SAIRA MOHAN
Exclusive Interview with Qamar!

With Bollywood constantly searching for beautiful new faces to launch in Indian cinema, its hardly surprising that Saira Mohan is topping the wish-list for many top producers and directors. Her stunning good looks and confidence personality makes her a perfect contendor to follow in the footsteps of Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen. The internationally successful model is welcoming offers, but as she tells Radio Sargam in an exclusive interview, the role better be pretty damn good!

How did you get into modeling?

I was ‘discovered’ at a very young age…and simply went to work and started saving every penny I earned. As for “making it big” – I don’t think one can make it big until their kids make it big.

How would you describe your personality?

I’m a little girl at heart. I’ve been told that my eyes light up when I see candy and gumballs…and it’s so true. I’m also a bit over-emotional and stubborn at times. In short: I’m a woman with the usual quirks that come along with us. Being a working professional based in New York City — and having worked on every corner of the planet — my personality absolutely has a wealth of experiences from which to draw. You see!! You weren’t clever enough to ask me my personality in certain situations!! This is where things really get juicy and interesting!

Are you a religious person at heart... do you believe in the existence of a supreme being?

Virtue and Goodness are some names of Gods that I believe in. I am an extremely spiritual person…and that spirituality was given birth to by my heritage. I was raised surrounded by goodness. When one is surrounded with love, integrity, and goodness — it affects one’s spiritual development. “Religion” sounds like a mass-grouping of people to me. Spirituality sounds like something borne from each unique individual — and is brought forth in its own unique way. So, to this end, I am always working on my sense of spirituality. During some recent deep meditation — I heard a sentence over and over “Protect me from what I want.” So, what did I do? Well, I didn’t go mad and burn my possessions — but I did throw the sentence on a tee-shirt and wore it around. Occasionally, and only from the old, I would get a little wink and a smile — as they would point their finger to the temple of their forehead.

What kind of people inspire you the most?

I know this is trite — but my parents, husband, and myself. Other than that, I draw from too many sources for any one in particular to have that much influence. However, when all are brought together, you get…me!!

What would be your perfect 'date' and with whom?

Well, I could say, “I’m married — and I don’t date!!” But, I want to try to stay with the spirit of the question. The perfect date would be with someone who has a body of knowledge that I don’t understand. Men usually talk their heads off on dates — believe me. So, if they’re going to not shut-up — then let them say educational and fascinating things. Fix me up with Stephen Hawking. My husband will understand.

Tell us a little about your life partner... his likes his dislikes?

He’s the best. What else would a woman say? Seriously, he is also very much of a global perspective. I think that’s why we initially clicked. We are each other’s best friend. We’re extremely close. I’ve never met a more interesting man — and nobody has ever made me feel like a more interesting woman. He loves me — and he never lets me forget that.

Is he comfortable with your line of career?

My husband fully supports any wish or dream I’ve ever had. He’s got an extremely busy life himself. He works harder than anyone I’ve ever met. I have always read about people who work like that. Who knew I’d marry one? Nevertheless, his advice and support are two things that I’d not feel so confident without. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. I say this with pride because my husband wouldn’t be where he is today without me. I love it when I see that I’ve given him a professional idea that has merit (not that this happens often, mind you!) Models are not supposed to know anything about how real money is made in the capital markets. So, when I offer a valid perspective, it’s when I can feel most proud. My husband has taught me well that money makes the world go around. However, he always finishes that sentence with, "...but virtue, integrity, spirituality, family, and love make that ride worth while." I love that.

How did he propose to you?

The story is a good one. It’s a bit long to go into. But, to make it very short: he got down on one knee and said all the right things…the things I’d dreamed to hear since I was a little girl.

How do you keep away from bad publicity?

Oh, that’s so easy. You simply stay out trouble. Integrity is everything. Deals are either done with propriety, or they’re not done. While I’ve had my moments that would embarrass me today — I will say that I have absolutely nothing hiding in my closet that my parents don’t know about. OK. Ok…let me rephrase that — I have nothing in my closet that at least one of my parents don’t know about.

How many different countries have you been to in relation to your work?

Too many to list. They are all different. So many stories and experiences in each one of them. Feel free to ask me about specific places next time.

Which country/place did you like the most?

Well — how about that! You work fast. I like India for many personal reasons. I also adore Thailand. You’ve never had honeydew until you’ve had one in Thailand. I love very exclusive getaways the very most. Finding them is like finding a diamond in-the-rough. This is why I like to review hotels (which I do on my website). I don’t have many — and add only when I feel moved. I am about to add a third raving review about a property I’d not been to before in the Caribbean.

Why Bollywood and not Hollywood?

I’ve read for many A-List Hollywood films. Some I’ve turned down — and some were a close call. Most, however, I turn down. I would like to do something in Bollywood — if only so that, someday, my kids can see their mommy in a production that would make him/her smile. There is a misperception out there that I’m looking to break into the movie business. If that’s what I wanted, it would have been done a long time ago. Also, what direction do you think all my friends went in? Well, I’ve always ran the other way. It doesn’t mean I’d not do a project — but it’s all about whether I’m inspired to do it or not. It’s all about the quality of the productions…and I don’t care if it’s Hollywood or Bollywood: both are capable of outputting total crap.

Do you think that you would be able to handle the immense pressure that goes with being in the Indian film industry?

In life, one alleviates one set of pressures — then along comes another set. Does it ever end for people doing things worthwhile with their time? Any vocation — if one cares about what they do — is accompanied by pressure. Almost all is welcome pressure, and self-imposed. So, to my ears, I hear, “Do I handle pressure well?” I’ve done ok so far.

Will you be happy dancing around trees in a Bollywood film or would you like a much more hard hitting role?

Oh Lord!!! I TOTALLY want to dance around trees — sing songs with people who have just kidnapped me — and bat my eyes at the beautiful, God-like Indian hero who is about to rescue me from certain doom!

However, only Saira Mohan can be hard hitting. I’ll say anything that I can back up with direct, non-arbitrary observation. It’s very hard to argue with what one has seen, felt, and heard. I didn’t say it was impossible — but I prefer to talk to people that know what they’re talking about. So, if I want to “hit hard”, I will — but with my script…and nobody else’s.

Do you have any close friends in Bollywood?

I suddenly have many “close” friends in Bollywood. I think that the next time I come to India, I’ll organize a dinner with all “my new best friends” — unfortunately I’ll have to limit the list to only one thousand of my very, very closest.

If you were given the role of a 'Bond girl' in a James Bond big budget film, but you had to perfom a sex scene with partial nudity, would you grab the opportunity?

I know Pierce Bronsan well. So, since I know first hand that he’s a gentleman — and an incredibly impressive family man — I’d, with full trust and confidence, give the sexiest, hottest, partially nude performance anybody has ever seen. I always love to work with professional producers, on professional projects, in a professional way. It’s a cornerstone of my success. I’d love to do a sex scene with a great director filming the whole thing. What girl doesn’t want to see herself in the most beautiful light in the world making the most beautiful music in the world?

Which Bollywood films do you like the most and why?

I get asked this ten times a day. I’ll tell you what: Recommend a film to me I should go rent — and for heaven’s sake make it a good one — and then I’ll tell you, in detail, my thoughts. Now that’d be fun.

What do you think of Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen?

I’ve never met them. Everyone is asking me about these two people. Obviously, I now know who they are more than I did. But, you must understand, I “know” the most famous people in the world — and wouldn’t dare think that I know them enough to pass a judgment on them. I’d be interested to know how they think — not how they dance. I’d love to have them over for a good old-fashioned girl chat. Until and unless that happens, I reserve my comments. However, as I’ve said in the past, these women are very popular with a lot of wonderful people. I’m sure they are people I’d be honored to know.

Do you think Bollywood is getting sick of models turning actresses?

I don’t know about Bollywood, but I’m getting sick of it. If I ever am in a Bollywood film, better buy it — because I’d likely never do another one again.

Which Bollywood actor would you most like to be paired romantically with... and why?

I always ask to be paired with people who are professional, nice people. My husband once sat next to Shahrukh Khan on a flight from India to Mauritius once. My husband turned on the in-flight video and watched one of his films NOT KNOWING HE WAS SITTING NEXT TO SHAHRUKH KHAN. When the film was over, he was still humming something or another from the film awakening him from a sleep. My husband, who like myself has not seen many productions at all, was absolutely on cloud-nine for days. He thought he was really cool.

Which historical person would you like to portray in a film - if you had the chance?

I’d like to portray a person that I have some sort of connection to…for the simple reason that I’d give a better performance for the producers. I’m no actress. I love being who I am and don’t enjoy submersing into someone else’s life.

If you were given the chance, what would be the ONE thing you would change in the world?

Political agendas based on unsubstantiated facts and fallacious reasoning is a peeve on mine. I am actively working on the development of a long term project along these lines to address such things. Stay tuned for more on that…

Saira has kindly agreed to answer your questions on a regular basis. You may ask her anything you so wish… Saira will try to answer as many questions as she can. Please use the following forum link to post your questions… the first batch of answers will be online in time for Christmas.

Click Here To Submit Your Questions To Saira

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