M D Riti

Make or break?

That’s the question looming large over Kirti Reddy’s horizon.

This pretty, slim 22-year-old from Bangalore eagerly awaits the release of her biggest film so far, Rajiv Rai’s Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, scheduled for release on August 3.

A year ago, she was on the cover of film magazines as part of the upcoming brat pack.

But her first Hindi film opposite Abhishek Bachchan -- Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa bombed at the BO. And after Rai’s film, Kirti found herself back in Bangalore, with no great offers coming her way.

She finally turned her sights towards the South and has signed up a trilingual film Superstar with popular Kannada star Upendra.

rediff.com caught up with the young actress, curled up in her car, on her way home after a hard day at work……

What are your expectations of PIAM?

I don’t really expect too much from the work that I do. I was very satisfied with the film. I have put so much into it, I hope it all shows. If I manage to satisfy viewers, I'd be more than happy.

I do not have great expectations, because the benefits I'd get would be very temporary.

This is your make or break film, isn't it?

It could well be. I hope that it will help me consolidate my position in the Hindi film industry.

Nobody expects too much from a first film, but a second film is certainly different.

As PIAM will have a big impact on your future in Hindi cinema, do you think it has given you enough scope to showcase your acting talent?

It certainly has. The film revolves around the girl I play. She is central to its plot.

I am the only heroine, the whole story originates from my character.

From a woman’s point of view, PIAM is important because it shows what a woman goes through in the various phases with men and friends. I hope everyone who watches it like it and likes me in it.

Why did Tera Jadoo... do badly?

There are many elements that go into making a film. It is difficult to pinpoint which ones worked and which ones did not. I certainly do not want to point out flaws that it might have had.

It isn't easy to make the perfect film.

Were you satisfied with your performance in Tera Jadoo? Do you think you've improved?

Yes, I have. You grow as you move from one film to the next. Every character you play is so different. My role in Pyaar Ishq… is very different from what I did in Tera Jadoo...

Do you think you were underplayed because Abhishekh got all the hype?

Certainly not! I had equal amount of press and publicity.

As a person, I am not very comfortable being in the limelight for any longer than is strictly necessary. I do not live in Bombay, so people might have thought that I was ignored.

Did you feel that your South Indian identity worked against you?

The industry did react to me as a South Indian girl. They were a little apprehensive, but I my ability to blend in quelled their doubts.

Why then have we not seen more of you in the past year?

As soon as Tera Jadoo... was complete, I began working on the Rai film. I didn't have time to even think between the two projects.

After Pyaar Ishq..., there was a lull.

This is normal in the Hindi film industry because everything takes time. I need to establish my identity slowly. It's much harder when you do not live in Bombay. And again I am not a pushy type of person.

I have another Hindi film on hand -- Badhai Ho, Badhai with Anil Kapoor.

What have you been doing over the past year?

I have been catching up on my classical music, for one thing.

Then again, as you know, I am quite a fitness freak and I have enjoyed doing my aerobics workouts regularly.

I also had to dub for Pyaar… which I never did for my first film. I took classes in Hindi diction, but fortunately, I did not need to put in too much work.

Many people find dubbing very painful. I enjoyed it as much as shooting.

It was a challenge. It's hard for a South Indian to speak good Hindi. Many actresses do South Indian films, but none of them ever try to speak the language or dub for their own films.

You once told me you were not keen on doing Kannada films. Why have you now signed up an Upendra film?

Upendra is such a popular star. I have seen his films. It was not that I was dead against Kannada films or anything like that. The offers I got earlier simply did not appeal to me, that’s all.

Upendra seemed very keen to work with me. So I accepted, since I did have the time.

Besides, its not just another Kannada film, it’s a trilingual film, in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. It gives me a lot of scope.

Upendra plays a double role in the film, and both the characters he plays are in love with me. I have a significant role to play in the plot, and am not just a pretty accessory.

Your viewers in the South who have seen you in superhits like Tolli Prema were surprised that your first Hindi flick didn't click.

You know, of course, that Tolli Prema has now been remade as Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai.

I have always enjoyed meaningful cinema. It does not matter whether a film is a hit or not.

I am not in this industry for money, you see. A majority of people are; I don’t blame them for that. I'm very lucky not to have to depend on films for my livelihood.