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Here comes the bride
Meet Sanjana, the debutante heroine of Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai
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When Yashraj Films launched its new venture with Uday Chopra and Jimmy Shergill, the industry was rife with speculation. Who would the new Yashraj heroine be? Everyone from budding starlets to star daughters looking to make their debut were auditioned.
Not many expected
Sanjana, a complete newcomer, to walk away with the role in Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai.
The debutante, a successful model [Pepsi, Smirnoff, rediff.com] before she joined films, says that as she looked different in every ad, she still looks new.
Calm, composed and articulate, she talks to
Priyanka Bhattacharya about life as a Yashraj heroine.
On bagging a Yashraj Film:
I was modeling after my graduation. At that time Yashraj was looking for a new face.
I was known to Yash Chopra's family and they thought I would be interested. Adi [Aditya Chopra] called me and asked me to audition. I did and passed the first round. I made it through six auditions in one month.
On her first meeting with Yash Chopra:
I first met Yash Uncle at Adi's wedding. Adi's wife and my elder sister are good friends. So I already knew him when I started shooting.
Yash Uncle is a very sweet person; he has always treated me like a daughter. He was present on the first day of shooting and I remember taking his blessings before my first shot.
On how she prepared for the part:
I had no formal training in acting. After I signed Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Adi put me through the entire rigmarole.
I enrolled for a workshop with Feroz Khan. Here I lost all my inhibitions because I had to make a fool of myself. This made me at ease with myself; you learn to laugh at yourself.
I am very good at making a fool of myself now *laughs*.
A choreographer would come by and teach me the basic dance steps. Dancing is an inborn talent; it's just something that you can or cannot do.
On her co-stars Jimmy Shergill and Uday Chopra:
Both of them are extremely talented. Uday is dedicated to his work. He is a fun loving guy and an extrovert.
Jimmy is just the opposite. He is a cool, composed guy who know what he wants. He takes time to open up to people he doesn't know. He is more like me.
On what she enjoys most about acting:
Acting is tough. You have to give it your best every time. The serious parts and the comedy come easy. It's the 'in between' that is tougher.
What I enjoy most is crying. I do use glycerine at times but I get so involved with the scene that I end up crying, most of the time.
Once I began crying during the rehearsal. I was howling so bad, I could not get the words out of my mouth. I was so emotional I could not talk.
On acting as a career choice:
I am surprised to find myself in a Hindi film. In school I was a sports-person. I played every possible sport. I completed my Bachelor studies in Chemistry. Modeling began only after graduation. Films were far away from my mind.
People who know me still say, "What on earth are you doing in movies?"
On her favourite scene in the film:
I don't have one particular scene but there is a line which I absolutely love -- Hamare rishtey ki buniyaad hamari sacchai hai
(A relationship is based on the foundation of trust). It is so applicable to every relationship.
I had no problems rattling off the Hindi dialogues. But I am not too comfortable giving Hindi interviews or having extensive conversations.
Sanjana is a name the masses would identify with. Tulip is more of a tongue-twister. Adi suggested this name--Sanjana--which was perfectly alright with me. People who know me call me Tulip. Sanjana is one of the prettiest Indian names.
I have received offers but it would be premature to talk about them now. I am just waiting for June 7 and my film to release. I am a little nervous.