I never left this industry: Ameesha Patel

Actor refuses to admit Race 2 is her comeback film.

MUMBAI: Comebacks are for actors who get married, have kids and then plan to come back, says Bollywood actor Ameesha Patel, insisting that she had never left the industry and Race 2 does not signal a return. “I never left this industry. I have always been here. My last film was Chatur Singh 2 Stars in 2011. The film didn’t do well so maybe people didn’t know about it,” Ameesha told IANS.

Ameesha says politics is a part of the Indian film industry. She had a dream debut in 2000 with Kaho Na Pyaar Hai but Hrithik Roshan, son of film-maker Rakesh Roshan, stole the limelight. That didn’t deter Ameesha.

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai was a blockbuster and Ameesha also went on to win critical praise for her performance in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. The successes since have been few for the actor who has also been a part of films like Humraaz, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and most recently Race 2.

“I have always been a very positive person. My honesty and positivity make me different from others. I don’t come from a film background and it is altogether a new world for an outsider,” the 37-year-old said.

“Unlike other stars, I am not a part of dirty games or politics. I don’t date the heroes to get films. I have survived so far on my own,” she continues. “Politics is everywhere — films, ad agencies, families. But I have chosen to keep myself away from all this.”

“I have never snatched any film from any actor. It is the film that has snatched me for a role. Each day when I look in the mirror, I am happy that I see a clean and honest girl,” she added.

She said she had been busy with Race 2 as well as in making her presence in tinsel town as a producer.

It’s not easy, she said. Her banner Ameesha Patel Productions will be delivering two films, one to be directed by David Dhawan and the other by Priyadarshan.

“It is a very daunting task to be a producer. As an actor you tend to take your money and walk out, but as a producer you will have to bear the loss of the film as well,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2013.               

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