Showing posts with label Lost Tomb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lost Tomb. Show all posts
Why wouldn’t I want to act in Bollywood films?-Mallika Sherawat
8:20 AM
Mallika Sherawat on her past, present and future and the need to reinvent her image
Upala KBR (DNA; January 25, 2016)
Mallika Sherawat may be missing from Bollywood
physically but she is still connected to it in many ways. The actress
was in the city last month for Salman Khan’s 50th birthday party and is
now back in Los Angeles.
She also recently featured in a music video Dil Kya Kare (Did I Love You?) by New York-based singer DASU. And while most actresses are singing, she chooses not to jump on the bandwagon. Here she talks about being sterotyped, her future plans, and her disappearance from B-Town.
You have been MIA!
I haven’t really vanished anywhere. I have been shooting for Hong Kong-based writer, director and art-director Daniel Lee’s Lost Tomb in China. I play an evil sorceress. Though it’s not fun playing one in icy -10C temperature! My role is a completely evil one and I love it (laughs). There’s a lot of CGI and martial arts in it. The irony of it is that I am learning Sanskrit from a Chinese coach who is a follower of Buddhism.
You have shifted base from here. Are you still interested in acting in Hindi films?
Why wouldn’t I want to act in Bollywood films? It’s my bread and butter and made me who I am. It’s also made me very rich, especially the item songs I have done (laughs). I feel today that I have been stereotyped into the glamorous image. It’s just that at this stage, I feel I have done lots of glamorous films and item songs so right now, it’s very important to reinvent myself.
What about item songs? What’s next after Mayya Mayya, Ghaghra, Laila, Shalu Ke Thumke and Jalebi Bai?
No, I don’t want to do any more item songs. I have done enough of those and built a career from them. I have made enough money and fame from them but now it’s time to do serious parts. I love being an actor and I am very vocal and passionate about female equality and female rights. In 2014, I was invited as a Bollywood actress and activist of women’s rights to talk on equality, where I met the UN head in New York and spoke about the suffering of women in India, saying strong implementation of laws is required and men should be part of the solution to end discrimination against women. I love doing that.
Do you keep in touch with Bollywood? What recent films have you liked?
I loved Masaan, it’s fabulous that we are making such kick-ass cinema in India today. The director was phenomenal. What a story! I want to be part of a cinema that is so much more exciting. I am inspired by films like Queen, Kahaani and Ishqiya and I loved Anushka’s NH10. I would love to do a movie like that. Have faith, I can can pull it off really well. I want to do films like that. But my glamourous image is so strong that it’s a big challenge to add balance to it.
You were spotted at Salman Khan’s birthday bash recently. Any plans to work together?
(Laughs) If he wants me to work with him in a film, I will. He was kind enough to invite me to his birthday party and of course I had to go. Of course, it was a struggle to stay awake till so late (laughs) as I go to sleep early. I am very friendly with his sister Alvira. Salman’s designer is close to me too as we move around in the same gang.
Any young actor you would like to work with?
No actor, in particular. For me, it’s always been about the script and the role.
Let’s talk about your music video.
This is my first Indian music video. I have earlier shot for one for Bruno Mars’s Whatta Man (2012). I had no idea about Dil Kya Kare. I did it only for my friend Namita Premkumar. She came and told me ‘You have to do this for me please!’ I said I will do it. The song was wonderful. Thanks to my vegan lifestyle and yoga, I didn’t have to work out much. I like to act in videos as I get to play different characters. I get to play a girl-next-door in this one — it’s a fresh, romantic image and reminded me of Pyar Ke Side/Effects.
Priyanka Chopra’s journey seems similar to yours. From here to LA. Comment?
I really don’t know about that, so I can’t comment. I have not seen Quantico, but I think she’s doing extremely well as an Indian actress in Hollywood. All of us should be proud of her and what’s she achieved there. Hats off to her! We are all so proud of her.
Mallika Sherawat shooting in freezing cold in China for Daniel Lee's Lost Tomb
7:40 AM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 25, 2015)
It's snowing in China and
the temperature is down to 10 degrees. The telephone doesn't connect,
nor does the internet. In the middle of nowhere, Mallika Sherawat,
freezing in her costume, films Daniel Lee's Lost Tomb. She's been there
since three weeks and has another three weeks to go, and despite the
bitter cold, is creatively charged.
“It's a $50 million international production based on a Chinese bestseller with a great cast, amazing special effects and awe-inspiring action. They came to me a few months ago and I couldn't say 'no' to the thrill of playing a sorceress. I just didn't know I would freeze though the Chinese have been most sympathetic. There's a lot of curiosity about Bollywood in China. I'm constantly being asked if besides naach gaana we try Kung Fu in our films too,“ she laughs delightedly, speaking to Mirror from China.
Mallika remembers growing up on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, listening wide-eyed to stories about Raavan and Surpanaka. “Our stories came from our epics and mythology, not from comic books. I've never played a role like this before. It's a decent part with a good amount of screen time. This tomb is the last obstacle for the conquerors and this angry sorceress doesn't make it easy for them. She flies off into the air, tries to thwart them with Kung Fu and Tai Konda mixed in with yoga, throws lots of rocks in their path,“ she informs.
Mallika admits to being a big fan of the Hong Kong-based writer, director and art-director, having loved his 2008 war drama, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon with Andy Lau, Vanness Vu and Andy On, his 2010 Kung Fu thriller set during the Ming Dynasty 14 Blades and his most recent Dragon Blade, an action-packed historical featuring Jackie Chan. “In fact, it was Jackie who recommended my name to Lee,“ she says.
The actress made an appearance in Chan's 2005 film, The Myth which marked her debut on the global stage. The two have remained good friends since and her fans still remember her making heads turn on the Cannes red carpet as she turned up in a glitzy ghagra-choli with a plunging neckline. Since then she's been a favourite on the French Riviera, whether it was with a live snake for an accessory or a $2 million necklace. She admits she'd love to go to Cannes dressed up as a sorceress next May but for now this role is turning out to be really taxing physically. “I'm doing all the action myself but since my body is used to yoga, and Kung Fu demands different movements, it's difficult, doubly so because of the cold. I've never done action like this before, nor have I worn this kind of costumes or make-up. This sorceress is human, yet there is an animalistic quality to her and she will strike an emotional chord with the audience too,“ she admits.
Another challenge is that some of her dialogue is in Sanskrit, so she's going over her lines with a Chinese Buddhist language coach between shots to ensure that she gets her pronunciation right.
Quiz her on Hindi films and she points out that while there are a lot of glam roles coming her way, she's more interested in working with young, upcoming directors who will take her out of her comfort zone and help her re-invent herself as an actress. Meanwhile she's in talks for another international film and expects to lock the deal in a month or two.
“It's a $50 million international production based on a Chinese bestseller with a great cast, amazing special effects and awe-inspiring action. They came to me a few months ago and I couldn't say 'no' to the thrill of playing a sorceress. I just didn't know I would freeze though the Chinese have been most sympathetic. There's a lot of curiosity about Bollywood in China. I'm constantly being asked if besides naach gaana we try Kung Fu in our films too,“ she laughs delightedly, speaking to Mirror from China.
Mallika remembers growing up on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, listening wide-eyed to stories about Raavan and Surpanaka. “Our stories came from our epics and mythology, not from comic books. I've never played a role like this before. It's a decent part with a good amount of screen time. This tomb is the last obstacle for the conquerors and this angry sorceress doesn't make it easy for them. She flies off into the air, tries to thwart them with Kung Fu and Tai Konda mixed in with yoga, throws lots of rocks in their path,“ she informs.
Mallika admits to being a big fan of the Hong Kong-based writer, director and art-director, having loved his 2008 war drama, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon with Andy Lau, Vanness Vu and Andy On, his 2010 Kung Fu thriller set during the Ming Dynasty 14 Blades and his most recent Dragon Blade, an action-packed historical featuring Jackie Chan. “In fact, it was Jackie who recommended my name to Lee,“ she says.
The actress made an appearance in Chan's 2005 film, The Myth which marked her debut on the global stage. The two have remained good friends since and her fans still remember her making heads turn on the Cannes red carpet as she turned up in a glitzy ghagra-choli with a plunging neckline. Since then she's been a favourite on the French Riviera, whether it was with a live snake for an accessory or a $2 million necklace. She admits she'd love to go to Cannes dressed up as a sorceress next May but for now this role is turning out to be really taxing physically. “I'm doing all the action myself but since my body is used to yoga, and Kung Fu demands different movements, it's difficult, doubly so because of the cold. I've never done action like this before, nor have I worn this kind of costumes or make-up. This sorceress is human, yet there is an animalistic quality to her and she will strike an emotional chord with the audience too,“ she admits.
Another challenge is that some of her dialogue is in Sanskrit, so she's going over her lines with a Chinese Buddhist language coach between shots to ensure that she gets her pronunciation right.
Quiz her on Hindi films and she points out that while there are a lot of glam roles coming her way, she's more interested in working with young, upcoming directors who will take her out of her comfort zone and help her re-invent herself as an actress. Meanwhile she's in talks for another international film and expects to lock the deal in a month or two.
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