Sizzling Soha

The Rang de Basanti star sheds light on being on-screen with her mother for the first time.

NEW DELHI:

For Soha Ali Khan, facing the camera with her mother, Sharmila Tagore, was not an easy task. The film Life Goes On marked the first time the duo appeared together onscreen. “I didn’t forget my lines or anything, but I was nervous because she has a very good aesthetic sense,” Khan said.

The 32-year-old actor co-starred with her mother in the generational conflict drama set in contemporary London.

“When (my mother) is in a good mood, she’s amazing. But when she’s in a bad mood, it’s the worst thing ever. But she was very good and restrained during the shooting and also suggested to me to follow director Sangeeta Datta’s instructions carefully,” added Khan.

A banker-turned-actor, Khan made her debut with Anant Mahadevan’s 2004 film Dil Maange More and was featured in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang De Basanti in 2005. Getting into showbiz was not her initial career choice, but thanks to her mother and her brother (the actor Saif), she developed a taste for the big screen. Despite coming from an illustrious film family, she is still struggling for her share of the limelight.

“I have learnt not to expect anything from films. Yes, it was great working for Life Goes On. I got a chance to work with Ammi. It’s quite an emotional movie where the journey of the loss of a mother and family is portrayed in a sensitive way,” she said.

After the debacle of Tum Mile, Khan hoped for a better future in Bollywood.

“I was offered a variety of roles, which ranged from the practical to interesting to the  downright outrageous, but things didn’t work out well. This year you will see me in a variety of roles,” said Khan.

Her next release will be Chemistry with Shreyas Talpade. Co-produced by Shreyas, the love story revolves around two people dumped by their respective partners.

“It’s a mad role, and you will see me in pink hair in it. My character is between Charlie Chaplin and Devan and Sagar. The character was a bit out of my normal acting range, as I do more intense films. There is a lot of improvisation and laughs,” she said.

She also has an upcoming film, Soundtrack, opposite Rajiv Khandelwal.

“Soundtrack is an official remake of the Hollywood comedy, It’s All Gone Pete Tong. Rajiv plays DJ and I play a girl who is born deaf. I find the role very interesting. It was difficult to get into that mode because I can’t imagine life without sound, and you can’t work it out either. So I kept on forgetting the fact that I am playing a deaf girl,” said Khan.

Talking about her personal life, Soha, who is dating Kunal Khemu, said she is ready to settle down in a couple of years. “I am in a comfortable space and we are happy with our career graphs, so whenever the right time comes, we will announce our marriage,” she said.

But what about Saif, who has publicly said he’ll get married first, as he’s the elder brother?

“That’s not necessary. I don’t have to wait for anyone, because I don’t want to. If he takes 10 years, then I will never wait. I don’t know how long he will take. He might tie the knot tomorrow!” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2011.