I'd love to be curvy and voluptuous as Huma Qureshi, she is really sexy

She has a slim and trim frame, but actress Kalki Koechlin says she would love to have a "voluptuous" figure like "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" actress Huma Qureshi.

"I don't care for the 'zero' label, I really think people come in all shapes and sizes. I have been skinny all my life. My dream is to have a body like Huma Qureshi, voluptuous! I think she is really sexy," said the 29-year-old. 

"But I wouldn't have that body and she wouldn't have mine because we are born with certain type of body. So, you got to love what you got," she added. 

Kalki spoke on the sidelines of the launch of Women's Health magazine here Saturday. The magazine cover features Kalki, whose husband Anurag Kashyap has produced Huma's latest film "Luv Shuv...". 

Huma first came to limelight with her role in Kashyap's "Gangs of Wasseypur". 

Meanwhile, Kalki will soon be seen in Karan Johar's "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani". 
Talking about her role in the film, Kalki said: "I play a girl called Aditi who is very tomboyish, loud and bindaas (carefree) kind of girl with lots of attitude and she is good fun. Everybody in the film is a young person, who is learning something about life and learning how to grow up," she added.

Being directed by Ayan Mukerji, "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. The film is slated to release in May 2013.

read more...

Independent, commercial cinema happily co-existing: Kalki

Actress-writer Kalki Koechlin believes commercial and independent cinema co-exist in a healthy way in the Indian film industry.

The 29-year-old has been part of offbeat cinema with movies like "Shaitan" and "That Girl In Yellow Boots", and tasted the commercial flavour with "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara", and feels the industry is united in making independent cinema as successful as commercial movies.

"I think there is a space for independent cinema and I think they should and they are happily co-existing. There is a constant way of going about it. The minute independent cinema becomes commercial, which is our aim, there will be a new wave of independent cinema and that might be darker or wackier. It is happening since last 10 years or so," Kalki told.

The actress has had her share of box office disappointment with "My Friend Pinto" and "Shanghai", but feels complaining about criticism is not a wise thing to do.

"I think criticism is something that comes with a territory. Anyone who complains about that, is silly. When you are out there doing anything, you are going to be critisised by some people for anything. Even if you might be the most saintly person, but that might offend a small group of people. So you have to be ready for that criticism," she said.

How does she deal with criticism?

"For me, sometimes the best thing is to isolate myself, cut myself from public for a while. When you are criticised heavily, you tend to doubt yourself. At that time, it is important to go back to what is important and for me it is the craft of acting.

"I go back to theatre, work on my Hindi and work on my weaknesses that I might have," she added.

Kalki will soon be seen in director Kannan Iyer's "Ek Thi Daayan", in which she plays the role of a Bohemian teacher. Produced by Vishal Bharadwaj, the movie is a musical thriller. The actress says the movie will entertain children, and she will take their "honest" criticism seriously.

"This is first movie where I am aiming specifically at children. They are the most honest audience. They don't care about who the stars are, costumes or quality of the film. They care about the story. Whether the story captures their interest or not. I will take their criticism very seriously," she said.

read more...

I can't go wrong with fashion: Kalki Koechlin

Sometimes she is casual, sometimes dressed in chic gowns - actress Kalki Koechlin feels as a celebrity, her fashion sense is constantly under the scanner, and she rarely gets a chance to go wrong.

Kalki has quite a quirky sense of dressing. Asked if being called a 'fashion icon' makes her feel pressurised to always be up to the mark, she said: "I realise that actually one can't go wrong."

"Even if I wear kurta pyjama, they (fans) would be like, 'Wow! Kalki is really chilled out'. When I wear gown they would be like, 'Wow! Kalki is looking like a diva'. The limelight, the fame of a celebrity makes everything we do, significant, " Kalki told.

She feels picking nitty-gritties of celebrities' moves should not be people's agenda.

"People are so impressed when celebrities do the stupidest things. If a celebrity opens a car door, fans are like 'Wow! She opened car door by herself'. People should have better expectations, " she added.

The 29-year-old spoke here Thursday on the sidelines of an event by French vodka manufacturer Grey Goose to announce the launch of a new property, Style du jour.

French word 'Style du jour' means 'style of today'. As part of the property, fashion magazines like Elle, Harper's Bazaar and L'Officiel will give their own definition to fashion by styling a muse.

Kalki, who is of half French descent, spoke about the association with the brand.

"This is my first association with Grey Goose. It's a very famous brand from France and I have a little bit of French connection. It's about fashion which I anyway have a lot of relation with. I have quite an enigmatic style of fashion myself and it is a fun event, which has two things I enjoy the most: drinking and fashion."

Style du jour will be officially launched Nov 23.

read more...

Shanghai takes the Reverse Route to the Festivals

In what appears to be the very first instance of an Indian film journeying from commercial release to the film festivals, Dibakar Bannerjee's Shanghai is all set to first proceed to the Toronto Film festival and then to other selected festivals after the film has had its full commercial run in Indian theatres. 

This, according to a very reliable source from within the project's core crew was a decision taken by the producers. 

Says the source, Festival films are automatically perceived as non-commercial projects. If a film goes to the film festivals it is presumed that the film is meant for discerning audiences. Masses stay away from it. The producers of Shanghai willed that the film be released commercially first. They didn't want it to be branded a festival' film. 

When asked about this unconventional route taken by his film, director Dibakar Bannerjee said, It's true we had to release Shanghai in India commercially before it could go to any of the festivals. That's because of some interesting compulsions regarding the marketing and release.

We had no choice but to release the film in India before it went to any festival. Having said that I'd like to point out that the profile and outlook of the audience in India has changed substantially thought not radically in the last ten years. 

A new brigade of filmmakers has emerged in our cinema with films that dare to go against norms. My film Love Sex Aur Dhokha was shown in festivals and was a big commercial success. 
However Dibakar admits that the journey of Shanghai into festivals has started only now. We are now taking the film to selected festivals. And also releasing it commercially in several countries where it has not been released so far. 

Says Dibakar, As far as I understand, Shanghai has opened up a new kind of Indian cinema to the outside world and westerners are re -orienting their image of Indian cinema according to the India that they've seen in Shanghai. 

So far they've imagined India and Indian cinema to be one way. In my own way I've shown the existence of another India and another kind of cinema which shows a society in a state terrible flux. 

In contrast my next film would enter a world of absolute tranquility torn apart by the kind of evil that they are too innocent to comprehend.

read more...

I'm different, but being myself: Kalki

Actress Kalki Koechlin, known for bringing freshness to her role with movies like "Dev D", "Shaitan" and "That Girl In Yellow Boots", says even though people perceive her as being different, she is always just herself.

"I am myself. It's not that I try to be different. I am myself. My upbringing and everything has made me different," Kalki, whose style and choices are different from a conventional Bollywood actress, told.

"No matter how much I try to blend it, I am never able to blend it in. I have accepted that and am celebrating it," she added.

The actress has wrapped up shooting for Vishal Bharadwaj's "Ek Thi Daayan" and is busy shooting for Ayaan Mukherjee's "Ye Jawani Hai Deewani".

read more...

Will never act, write in same movie, again: Kalki

Actress Kalki Koechlin, who donned the writer's hat for "That Girl In Yellow Boots" and even acted in it as the protagonist, vows never to do the dual job again.

"I won't ever write and act in the same film because I get so confused with the writer in you saying 'No, it's not correct' and the actor saying something else. It's not good," Kalki told.

"I think writing is something which is a pleasure and a hobby. Acting is something I am much more hungry about," she added.

However, the 29-year-old, who was here for the launch of AOC TV range for which she is the brand ambassador, feels she is not going to let go of her hobby.

"Writing is not something I am going to dismiss. It is slowly going to come along. It is not like suddenly I am going to become a writer," Kalki said.

Asked if writing another script for a movie is on cards, she said: "No plans. Nothing has come my way."

Although the actress has done some dancing in her commercial movies like, "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" and "My Friend Pinto", she is nervous about shaking a leg in Ayan Mukherjee's "Ye Jawani Hai Deewani".

"There will be dancing in this film. I have a good amount of dancing to do, which I am a bit nervous about," she said.

"Ye Jawani Hai Deewani" will see Kalki as a tom-boyish girl who is best friends with two guys, played by Aditya Roy Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor. Deepika Padukone plays the female lead in it and it is slated to release in March 2013.

She is equally active in theatre - acted in "Hamlet" and also writing a play.

As far as films go, Kalki has recently wrapped up shooting for Vishal Bharadwaj's movie "EK Thi Daayan", about a free spirited Bohemian girl.

read more...

Kalki brand ambassador of AOC TV

Actress Kalki Koechlin has been roped in as the brand ambassador of AOC TV range in India and the actress believes that these TV sets are best suited for the Indian market.

"That is what we need in India and specially with the prices of gadgets so high. So it is important that there is somebody conscious about that, making it affordable for an average person, " she said at a function here Wednesday to announce her appointment.

The actress, who has endorsed brands like Coke and Micromax, will be doing ads for the products, but added: "I like to take it slow, as you have seen in the past. I have done one Coke and one Micromax ad. I don't want to dilute my attention by doing so many things. I want to give as much attention as I can to just one thing at a time."

Kalki, who entered Bollywood with "Dev D", will soon be seen in Ayan Mukerjhee's "Ye Jawani Hai Deewani" and Vishal Bharadwaj's "Ek Thi Daayan".

read more...

I am not necessarily a Daayan: Kalki

Known for her offbeat roles in 'Dev D' and 'Shaitan', Kalki Koechlin will soon be seen playing fun loving avatars in movies such as 'Ek Thi Daayan' and 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'

The 29-year-old actress, who began her career playing a MMS scandal victim who turns into a prostitute in 2009 release 'Dev D', was last seen portraying a student activist in 'Shanghai'. 

'I am playing this bohemian happy-go-lucky girl in 'Ek Thi Daayan'. She is a very sweet 'non-daayan' like character. I do get into an unpredictable zone but the inherent sweetness doesn't go, " Kalki told in an interview.

The film, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, also stars Konkona Sen Sharma and Huma Qureshi. "I am not necessarily a 'daayan' but then I could be the one! It is this very unpredictability about the film that I love most. It is a contemporary film set in today's Mumbai, " Kalki added.

The actress is also busy these days shooting for the Karan Johar-produced 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. 

Talking about her character, Kalki said, "In this film I am playing a very loving girl, someone who everyone falls for. This is again the kind of character that I have never done before. I am getting into the shoes of this really 'bindaas', loud and funny girl." 
'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' stars ex-flames Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor and is directed by Ayan Mukerji. 

"Ayan is a very interesting and promising director. I liked his 'Wake Up Sid' a lot. He has a lot of enthusiasm and energy that makes you believe in the film you are doing with him. "He is also shooting the film quite beautifully. The film has the kind of setting that requires us to travel a lot, " Kalki said. 

The actress says, despite some critically acclaimed performances, there were times when she was out of work as she wasn't being offered the right kind of projects. But she is happy with the kind of movies she is getting today. 

"I don't know whether this is the best or the worst time in my career. I am just happy that today I am here and doing the kind of work I want to. Guess one has to be patient enough to find the right kind of films. There have been phases in my life when I had no work." 

"After 'Dev D' I didn't face the camera for one and a half years. Even 'Shanghai' was completed a year back and then there was a huge gap. There were gaps in between my films but then I waited since I wanted to do certain kind of films. I guess the wait has been worth it, " Kalki told. 

read more...

Do Kalki and Darsheel have similar facial features?

Kalki Koechlin and Darsheel Safary have an uncanny resemblance

Their faces look a tad similar. Several people on social networking sites have been stating ‘Darsheel + five years + long hairs = Kalki’. 

What do you say? Check them out...

read more...