There is no need to be cheap

Raveena Tandon is in no hurry to announce her comeback to Hindi films yet. Instead, she is busy managing her home and kids, doing movies down South and being a philanthropist. B-S caught up with her

Regional cinema
Presently, I am working with South actor Mohan Babu and his sons for a Telegu movie. This is not my first movie, as I have already done films like Aalavandhan, Bangaru Bullodu, Akasa Veedhilo. My last film Laboratory was in Bengali. 

It is based on a short story by Rabindranath Tagore. I did the dubbing for it myself, I found it easier than Telegu. I appreciate the love, positive vibes and respect that I get from them. 

Their cinema still revolves around villagers, traditions and middle class values, thus they connect with the masses. As for the Hindi film industry, I welcome its corporatisation which has led to bound scripts, proper contracts, payments on time and organised schedules. 

However, the flip side is that the content is modern and western. There are exceptions of course like Bhaag Milka Bhaag, Barfi, Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur to name a few which are adding a new dimension to cinema. 
The mast mast girl
Admittedly, item songs add glitz and glamour to a movie. But there is no need to be cheap. A fun number with foot-tapping music can be a chart-buster too. 

Being mommy
I am a very hands-on mother. I often tell my family and friends that 'movies will come and go, but the childhood of my kids will come only once and I don't want to miss it for anything'. 

That's one of the reasons I take on lesser work. I read about two-three scripts on an average but only take on one movie at a time and roles that really excite me. In the next few months I will start work on a Hindi film. 
Giving back to society
As an actor, I believe we should be able to contribute for the welfare of the society. Previously I have partnered with UNICEF. My latest project was to house 30 orphan children who were homeless and were staying with me in my bungalow for over one and a half years.

With the help of family and friends who helped me gather funds, we built a home for them in Vasai. I was completely involved in the project from the flooring to the colouring of the walls. Recently, when the kids moved to this place, they made cards which said that the house we built for them is better than the Taj Mahal (smiles). 

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For Raveena, home means comfort

Actress Raveena Tandon has her own mantra for interior designing, and it revolves around a single word - comfort.

Gracing an event here that unveiled the anniversary issue of a home decor and interior magazine, Raveena stressed the fact that a home should appear "lived-in and warm" and should not feel like a hotel.

"I mostly see the comfort level. I have a family, so I see to it that my children and husband are comfortable. A home should have its own atmosphere," said Raveena, who was last seen on screen in the Puri Jagannath directed "Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap" opposite Amitabh Bachchan in 2011.

"There should be a difference between a hotel and a home. A home should look lived-in and warm. There should be positive vibes. And that is what I have tried to do in my house," added Raveena, who made her debut in the 1991 hit "Patthar Ke Phool".

Among the top actors of the 1990s, she had hits like "Mohra" in 1994, "Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi" in 1996 and "Ziddi" in 1997.

Later, she received critical acclaim for performances in films like "Aks" in 2001 and "Satta" in 2003. She won the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kalpana Lajmi's "Daman" in 2001.
Earlier this year, she made her small screen debut with a chat show called "Isi Ka Naam Zindagi".

Raveena married film distributor Anil Thadani in 2004 and is mother of a seven-year-old daughter and a son, who is five.

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Raveena Tandon's special rendezvous

The actress cancelled all her prior engagements to meet the Dalai Lama

There will be only a few who would pass up on an opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama. To be able to meet the international peace figure, Raveena Tandon cancelled all her prior appointments for her big day.

Ravs was supposed to fly to Kuwait on the same day when the spiritual guru was to give a speech on World Compassion Day in Mumbai.

The actress who has been following him and his ideologies on social networking sites wanted to meet him up, close and personal.

Raveena says, I was going to Kuwait to attend a cultural event where I was invited as the guest of honour. But I did not want to miss this opportunity. I asked the organisers if I could delay my visit for a day and they agreed.

Speaking about her experience of having a tête-a-tête with the Dalai Lama, Ravs says, I have met couple of spiritual gurus in the past but meeting them was like a task due to security issues and strict rules. On the contrary, the Dalai Lama is so approachable. What I like most about him is that even at 82, he has a child-like innocence on his face.

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Raveena Tandon Plays Shobha De

Even as Raveena Tandon gets ready to take her new film Shobhna's 7 Nights about a rich bored columnist-author who gets into a relationship with a struggling actor moonlighting as a gigolo, to the Indian Film Festival at Houston, the film seems to be getting itself into a series of sticky situations because of the close resemblance that some characters bear to real-life figures from the Indian entertainment and publishing industry.

To begin with, Raveena Tandon's character is partly inspired by Shobha De, a fact that the director verifies. He admits that the character has been `expanded into a colourful scandalous avatar which may not go down well with Ms De.

Now we come to know that the character played by Rohit Roy of a dashing rakish glamour photographer is modelled on Atul Kasbekar.

The director admits that Ronit's character is indeed based on Kasbekar, It's true. When I wrote the character of a goodlooking glamour-photographer who hobnobs with the sexiest models and actresses I could think of only Atul.

In fact when I prepared the concept posters for Shobhna's 7 Nights I put Atul's picture in them. Later when I signed Rohit for the role I saw an uncanny physical resemblance with Atul Kasbekar. So you see, Rohit is not only playing a character modelled on Atul, Rohit even resembles Atul.

When asked about his on-screen avatar Atul Kasbekar appeared amused, This is the first time I am hearing about it. I hope the reel portrayal is more interesting than the real.

In the meanwhile a third character played by Anupam Kher, playing a publisher named 'Harry Davidar' of Walrus Books' who gets into a serious controversy, also bears an unmistakable resemblance to real-life publisher David Davidar.

David's nephew has contacted Sudipto asking that his uncle's name be changed in the film.

Says the director, David Davidar's nephew Jonathan did contact me to change Anupam's character's name. But it was too late. There was nothing I could do about it. Whether it's Shobha, Atul or David I hope they understand that the characters in my film are based on them simply because these are iconic names in the entertainment and publishing industry and you just can't get away from it.

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Raveena avoids award function for son

Actress Raveena Tandon had to cancel her plans to fly to Chennai to receive an award at the Seven Island Film Festival, as her son Ranbir, 5, was unwell.

"Was supposed to fly to Chennai for the Seven Island Film Festival today to receive an award for 'Shobhna's Seven Nights' and attend the screening, but unfortunately had to cancel because my son not well," Raveena tweeted Monday.

With the dengue scare across the country, the actress was scared for her son. But his fever was not very acute.

"Delhi had about nearly a 1,000 dengue cases. Thankfully, son's fever has subsided. Regrets to the festival organisers and wishing them many more successful events to come, and humbly thank them for the award," she added.

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Raveena and Asin share birthday

National Award winning Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon and talented B-town beauty from the South Asin Thottumkal celebrated their birthdays on Friday. 

Raveena, who was born in the year 1974, turned 38, while Asin turned 27. 

Asin, who made her Bollywood debut with 'Ghajini' in 2008, will spend her birthday by working on the sets of her next movie. 

It has been a crazy and chaotic month for me so far so I have not even thought about my birthday as such. My film is releasing in December and we have to finish work as all of us are racing against time, Asin told Bollywood-Stop. 

Earlier I have been lucky enough to get my day off on my shoots and I have also shot during the day on my birthdays but never in the nights. My immediate family, my mom and dad are here with me. I guess after pack up when I land up at home early morning, we will have our small little celebrations before I crash, she said. 

Asin featured in several Bollywood films like 'Ready', 'London Dreams', 'Housefull 2' and 'Bol Bachchan'. 

Her upcoming project includes 'Khiladi 786', where she will be cast along with her 'Housefull 2' co-star, Akshay Kumar. 

In Kollywood, she has showcased her talents in movies like 'Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi', 'Shivamani 9848022338', 'Gharshana', 'M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi', 'Ghajini', 'Sivakasi', 'Varalaru', 'Pokkiri', 'Dasavathaaram'.
Raveena, on the other hand was seen busy thanking her friends on microblogging site Twitter for wishing her on the day. 

She made her debut with the film 'Patthar Ke Phool' in 1991 which was box office hit and the she received the Filmfare Lux New Face Award for her performance in the film. 

Raveena then starred in films like 'Mohra', 'Dilwale', 'Laadla', 'Imtihaan', 'Andaz Apna Apna', 'Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi', 'Ziddi', 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'. 

Her performance in films like 'Shool', 'Aks', 'Satta', 'Dobara' and 'Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence' won her critical recognition and was praised by critics and fans for her power packed performances. 

She also won the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2001 for her performance in Kalpana Lajmi's 'Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence'. 

Raveena married film distributor Anil Thadani in 2004 and the couple are now proud parents of a girl named Rasha and a boy named Ranbir. 

Much before her marriage and motherhood Raveena had adopted two girls, Pooja and Chhaya, as a single mother in 1995.

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Three cheers for Raveena!

Raveena Tandon wins best actress award at the Houston Film Festival

While Sridevi has been receiving applause post the release of her new film, it looks like this is the season for Bollywood comebacks. Raveena Tandon's film helmed by Sudipto Chattopadhyay has won her the best actress award at the Houston Film Festival.

The actress says, I was not really expecting this. But my director Sudipto Chattopadhyay told me that the jury really liked the film. It also happened to be the only female-oriented film at the event. The jury was really looking forward it.

Ravs also feels that while it is an honour to receive an award on an international level, she can't wait for the film to release in India.

The film also received great response at the Chicago Festival. Sudipto is planning to screen it at a few more festivals before releasing it here next year,  she points out.

The actress also tells us that after the film was recently screened at Ahmedabad, she received congratulatory messages from Bengali actresses Rituparna Sengupta and Indrani Haldar.

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Raveena Tandon Wins Best Actress At Houston

This week Raveena Tandon has much reason to rejoice. She has won the Best Actress award for her performance in Sudipto Chattopadhyay's Shobhna's 7 Nights at the Houston Bollywood Film Festival which concluded on October 7 with the announcement of Raveena's triumph.

Interestingly there is only one acting award at the Houston Bollywood Film Festival which covers both the male and female category of nominations. Raveena therefore beat competition from Abhay Deol and Emraan Hashmi in Dibakar Banerjee's Shanghai to get the award.

Squealing in delight from Houston after the announcement Raveena said, I've hardly received awards in my career so far. I did get the National award for Daman. But that was a one-off thing.

I thought I deserved recognition for Shool and Aks. But I was seen as glamorous commercial actress. Hence, not eligible for awards. Now when I've played the most glamorous role of my life I get the Best Actress award. Ironical, isn't it?

She was specially kicked about beating male competition with her performance. In India and in most awards the world over they have separate categories for male and female performance. But here in Houston we were all judged in the same category. That was quite flattering.

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Raveena on a manhunt!

The actress was at a suburban coffee shop to have a close up of up-market women scouring for toy boys to prep for her upcoming role

Some actors leave no stone unturned to make sure their on screen characters look true to life. And Raveena Tandon did just that, going to a popular Lokhandwala, Andheri coffee shop to learn the ways of up-market Mumbai women who pick up toy boys from similar city joints. 

After filmmaker Sudipto Chattopadhyay narrated the scene of his upcoming film, where Ravs plays a high society lady on the lookout for a hunk, she decided to experience it first hand. Although she did not believe that such incidents actually take place, Ravs arrived wearing a burkha to catch the women as they got busy picking up young men. 

Sudipto explains, When I narrated the premise of the film, she refused to believe that these housewives and up-market Mumbai woman come and pick up these toy boys and hunks from outside this particular coffee house. 

She said that she wanted to check it out but she being a star it was difficult for us to go there. So, she came wearing a burkha and sat there.

It was only after she witnessed the act that she believed in what the filmmaker had been saying all along. 

Sudipto adds, In fact, she walked down the street and stood close by to listen to what they were speaking and realised that they were negotiating for money. It was a funny incident and we laugh over it whenever we remember the incident.

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Raveena shoots an ad for the saving the girl child

Raveena Tandon shot for a campaigns directed by veteran cinematographer Ashok Mehta for a campaign against sex determination tests and saving the girl child

The music for it has been composed by Nikhil Kamath. Ravs was so moved by the cause that she did not charge for doing the campaign.

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Acting is my passion, says Raveena

Raveena Tandon is looking forward to picking up her acting career from where she left it

She says, “Let’s face it. Everybody evolves with time. I don’t want to be in a rat race. I just want to be comfortable doing what I love. Acting is my passion. Or else, I’m very happy looking after my kids.”

Makes sense.

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