Who : Tanushree Dutta
About : Actress, former Model, Miss India Universe 2004
Website: http://www.tanushreedutta.org/ (fan site)
Who : Tanushree Dutta
About : Actress, former Model, Miss India Universe 2004
Website: http://www.tanushreedutta.org/ (fan site)
How it happened : Interview with Tanushree Dutta
Interview Date: September, 2007
Place: N/A (Interview taken over phone)
Pics: None
She's an ex beauty queen who is steadily finding her foothold in the industry. Having done a variety of diverse roles including a negative lead in Raqeeb which got her immense praise, Tanushree Dutta has recently come out with two movies, Dhol and Speed, one a laugh a minute comedy by the king of comedies, Priyadarshan and the other an action flick by Vikram Bhatt. In an exclusive interview with Young Times, she talks candidly about both movies among other things..
Nikhil Taneja (NT) : From Ashiq Banaya Apne to Dhol. How has the journey been so far?
Tanushree Dutta (TD) : It has been a fabulous journey. I think I have found my foothold in the industry. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. And I think I have grown as an industry. And the film industry has also been very appreciative of my work, so that’s been really nice.
NT : You play the female lead opposite as many as four guys in your latest, Dhol. Tell us more about the movie and your role of Ritu in it.
TD : Well it’s a fun filled movie. It’s a comedy film. And I play a very simple small town girl but she’s very rich and all the four boys are trying to marry her so that even they can become rich. And because of their attempts to impress her, they do a lot of unintentional comedy because of this. That’s basically the gist of the film.
NT : How easy or difficult was the experience of working opposite 4 prankster guys?
TD : It wasn’t difficult. This is the first time I am doing a full fledged comedy film so it was a fabulous experience working with them and seeing how they work because most of them, Kunal, Sharman, Tusshar, Rajpal Yadav, they have all done comedies before. I was doing it for the first time. So they were very cooperative and very well behaved and very well disciplined and usually very serious and committed to their work. So that made it quite easy and a great experience.
NT : Who was the most fun to work with?
TD : I think all four of them. I got off very well with all four of them. I think they were people who are very serious about their work and they had the sincerity and dedication that makes them great actors and great people to work with.
NT : How different is the experience of working with Priyadarshan as compared to the other directors?
TD : I think it was a really good experience for me because Priyan sir is a maestro at comedy. He has made so many hit and popular comedy films in the past. And I learnt a thing or two about comic timing. He only issues precise instructions to actors for a particular scene so that’s quite a great help.
NT : What sets Dhol apart from Priyadarshan’s other comic capers?
TD : I think the public would see that in this film there is a lot of difference. I don’t want to say anything and just let the public see it for themselves. In fact, it’s got a bit of a suspense angle also to it, so that makes it all the more interesting.
NT : Any interesting moments or incidents during the shooting that you’d like to recollect for the readers?
TD : Uhh.. I remember some of the scenes were not shot on the sets and were shot on location. So it used to be very funny when some of our neighbours used to come out when we were shooting for the film along with on the streets who would stop by and see the scenes and start laughing! I would sometimes go on the sets even when I wasn’t required for a particular scene just to see the guys shooting.
NT : Your favourite Dhol moment.
TD : I think there is one scene in which all four boys start slapping each other. That was quite a spontaneous scene and it made me laugh quite hard!
NT : You have shot quite a few scenes in Pune where you had done your college.Was it nostalgic for you shooting there?
TD : Yes, it was quite nostalgic. I got an opportunity to use my free time to meet a lot of my college friends. I even met a few friends I had lost touch with since my high school days. And it was such a wonderful experience, you know, I had enough time to catch up with them and talk about old times (smiles).
NT : You have also worked in the out and out action film, Speed. Where did you fit in the scheme of things?
TD : It was fun working in an action film but I didn’t get to do any action in it. My role in that film is that of a simple and sweet girlfriend. I play Zayed’s love interest and there is a lot of chemistry and camaraderie between mine and Zayed’s character. I keep scolding him for all the wrong things he keeps doing in the film. That’s how our characters are. Zayed does the action in the film, I didn’t get to do any!
NT : Speed has b
een delayed quite a lot and the time gap between shoots shows in the scenes. What do you think are the film’s prospects at this stage?
TD : I have no clue really. I have been waiting since quite a long time for the film to release and I have no clue how the prospects will get affected. I am just hoping for the best, you know.
NT : Everyone’s talking about your recent tryst with the gym and you learning kathak and your fitness is being widely appreciated now. What was the point which made you realize you haven’t been giving time to yourself?
TD : Uhh… I think I would say that after I entered movies, I suddenly got so busy that I had very little time on hand to take care of myself and I was always shooting or always traveling or always jet setting. My life became a mad rush. That’s when I decided that I must organize myself and get into a fitness regime as well. So, one day, I decided to put everything in order and I saw the results after that. I have got quite a bit of appreciation for that (smiles).
NT : Has your learning Kathak come in handy for any of your future projects as yet?
TD : Well, I am sure it would. Because any kind of training in any kind of dance form never goes waste. So I don’t think my learning kathak will go waste since there is a lot of energy and stamina required for it. And there is a lot of grace in the movements as well. So I am sure it would definitely come in handy. It was actually more out of personal interest that I wanted to learn Kathak but it is definitely an added bonus and would help me in my future assignments as well.
NT : You have recently signed an action film targeted at children. The concept sounds very interesting. Could you tell us something more about it?
TD : Yeah, I have signed that film. It’s with a new director. But I can’t reveal much about the cast and crew at this stage. You’ll have to wait for the official announcement for that. But as for the movie, I play the role of a kind of wonder woman in the movie. It’s an out and out children’s film. It is not a regular movie, it is something that the children will love and family audiences will love. I do a lot of action in the movie and it is something I have enjoyed a lot. His is one of the movies I will always treasure in my collection of movies. If I talk more about it, the surprise element will go. So I don’t want to talk more about it and spoil that.
NT : You have essayed a variety of different roles very early in your career, even playing a negative character in Raqeeb which not many actresses would have gone for. What kind of roles are you looking forward to now?
TD : I don’t know. Maybe something which has a little bit of action in it. The children’s film I spoke about has that action so I am looking forward to shooting for it. I like action and I think I’ll do pretty good in such a film. I also want to essay another negative role, perhaps something even more negative than that I had essayed in Raqeeb. I could use my experience in Raqeeb to portray such roles. I want to do as diverse roles as possible.
NT : You were also offered to sing a song for Babul Supriyo in his album isn’t it? Not many know that you are a trained singer.
TD : Yes, I was offered the song but I did not finally sing it. I have got a couple of other offers as well to sing in albums because I am a trained classical singer. But I would rather concentrate on my acting career right now. But you never know, I might go in for it in the future.
YT : You’ve become the brand ambassador for Gitanjali group which recently launched the 
TD : Gitanjali group was looking at signing an actress for endorsing their jewellery and they heard about my fondness for jewelery. I am very fond of jewellery and I love collecting them. I have quite a collection. So they thought that I might be the best person to endorse their jewelery. In fact, they had been keeping a track of my past films and my film career. And after seeing that, they were certain I would be a good choice as their brand ambassador.
NT : So where does Tanushree Dutta go from here?
TD : I don’t really know. But I am hoping all good things(smiles)! Actually I don’t believe in seeing myself 5 years from now or 10 years from now. I see myself only about 3 months from now. And 3 months from now I’ll be shooting abroad. I don’t want to talk about which movie I am shooting for because I am very superstitious, so when the time comes for me to talk about them, I’ll talk about them.
© Nikhil Taneja (nikhiltaneja@gmail.com)
Who : Tanushree Dutta
About : Actress, former Model, Miss India Universe 2004
Website: http://www.tanushreedutta.org/ (fan site)
Who : Tanushree Dutta
About : Actress, former Model, Miss India Universe 2004
Website: http://www.tanushreedutta.org/ (fan site)
Nikhil Taneja (NT) : You have been a pretty successful model having even been on the cover of a British Asian fashion magazine. Was taking part in the Miss India competition something pre planned or was it an automatic choice after your success in the field ?
Tanushree Dutta (TD) : (Smiles) WeMiss Indian Universe 2004ll, I have been dreaming about being a Miss India since I was about 10 or 11, I guess. I first saw the Miss India Contest in 1994. Both the winners, Aishwarya and Sushmita Sen, won international titles and it was a matter of pride for all Indians. I too hoped to achieve the same fate and that’s why I gave it a shot. I had come to Mumbai with my dreams of modelling, which was basically for this very reason. Once I became a moderately successful model, Miss
NT : How did the music video, ‘Saiyyan Dil mein aana re’ happen ?
TD : I had heard about the auditions that were going on for the music video. Since I was already into modeling and music videos are a big help to a model to make her name in this glamour field, I decided to try my luck for it. So I sent them a tape of mine. They saw my tape, they got my screen test and the next thing I know, I was shooting for it.
NT : How come we haven’t seen you in any video post that ?
TD : Yeah, I have been very selective with my work ever since I did the ‘Saiyyan Dil Mein Aana Re’ video because the video, as I know it, had become a very big hit in
NT : So would you like to get back to them eventually ?
TD : I don’t think so that for now, I won’t like to do any music videos. At least not in the near future. Because, I have already done a music video and now I want to do something different.
NT : In fact, if I recall right, the only Miss
TD : Yes. But it actually depends on personal choice. It’s not that I mind doing a music video, it’s just that I wanted to something different. I have already done a music video and I know how it is. I know the whole experience. And I think there is a lot more in this field to explore than just sticking with one particular assignment, like I am doing a lot of ramp shows for various designers. There is also a lot of other assignments pouring in. So I think I would like to experiment with that. Of course, if a very, very interesting video comes up, or something excellent comes up, I might just think about it.
NT : How supportive were your parents on your choice of the modeling career ?
TD : Well, initially my parents very a little perturbed, because I belong to a very intellectual family – a family which is into education and music and fine arts and all these things. So for them modelling was very offshoot and they didn’t really expect me to get into it but later on, when I did some ad campaigns and people started talking about the quality of work I was doing, they found out that it wasn’t really all that bad and since I am against anything and everything cheap and vulgar, they started supporting me. And when the Miss India contest came along, they didn’t have any problem with it.
NT : Take us through your journey from entering the Miss India Pageant to winning the crown ?
TD : Oh wow. It’s been a wonderful journey, very honestly, since, as I have already told you, it had been a dream for me to participate in this very, very prestigious pageant. So when I got selected, it was like a dream coming true. And because I have always lived in a hostel environment and have lived with girls from across the country in boardings and hostels, I was used to that kind of environment of staying with a lot of people of different cultures. We were like a bunch of girls who were having fun, partying, and those rehearsals and the workout sessions in the morning and just staying together was a lot of fun.
Of course, before the pageant, everybody was stressed. But since we had become such good friends, we were standing by each other. And then, the contest began, and being on stage was like the greatest feeling ever, because I have worked as a stage artiste, so a stage is like my best friend. And it was good friend, and the rest is history (chuckles). Winning the crown – the crowning moment was like a dream coming true.
NT : What was the most exciting moment in that journey ? The tie breaker must have been pretty nerve wracking ?
TD : Oh yes. I felt like banging my head against the nearest wall because I was like, ‘Now why does this have to happen now !!’ (laughs). You know, because a tie breaker is something which was really…(thinks).
NT : Yeah, It was unprecedented.
TD : Yeah. It was in fact unprecedented. We didn’t think it would happen. And then again all those emotions went through us, that ‘Oh damn ! Now will we do well again or not !’ (smiles). But then I guess, all’s well that ends well. (chuckles).
NT : What is your say about the Laxmi Pandit incident
TD : Well, I don’t really think there is any point discussing that because, you know it’s far and bygone. And our organizers, the Times of India group, have really, really handled the whole issue really well and everything has been sorted out and …I am sure that... uhh… (thinks)… everybody, wherever they are now, are in a deserving position. So I don’t think there is any point talking about it.
NT : Where do you think you went wrong after having qualified in the final 10 in the
TD : Well, I don’t think t here was anything that went wrong. It’s just that when you make it to the top ten, your country gets points from there again. And I don’t really know. It is the judges decision ultimately to select people from the top ten to the top five. And I believe that every country that has made it to the top five has had an opportunity to have a winner and
NT : But is there anything, according to you, that you would like to change or have undone, which would have probably helped you be successful in your endeavor ?
TD : No, not at all, absolutely not. I feel that I have performed to my best capacity and more than winning the crown, I think I have made my country proud by performing well and giving in my best and there is nothing I would like to change. And a lot of times winning or not winning depends on destiny or luck, and I don’t think that I could have changed my destiny, you know (smiles). So there was nothing much to change really.
NT : So how much has life changed post the Miss India crown ?
TD : Oh (grins) ! It’s been a roller coaster ride. Life has changed drastically. Apart from the fact that I get less time to spend with my family and I travel too much these days, also the fact that people’s attitude towards me has changed because, of course, holding the most prestigious title for a woman in the country is something people look up to. Also, there is some good work coming in(smiles), life is getting more and more hectic day by day, and also, there is the learning experience.
NT : Your aspirations include starting a restaurant, isn’t it ?
TD : Oh yes.. (smiles) and.. Oh My God ! You really are armed with all the information that you can find about me, is it (laughs)! Very Impressive. Yes, I do intend to eventually, in the late future have my own restaurant and get into the restaurant business, because I am a food lover. And if I can think of any business, that would be food.
NT : You have also said that you would like to foray into media eventually.
TD : To be very honest, I love this field. I love the media industry. It would be difficult for me to move away from it, considering the fact that I have been a stage artiste and a model and I started at the age of 18. Obviously, it was my childhood passion. But if life permits and if a chance does come my way, I would also like to try a hand at, maybe, direction…! (Chuckles) I love to try different thinks, I have already told you that !
NT : You are currently in your second year of college. How have your studies been affected and what are your further plans regarding them ?
TD : Not really, they haven’t been affected because luckily, I was doing a correspondence course. For this, the exams happen later than the normal college courses. And I also have a chance of giving the papers that I have missed in October. So actually, yes, it has affected in the sense that I have to get back into the exam state of mind half way through (smiles and sighs), but at the same time I am managing to pull it off.
NT : Are you also going to continue with your stage performances as well ?
TD : Oh yes. Dancing is my first passion. It will never change like that. And you know, apart from it being a passion, my rehearsals and my dancing also help me keep fit so I am definitely continuing that.
NT : So how enriching has the whole experience been for you ?
TD : Well it has enriched me with a lot of experience of being an ambassador to traveling to so many places, meeting different people, learning about so many different places. You mature as an individual and I feel that the best way of learning is not through books, but through life itself.
NT : Lastly, what message would you give to Miss
TD : I would just say that it’s important to follow your dreams and not to give up in the face of difficulties, because to face anything big in life you have to go through hurdles. Many, many failures are followed by one single success. So if you fail in life, it doesn’t mean that you fail for life… that means there is a success down the line. And this is from personal experience that I am saying (smiles).
Nick name : Tanu
Sun Sign : Pisces
Favourite Movie : Titanic
Favourite Actor : Shahrukh Khan
Favourite Actress : -
You would love to tame : A leopard
Music that sets your feet tapping : Bollywood music
Your mouth watering delights : Butter Chicken
Your companion in every deed : My sister
Colours you simply love to dress is : Red, white
Your favourite pastime : Watching movies and eating
The day when you didn’t know where to hide your face : When I walked out in my
pyjamas(after winning the crown) for an ice cream and some children recognized and ran after me !
A striking event which left a lasting impression : My visit to a cancer hospital
The one and only wish that you would want, fulfilled : That I get many more wishes from God.
Last words about yourself : I am ambitious, sensitive, friendly and fun l loving ! Hope people feel the same way
about me too !
