RADIO SARGAM INTERVIEW: ILENE HAMANN

The gorgeous South African model Ilene Hamann made her Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt’s recently released film Rog. Although the movie didn’t perform too greatly at the box office, Ilene got a positive response and grow a decent fan base. So what’s next? Will she continue working in Indian entertainment or has Bollywood seen the last of her? Radio Sargam’s Goher Iqbal Punn tracked Ilene down to find out!

You have been a super-model before joining the filmdom what difference do you see between the ad world and the world of cinema?
When you are a model you have to control your emotions… when you are an actress, you have to let them go.

Do you have any plans to continue working with Bollywood flicks? If so have you been offered to sign films from other filmmakers?
I would be open to doing more films in Bollywood if the plot is as unique as ROG was and if the character is one that I can identify with. I could really identify with my character Maya in ‘Rog’ as she was a fashion model. No item songs for me! I don’t see myself doing that.

What would happen to modelling now? Will you be seen in the ads in future? Or just the movies will take place?
No, modelling will never take a back seat. That’s what I know to do best.

Let us know the whole saga as to how Pooja had spotted you?
She saw me on the cover of a magazine and tracked me down in Cape Town… the rest as they say is history!

Have you enjoyed working with the crew of Rog?
Oh yes! They were all really patient with me and spoiled me rotten. It will be an experience I will never ever forget.

Did Rog meet your expectations?
Yes it does.

Since you are a foreigner and do not know Hindi also, have you faced any type of difficulties in delivering the dialogues or understanding the script?
Yes I did, but Pooja made my life quite easy by giving me a very good dialogue coach for 15 days, and personally supervising my performance on the sets. She would act out everything for me if I asked, and that made my job much easier. Of course, Irrfan was a great help too. He was very patient, and never made me feel like a novice.

You have been much in news from the outset due to your bold styles, breath-ceasing beauty, steamy sexy figure and the wide exposure of body parts. Do you like to be praised and publicized through this way or you want to be talked about your acting prowess.
Both.

You have displayed abundant sex-show in Rog and of course this dragged the audience to the cinema halls. Don’t you think it was beyond the requirement?
No. I do not think so.

Describe your experience with Bollywood. How did you find the people associated with?
I did my research on Pooja before I took up the offer of ‘Rog’ and was told that hers is one of the most professional companies in Bollywood. I was delighted to discover on my arrival in India that all I had heard about her was true.

Although you are a newcomer in this industry and have only one movie to your credit yet nevertheless you must have availed chances to come across the stars of this sparkling world. Who do you like the most?
I only interacted with Pooja, Mahesh Bhatt, Irrfan and Suhel Seth. Was not concerned with anything else besides them and my work while I was here.

If given a chance to appear in Hollywood movies, would you like to join them?
Why not? If it’s a good role of course.

If an offer comes from small screen in India, will you perform for it?
I do not think so. It’s either modelling or movies for me.

What is your preference for the movies you will sign in future? Will the moviegoers again see you in sex-packed movies or there might be some flicks laced with your gusto performance of acting
I beg to differ. ‘ROG’ was not a sex packed film

Interviewed By: Goher Iqbal Punn