Malini Malhotra plays Shonali Gujral in FASHION

As we prepare for the biggest production in BPP history, we present an exclusive interview with Malini Malhotra who plays supermodel Shonali Gujral in BPP's FASHION.

Watch this space in the next few days as we present intimate interviews with Natasha Rai who plays supermodel Meghna Mathur and Monisha Rai who plays Janet Sequeira.

Q. We have all seen your million dollar pentouse of Horse Shoe Bay in a video that your family posted online. But isn't it true that until a few years ago, you worked in the custodial department?

As I have said before, I was married into the prestigious Malhotra family and everything I have today is theirs. I have never denied my humble beginnings and in fact I am very proud that I have come a long way. I will not comment on whether I worked in the custodial department because I don't want to belittle people who work hard in custodial or any other type of services. To me, whether you are working as CEO or a janitor makes no difference. I don't know why the press is obsessed with our penthouse and material posessions. To me, it is just a house. Because I am so tired of all the press reports about my "penthouse" and since we now have a child, you will be happy to know that we will soon be selling our home. We are looking for a kid-friendly house in West Vancouver with a big backyard that Rahul can play in.

Q. How can you afford such an expensive home?

The reason I don't like to talk about my wealth and good fortune is because it is all unimportant to me. When people show off their wealth, it really disgusts me. Marne ke baad insaan kya leke jaata hai? I have seen some bad times in my life and whatever I have today is a result of my bhakti and blessings from Durga Ma. One day when I am gone, I hope to be remembered for being a good friend, wife, sister and maybe even a good actress but never for being a rich snob. That is just not me.

Q. Many reporters have observed that in your real life you always start acting like the latest character that you are playing in you movie. As an example, when you played Devdas, you started behaving like Chandramukhi and when you did Race, your daily outfits were very glamorous and westernized. What's with this obsession to your filmy roles?

I am a born actress and feel like in order to do full justice to my roles, I must feel the character I am playing. So, I like to dress like my character in my daily life. When I was playing a glamorous role in Race, I lost 35 pounds and was wearing cocktail dresses and evening gowns because I wanted to make sure that I would fit into the character and into those dresses! Race released and both critics and fans said that I stole the show. I think it's very importable to be comfortable in playing your part. I would never play a role unless I could do 100% justice to my character. And I would definitely not wear a tight fitting dress if I didn't have the body to carry it off! The camera never lies and if I put on weight, everyone will be able to see it. Currently, I have gained 10 pounds and am going around the city in temples and discos in very humble attire because I want to fit into the character of Chandramukhi again. When my film releases, I don't want people to say "she looks beautiful" or "she looks skinny." That is not important to me. I want everyone to say "she looks like Chandramukhi." That is important for me as an actress.

Q. In this industry, they say that you are known by your last release and your last release "We R Family" was a flop. People who have seen the sneak preview of FASHION are only praising Natasha Rai and newcomer Monisha Rai is the most in-demand actress of all the top producers. Do you still feel like you are the numero uno actress?

Everyone has got his or her place. I want to have my own place. I have no interest in siting in another person's seat. All major actresses from Sridevi to Madhuri and Malini to Natasha have given flops. My hits are mine. Whether it was "KANK," "LCMD, " Silsila," "Devdas," or "Race." Even in TGI's "We R Family," my character was well appreciated for its own merit. Ultimately no one star makes a film succeed. Only the reputation of the production house runs. I have been the favorite actress of the audience in every poll and of the critics in every review. Despite "We R Family," BPP offered me the first choice to play any character in two of their upcoming films. If this doesn't make me the most in-demand and number one actress, then I don't know what does!

Q. Without any further adieu, could you please announce your upcoming films and the new films you recently signed?

My fans have been anxiously waiting to see me as supermodel and showstopper Shonali Gujral in FASHION and they will not be disappointed as the film will be releasing within the next few days. I am so glad to be reviving my favorite character of Chandramukhi in the next saaga of Devdas. During the last few months, I have been going around town in humble attire to research and fit into the skin of this character. Finally, I am very excited to announce that I have just signed on the dotted line to play one of the lead parts of Janki in BPP's "LAJJA." I was initially hesitant because there were so many characters in the film. But when I heard the story, I fell in love with Janaki's part! Lajja is based on the plight of women in our community as seen and experienced by the lead character Vaidehi (Manisha Koirala). The movie mocks the double standards of men in our community that treat us like dolls without caring for our feelings. The fact that the four women's names (Maithali, Janaki, Ramdulhari, and Vaidehi) are all versions of Goddess Seeta, the ideal Hindu woman's name, is a message in itself. I have always done roles that I believed in and identified with and although this is a multi starrer, I am sure we will all look back at "Lajja" one day with a great sense of pride. It is a powerful female-centric movie.

Q. There are rumors of an open war between you and Natasha Rai. In fact it is common knowledge that you cannot stand each other and that there was a big clash when you ran into her at Bang Bang Bollywood night club recently. What's your version of the story?

The media loves creating stories that two actresses are either best friends or that they can't stand each other. In reality, we are not friends or enemies. She has extended her hand in friendship to me several times on email and in person but I have politely declined. I am not interested in being friends with her and I have said this many many times. It is true that she did approach me again at the event you mentioned but we were very cordial to each other and she even bought me a drink. So, there was no clash as you are suggesting. We don't have to be good friends to work together as we are both thorough professionals and have always had a comfortable working relationship. As a co-star she is a lovely lady and all our films together have been hits. In fact my fans keep joking that I should put her in my wedding picture to ensure that my marriage will be a super hit! It would be silly for Natasha or myself to let personal differences get in the way of a beautiful professional relationship. She's a highly talented and hard working actress and when you work with someone like her, you are always improving your own talents. I definitely look forward to making many more hit films with her as long as she keeps her personal life separate from her professional life.

Q. Where do you go from now? Have you considered finding someone and settling down or are you going to remain a widow?

Rajiv left us more than a year ago and I am now slowly getting back to normal. His memories will forever be in our hearts but for the sake of my loved ones and my family, friends and fans, I have to move on with my life. If I keep obsessing over his death, I will also die within months. I am focusing all my energy on raising Rahul right now but I am open to the possibility of finding that special someone again. My father in law says I used to be a Malhotra daughter in-law but now I have become a Malhotra daughter. I think that pretty much sums up how I feel about my current state and my future. I will do whatever my family decides is best for me. I will blindly marry whoever they choose for me. My love, trust and faith in them is blind and unconditional. I will even marry a tree if they want me to! (laughs)

Monisha Rai-Malhotra OUT of Fashion?

San Francisco, CA on Friday, November 20, 2009
By Gossip Columnist: Malini Malhotra / T-Fare Online
Correspondence: gayfareonline@gmail.com Subject: Malini

The long delayed multi-starrer FASHION has been involved in several controversies from the day it was launched. Today we have confirmation on breaking news that Monisha Rai-Malhotra may have walked out of this film after completing 90% of the shooting!

When asked for comment, Monisha stated "My family and fans know that I thoroughly enjoyed doing FASHION and was anxiously looking forward to its release. However, I don't really know if I am even part of the film anymore. Several people in Trollywood are out to ruin my career and reputation. I have heard from reliable sources that Deepika is claiming to have been the original choice for my role in Fashion and this is simply not the truth. Now I hear that she's trying to get me fired from FASHION and I can only hope that my producers will remain loyal to me."

However, a spokesperson for Beauty Price Productions maintained that "Whether it is Monisha or any other actor, in order to continue being a part of our films, all actor must remain committed to the original terms of the offer. When we first offered FASHION to Monisha, we very clear that Janet's character would be required to wear a 2 piece bikini showcasing our sponsor, Le Perla®. After 90% of our film was complete, Monisha flat out refused to wear a 2 piece bikini and informed us that this would not be acceptable to her in-laws. With respect to her personal life, we have asked that she make a quick decision. If she wants to remain in FASHION, she will need to fulfill her original contract agreement and if she chooses not to do it for personal reasons, we have asked that she notify us by noon on Saturday. As the banner that launched her career, we continue to believe in Monisha's talent and are anxious for her to complete our film. We have not and will not fire her based on gossips. It is entirely her decision, as long as it is made in a timely manner with respect to our release date."

No matter who you choose to believe, it seems unlikely that Monisha will remain in Fashion considering tomorrow's deadline by the production house. We will continue to keep you updated on this story.

MONISHA RAI-MALHOTRA BREAKS HER SILENCE!

Love, marriage, death and divorce. Trollywood actress Monisha Rai-Malhotra has seen it all and lived it all. But through it all, she has had an incredibly successful career. Her debut film RACE became a smash hit with the masses and she received critical acclaim in a role where she was pitted against two of Trollywood's most seasoned actresses. She even recently got the opportunity to walk the ramp for a well known designer in New York City. On popular demand, we present the very beautiful and successful star Monisha Rai Malhotra!
T-Fare: First, congratulations on the super success of RACE and the recent successful fashion show you were a part of. Are you surprised by the tremendous appreciation you received for your first film?
MONISHA: Frankly, I am not surprised at all. If you go back and read my previous interview with you guys, I had even predicted that this would happen! Like I had told you, I chose to make my debut in a big multi-starrer where I would be the underdog. When you work with big actresses, there is bound to be healthy competition. After so many movies together like Devdas, KANK, LCMD, GMM and Silsila, the audience was tired of seeing Malini and Natasha all the time. They needed a change and I knew that I could be the fresh new face they were craving. So, I worked very hard on my body and the rest is history! Before RACE released, you guys had hyped up Malini’s new look and her rivalry with Natasha. You gave so much coverage to them and just a 3 question interview for me! You even asked me why I accepted RACE as my debut since I’d have nothing to do in the film with 2 big actresses. But I think even you’d agree that today when people look back at the success of RACE, my name stands out of the crowd. In fact it is the exposure from RACE that landed me my first big assignment as ramp model during New York Fashion Week in September this year. Yet, I don’t hold any grudges against T-Fare. As I had told you, the audience decides my fate and not the press. Today if you guys are coming to interview me, I know that it’s because my audience has demanded it and not because your producer is my family!

T-Fare: You claim to be a determined and strong young woman but isn’t it true that your marriage is falling apart? There are rumors that you and your husband don’t even live together and you’re going through a bitter divorce?
MONISHA: I am absolutely a strong, successful and determined young woman. Every relationship goes through its own trials and tribulations. Is there any marriage that does not have it’s share of troubles? Absolutely not, and mine is no exception. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to comment on details of our divorce at this time as this is a complicated legal matter.

T-Fare: We understand that you may not be able to discuss the legal aspect of your alleged divorce. However, could you take us back to a year ago when you first married Saagar and became part of the Malhotra family?
MONISHA: When you are married at the age of 19, you always think you're prepared for everything, and you think you have the knowledge of what's coming ahead. But although I was somewhat frightened at the prospect of marriage at the time, I felt I had the support of my husband-to-be. I think like any marriage, especially when you come from a family of strong marriages, you'd want to try even harder to make it work. You don't want to fall back into a pattern that you've seen happen in other marriages. So, I desperately wanted it to work, I desperately loved my husband and I wanted to share everything together, and I thought that we were a very good team.

T-Fare: How aware were you of the significance of what had happened to you when you married into the Malhotra family? After all, marrying Saagar would make you the new queen of the first family of Trollywood and center of all the gossips.
MONISHA: I was never overwhelmed, and am not overwhelmed by the responsibilities that this role creates. It was a challenge, it is a challenge. As for becoming like a queen, it was never on my mind when I married my husband. I married him because I loved him and that’s all that mattered. The most overwhelming aspect was the media attention, because my husband and I, we are very private people. We were told when we got engaged that the media would go crazy over it; and so when we got married we tried to keep it a family affair but they somehow got hold of our intimate wedding pictures. After the marriage we thought it would get better but it didn't; and then it started to focus very much on me. I seemed to be on the front of gossip tabloids every single day, which is an isolating experience. I was portrayed to be a career driven ambitious and evil woman which I am not at all. Without knowing the facts, the media blamed me for everything that happened to our marriage. This is simply not the truth!

T-Fare: Did your in-laws give any thought to the role that you might have as the new Malhotra bahu?
MONISHA: No one sat me down with a piece of paper and said: `This is what is expected of you.' But there again, I'm lucky enough in the fact that I have found my role, and I'm very conscious of it, and I love being in a big joint family. In spite of what you might have heard, I am very emotional person and have always placed my relationships ahead of career and money.

T-Fare: What effect did the paparazzi have on your marriage?
MONISHA: It made it very difficult, because basically we were a married couple being chased around and spied and had to be cautious of everything we did or wore because it could end up on the front cover of the gossip site. It was exhausting to say the least.
T-Fare: According to recent articles published on the gossip site, you and your husband had very different outlooks, very different interests. Would you agree with that?
MONISHA: No. I think we had a great deal of common interest - we both liked people, both liked our life in San Francisco, both loved children, volunteered in the cancer field and of course Trollywood. And I was willing to be the wife he wanted me to be. But I was portrayed in the media at that time, if I remember rightly, as someone who was stupid, greedy or manipulative – only because of my age.

T-Fare: Around early July this year, shortly after the passing of your brother in-law, a gossip site reported that your husband had renewed his relationship with his ex lover. Were you aware of that?
MONISHA: I didn't need a gossip site to to tell me the status of my relationship. A woman’s instinct is a very good one so yes I was aware of it, but I wasn't in a position to do anything about it.

T-Fare: What effect did that have on you?
MONISHA: Pretty devastating. A feeling of being no good at anything and of being useless in every direction of your life. It was already difficult, but it became increasingly difficult. It took me months to realize that there were three of us in our relationship and that it was just not going to work out this way. But like I said, I wasn’t in a position to do anything about it. I’m not the one who brought the third person into our marriage. So I waited for him to make a decision.

T-Fare: By September of this year, he made a decision and you agreed to live separately. What were your feelings at the time?
MONISHA: Deep, deep, profound sadness. Because we had struggled to keep it going, but obviously we'd both run out of steam. My beloved brother in-law Rajiv was a big believer in our marriage and completely against the other woman. He fought hard to make sure that she would not come anywhere close to our family. So, as long as he was alive, our marriage was well. But the day I found out about his passing, I knew that my husband's fondness for the other woman would make trouble for our marriage again. As expected, less than a month later, my husband asked for the separation and I supported it. What other choice do I have?

T-Fare: Once the separation happened, what happened?
Monisha: People's agendas changed overnight. I was now separated wife of Saagar Malhotra and I was the victim. This hadn't happened before. And for a change, they started attacking the other woman and stopped attacking me!

T-Fare: Do you hold any grudges?
MONISHA: Absolutely not. I know everyone in the Malhotra family dislikes her and many people have written to me expressing disgust at what she’s done. But I am telling you what I told them – I hold no grudges. A marriage is supposed to be between two people and it’s solely these two people who are required to be committed and be faithful to each other. She was not, is not and will never be responsible for my marriage so why should I hold a grudge against her? No doubt I would personally never go after a married man because I do think it’s unethical and not cool. However, I don’t hold her responsible for the failure of my marriage. If it was not her, it could have been anyone else. Plenty of women are willing to steal other people's husbands - not just her. If anyone, I am disappointed in the trust I had placed in my husband. I feel let down by him and no one else. Again, I have absolutely nothing against the other woman and wish her well.

T-Fare: I know you cannot discuss the divorce but can you give us some idea of what the future holds for you?
MONISHA: To my fans and well wishers out there, I want to tell you – don’t worry about me! Like I said before, I am a strong woman and will be just fine. And to anyone out there who tries to come between me and my husband I say to you - be prepared for the fight of your life! I am not a quitter and will do everything in my power to save my marriage. People have always drawn comparisons between our family and the Bachchan family. Remember that even the Bachchan family dealt with Rekha for 6 long years of their marriage. But in the end the other woman is always left high and dry with nothing but endless waiting and heart ache. I am sure anyone who chooses to come between us will meet the same fate.

T-Fare: Finally, on a lighter note, tell us about your expectations for Fashion?
MONISHA: I am working with the biggest director in the business and am so pleased with the way my role shaped up in Fashion. I am really looking forward to the release as I am hopeful that it’s going to be my second blockbuster in a row. I am sure both Malini and Natasha have worked harder this time so the competition is a bit scary. But things are so different for me today compared to RACE. I now have my own loyal fan following and my audience knows what to expect from me. I am confident that my hard work will pay off and my fans and critics alike will reward me for my efforts. Most importantly, I am hoping that the exposure from FASHION will bring me a few modeling offers. There is a real demand for attractive transexual women in the fashion world and I hope to be the first to crossover into the modeling world and open up doors for other young trans gender women in this field. Finally, I'd like to thank my well wishers for their unconditional love and for standing with me during the most difficult time of my entire life.


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