RADIO
SARGAM INTERVIEW: ANTONIA BERNATH (KISNA)!
The
increasing global awareness of Indian film means more and more actors
and actresses from outside of India are being lured towards Bollywood.
The latest hopeful is Antonia Bernath, who makes her big screen debut
in Subhash Ghai’s ambitious epic Kisna alongside Vivek Oberoi.
The film opens soon and during a recent interview with Radio Sargam’s
Robeel Haq, the actress spilled the beans on her Bollywood experience!
How
did you land the role in Kisna?
It was the same process as any other role to be honest. I was studying
at drama school and my agent called after finding out about Kisna. He
recommended I audition even though it meant leaving drama school slightly
early. The character and story attracted me, plus the fact Kisna is
an Indian film made it even more exciting. I mean, the scale is enormous
and this sort of thing would have cost a fortune if they made it in
the West.
Have
you actually watched any Bollywood films?
Before signing Kisna, I had watched Monsoon Wedding. However after signing
the film, I decided to watch films like Lagaan, Taal and Devdas. I also
watched Kal Ho Na Ho – which has been my favourite Bollywood film
so far!
Did
you enjoy working with Subhash Ghai?
He was fantastic! He’s a real perfectionist and the script was
changed daily. As a director and a person, he was very caring and fatherly
towards me.
His
last film was Yaadein, which became a slight disaster. Did that make
you apprehensive?
I haven’t actually seen Yaadein, but I have heard it was the flop
of the year when it released. To be honest, I think people produce the
best after getting a kick up the arse, so it didn’t make me apprehensive
at all. If anything it made Subhash Ghai approach Kisna differently.
Was
Vivek Oberoi a nice co-star?
He was really lovely! I know there are rumours about him being egotistical
and all sorts of things. They are not true. He’s very down to earth
and completely in love with Aishwarya. He's a fantastic person!
Sadly
Amrish Puri passed away before the film released. Did you have any scenes
with him in Kisna?
Yes. I was very sad to hear the news. He was such a fantastic person
and took so much care of me whilst in India. I actually stayed with
his family in India and they were all so nice. He was not only an amazing
actor but an amazing person too.
What
else have you got planned after Kisna?
Well I had signed a new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, alongside
the likes of Marilyn Manson and Daryl Hannah. However the funding for
the movie is up in the air at the moment. I am flying off to America
soon to shoot something about Elvis Presley. I will play Priscilla Presley,
which should be fun!
KISNA
RELEASES WORLDWIDE ON 21ST JANUARY 2005
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY ROBEEL HAQ
