My life is an open book: Om Puri

Nandita Puri Veteran actor Om Puri says his life is an open book. He doesn't believe in boasting about his association with Bollywood despite being an integral part of Indian crossover films as well as sitcoms in the west.

On a recent trip to Delhi on World Environment Day the actor spoke about being misinterpreted in a biography that talks about his sexual encounters with his 55-year-old maid Santi at the age of 14 and his affair with another maid Lakshmi, whom he even wanted to marry. The actor also spoke about his son, his films and life in general...

My wife misinterpreted me
If I had been asked about my biography say five months ago, I would have been miffed. There maybe a grudge against her ( Nandita Puri, his wife) but how long do grudges really last? The reason I was angry in the first place is because I feel my relationship with women has been wrongly portrayed in that book. It is unfair that I was never shown the manuscript. She wanted to keep it a secret that's fine but I should have known. I did know that a biography was being written but did not know I would be misinterpreted. Today you are recording whatever I say, but if you were just listening and you would go back and write something that you interpreted in your own terms, it would be wrong.


My son can choose his own path
Ishaan is young. He is just thirteen years old and studying in school. From my experience in this industry and life in general I would just like him to focus on what he is doing. I will not tell him to join Bollywood. Some kids may have it easy in the industry, some don't. Whatever Ishaan chooses, I will support him. My advice to him is to work hard to achieve what he wants. I told him an actor has to work in snow, in the sun, in the rain but an editor can sit in an air-conditioned cabin and have a controlled environment.

Films and Bollywood
My film "West is West" has done very well in Canada and Britain according to the reports I have received. Although I have been doing crossover cinema for a long time and have been associated with the West, I have only spoken about it when asked. I never hide anything. I do not have a publicist that will go to news agencies and spread news about me acting in a Hollywood film, I don't believe in that kind of noise.
Directors these days just do not match up to people like Shyam Benegal who would make such great offbeat cinema without the help of stars. Directors these days are obsessed with stars. Yes, a big name will make a film sell but at the end of the day it's a good script and good actors that matter. I am a good actor and I believe in good films.

Ishaan speaks
I study in Ecole Mondiale World School and I like Physical Education. I am into soccer and cricket. I want to be an actor like my dad. In school I have taken up some workshops so I am working towards it.

Six packs and all will come later because I want to finish my studies first. I am not a dropout; I will finish my studies before getting into acting. My dad taught me three things- Patience, Imagination and Concentration are the three most important things when it comes to being an actor.

I have watched my dad's films and I think he is a great actor. I am not embarrassed by his films. I am equally attached to my mom and dad. I do not have a girlfriend. I have a mobile but all kids in my school have them. We switch them off when we are in school. A mobile phone is necessary these days even at thirteen. Check out Stars HomepageDo you like this story?

Shah Rukh Khan at Reddy's Sangeet

Shah Rukh Khan was in his element at the Reddy sangeet held in Hyderabad on Friday, which had the whole of B-town in attendance.

The King Khan, who was roped in as a replacement for Jennifer Lopez, who couldn't make it to India, said on stage, "I'd like to tell you all that I am a replacement for JLo... I wasn't the original choice for this evening. I have a bad knee, but when Pinky told me I have to come, and I have to dance at the sangeet, I just couldn't say no, they're such dear friends. Mallika, the bride, is like my little daughter." He then turned his back to the audience, shaked his booty a little bit, and said, "Every time I do something like this, it's just to remind you that I am here instead of JLo..."

Just before having the 2,000-strong gathering in splits with this comment, SRK made a grand entry at the venue

People take me seriously post Dabangg: Sonu Sood

Arbaaz Khan Actor Sonu Sood made his presence felt in Dabangg playing the main antagonist Chhedi Singh, a young politician and hugged limelight with his powerful performance.

After so much acclaim, Sonu seems to be on high and feels he has arrived as a star. "I would say it's definitely a step ahead after the success of Dabangg and people are now taking me seriously. When you are not from a filmy background and come to the city where you don't know anybody, every film counts for you. When your film does well and creates history, you become a part of that history and people like you and love you too. All these things really matter in your career," says he. So, what's the latest on Dabangg 2? "Well, Dabangg 2 has been officially announced and thus, script writing and fine tuning the whole thing is under process. There's a lot of hope and expectations for the sequel after the success of Dabangg, so a lot of homework has to be done thoroughly. It will again be a full on action film directed by Arbaaz Khan and I will be coming as Chhedi Singh's brother. I may do a double role", he reveals.

Somya was born in a filmi way!

Navya Ask Somya Kamal Seth better known as Navya now about the most memorable incident of her life in her hometown Banaras and she says, "It's my birth. Yes, I was born in a very filmi style, that's what everybody tells me. It was Karvachauth and my mom was expecting me. But she was determined to keep the fast. And to open the fast, she went to see the moon outside at a nearby bridge, but she had labour pains soon after she left the house. So, you see, kahani poori filmi hai!"

Families may boycott 'DK Bose' ?

Delhi belly The upcoming flick Delhi Belly's song, 'DK Bose' is in the news for all the wrong reasons these days.

Not just the profane lyrics of the song have been condemned by the industry experts, but a growing number of people in the sangam city of Allahabad, which is also known as a cultural town, have also reacted sharply to it. So much so some families here are even ready to boycott the movie.

"This was something unexpected and unwarranted from a person like Amir Khan, who has made so many wonderful movies with social messages," claims Yogeshwar Tewari, Professor Medieval History department, Allahabad, who has decided not to watch this movie because of profanity. "I don't understand the purpose behind incorporating such a song. Are they trying to justify vulgarity under the pretext of entertainment?" he further questions.   

Supports Smita Agarwal, a house wife, "I have a 10 year old daughter, who keeps asking me a lot of questions. If she listens to this song and asks me what does it mean, what will I explain to her?" she asks, adding, "Moreover, our entire family watches movie together, but knowing that something profane like this is in the movie, we can't go for it."

It's not that the song has received criticism only from the elderlies. In fact, youngsters are also not far behind in pointing out the vulgarity. "Why would you want to add vulgarity to a song, I fail to understand. What are you trying to show ? Isn't it just a cheap publicity gimmick?," questions Aprajita Agarawal, MBA student at G P Pant institute, who is quite disappointed after listening to the song, and adds, "Imran khan is a good actor, I have seen all his movies, but just because of this song, I can't got for this one."  

However, her counterpart in the same course, Rohit Varshney, differs. "I find it absolutely fine. The target audience of that song and movie are youngsters, and producers know that youth doesn't mind all this. In fact, the song has gained a lot of popularity amongst our circle."    
 
A growing number of people are calling this as publicity stunt, meant to gain people's attention, which will eventually attract more people. But does these things really help in revenues is a big question? Answers Sachin, Manager Big Cinema in Allahabad, "Yes! Actually they do help to quite an extent. Apart from youngsters, even families come in large numbers to watch them. Although, lyrics like this have been used for the first time, in the past even when people criticised some item numbers or double meaning songs, we have seen a large number of families turning up to watch them."

Check out Stars HomepageDo you like this story?