
(Laughs) I had never planned to come to India to work. There was no ambition, no fool-proof plan. Salman (Khan) is a good friend and he guided me, encouraging me to sing. I never thought that I would be able to sing in Hindi but he supported me. I started singing because of him. I had no plans to be a part of Bollywood but I also like surprises at the same time.

There is so much talk around his bachelorhood and your impending marriage…
I’m aware of the gossip. Most of it is not true. But I cannot stop people from spinning stories. I have a lot of respect for Salman. At the same time, I have no idea where life is taking me. Three years ago, I was all about being responsible and making plans, but not everything turns out the way we expect them to. Not everything is our will. What happens was meant to happen.

How did it all – the music, the rumours, your initiation into the elite circle of Bollywood – really begin?
It started from the song “Teri Meri” (sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shreya Ghoshal for the 2011 Salman-starrer Bodyguard). At the time, I was in the studio, and everybody asked me to sing a Romanian song. I chose a Christmas carol that I sing to my parents every year. Himesh (Reshammiya, composer) loved it and said, “We’re going to make a beautiful song out of this.” Six years later, when he wanted to work on a music video, he thought of me, and “Every Night and Day” came into being.

You’re ready with your next single, “Harjai”…
Maniesh (Paul, who also features in the single) and I are great friends and since we’re both TV hosts, there’s a lot of conversations around that. I spend a lot of time at recording studios and Sachin Gupta, who was composing a track for T-Series at the time, heard me jam with Maneish. We were soon having fun and he asked me to join in. It was a challenge learning pronunciations of Hindi words but Sachin and director Shabina Khan helped me through it. There’s so much to learn from Indian classical music and I’d love to explore it next.

Is there an album in the works, too?
I don’t have a plan for that. My music will remain an organic journey. And Mumbai is now my home. Home is where the heart is.

So will the media be hearing more from you now?
Maybe… Well, honestly, no.

Bhai’s ‘special friend’ Iulia talks about Khan-daan as she shoots for her music video with Himesh
Shilpi Sampad (MID-DAY; April 5, 2017)

Leaning on a mic, her face lit by what seem like a million stage lights, Iulia Vantur lip-syncs her latest track, Every Night And Day, along with composer-singer Himesh Reshammiya. An army of shadows creeps up from below the stage and on closer look, we realise it’s a bunch of kids, each weilding a phone camera.

The energy of the song as well as the performers on stage is infectious, as we start to bob our heads and tap our feet. A couple of minutes later, a booming voice declares, ‘Cut’. We are on the set of T-Series’ latest music video, Every Night And Day, from the album Aap Se Mausiiqui, in Malad yesterday to catch up with Himesh and Iulia, the Romanian actress better known as superstar Salman Khan’s special friend. Speculation over her Bollywood acting debut keeps surfacing off and on, but Iulia first wants to see where music — her passion — takes her. “I have surprised myself too [by choosing to pursue singing]. I had no plans of working here [in Bollywood], because I have a successful showbiz career in Romania. But once I visited India, I kept coming back and people around me encouraged me to do this [singing],” she says.

While Iulia may not name the ‘people’ who motivated her to follow her heart, it is well known that Salman has been mentoring her. In fact, it was the superstar who hooked her up with Himesh. And the composer is delighted about the collaboration. He admits he had expected Iulia to take at least eight to 10 hours to record the song. “But it was over in an hour, and we didn’t have to use auto-tuner. Her voice is very Bollywood with a contemporary touch to it. I am glad people have appreciated our song,” he says, reminding us that a video of the track’s making has crossed two million views on YouTube. “The new one is being shot in international style.”

The video, produced by T-Series boss Bhushan Kumar with HR Musik, will have Iulia and Himesh crooning on stage. A bunch of 20 kids, all talented dancers from different parts of the country, will also feature in what is essentially a romantic number (with lyrics by Manoj Muntashir).

Talking of romance, we can’t resist bringing Salman into our conversation with Iulia while apologising for invading her private space. “It should be private, but I see you asking me [questions on it] anyway,” she says, her laugh laced with sarcasm. “I understand the curiosity and am used to it [being written about]. Everybody [journalists] has to do their job, but many a time, things are created just for the sake of it.” Had she imagined she’d find a family in a Bollywood celebrity’s home? “You never know what you find, where and how you find it. That’s the beauty of life.”

Prod her further and she breaks into a smile. "What do I say? The Khan family is so beautiful. I really admire them; they are united and welcoming. Their doors are always open for everyone.”

Salman Khan’s ‘good friend’ Iulia Vantur on turning singer and the way ahead
Upala KBR (DNA; December 5, 2016)

At first glance, Iulia Vantur looks prettier than in her pictures. While talking, she’s guarded and knows what to say. Bright, confident and quite charming, one can realise why she has won over Salman’s heart. Salman Khan’s close friend and 36-year-old Romanian model-television actress-news anchor Iulia has sung with Himesh Reshammiya for Every Night and Day and Just You and Me. The songs seem to be a reflection of her and Salman Khan’s relationship. Here, she talks about singing, acting and plans for the way ahead…

Are you trained in singing?
A bit. (Himesh Reshammiya butts in, saying, ‘I think that she’s perfectly trained. As a composer, I feel that’). I liked to sing as a kid. When we used to play as kids, I used to sing in school. Every year for Christmas ­— that was my concert moment — I would sing during school plays and loved it. I never thought I will do this as a serious project. I never thought I would sing for an album till Himesh asked me to.

What’s different between singing on stage and for an album?
I don’t know (laughs), but singing in the studio was a very good experience. I loved it and Himesh’s team is so good. I had a good time in his studio and so, I would like this to happen again.

Is it true that Salman is putting together a six-track music album to launch you as a pop singer in India?
No, no. There are many things which are coming out, which are not true. I don’t know what will happen next. I have no idea.

Himesh and you owe your singing career to Salman. Himesh has become famous today. Do you also expect the same?
(Himesh butts in, “She will become bigger even more than me! God willing, Every Night And Day will do well, and if you listen to the song, it goes to another level because of her voice. As a composer I think she’s done full justice to the song) Himesh, you are too kind. To answer your question, no. This song happened by chance. I did not expect it. Honestly, I have no plans, but I think God does and I will follow that. I don’t know what, but I will be there.

Himesh began as a composer, then singer and then got into acting. Do you also see yourself getting into acting?
No, not at all. My career was something else in Romania – hosting, news anchoring and all. I tried acting in Romania in a theatre play and I tried in other places. Though I loved the experiences, I decided against taking up acting as a profession. I didn’t want to make a career out of acting.

Would you like to shift here full-time if you got more opportunities to sing in India and took it up as a career?
I have no idea. We will see. Que sera sera, whatever will be will be… That’s a beautiful song, actually.

Do you see yourself singing in Salman’s movies?
I don’t know. I think every singer would like to be in a space where they get to do that.

Himesh Speak

Salmanbhai first made me hear her voice over the phone. Iulia was singing the theme of Teri Meri from Bodyguard which became the germ of the song.

While thinking of this music video, I had composed a song with her voice in mind. It’s fresh with the right pitch and absolutely natural. I messaged her, sent her the scratch and she immediately said that she liked the song and that she would do it. Iulia came to the studio and recorded the song in two hours flat and it was very surprising as I didn’t have to go to the machine to pitch it correctly. She is so natural and super talented. She never goes out of pitch in terms of sur which is very rare and is a great quality for a singer.

On a scale of one to 10, I would give her straight 10 and any composer would do that. When a singer is in perfect pitch, you can tell if it’s auto-tuned or not. Her voice is untouched. We have just added some delays, otherwise, we have not tuned it as it’s perfectly in sur. It’s a divine voice, a mainstream heroine voice and the diction is perfect which is where everyone was curious as she was singing in Hindi. She got it right. Now I won’t be surprised if she will become fluent in her Hindi dialogues, too. We are very confident of doing something again together – maybe something in the live space? A lot of radio people also want her to sing.