hot stuff About Amrita Rao!!

Hottest thing about you
(laughs) Tough one! Let me say I am yet to discover the hottest thing about me!
Hottest TV show you saw in the last few months
Jhalak Dikhla Jaa.

What made it so hot?
Shweta Salve. Need I say more?

Hottest movie
It has to be my film Vivah. In an age of cut-throat competition and lucrative gains, Sooraj Barjatya's brand of cinema has always exemplified Indian culture, morality, goodwill and commitment in relationships.The honesty with which Soorajji promotes family values is heartwarming.

Hottest thing about Shahid Kapoor
His matchless sense of humour. He leaves the entire film unit (including me) in absolute splits. Of course, I happen to be the subject of all his jokes. He pulls my leg all the time and I've got used to it.

Hottest pick-up line
"Kahin main tere pichhle janam ka Krishna aur tu meri Radha to nahin?" Ugh! (laughs out loud)

Hottest thing a fan did
Oh, don't remind me! This fan would send me mushy messages and gifts from Patna. Despite my indifference, he was persistent with his gifts. Ultimately, he decided to gift me a two-month-old puppy, all the from Patna, mind! That's when I caught hold of his number and asked a friend to have a serious chat with him and put an end to the madness. (laughs)

Hottest piece of gossip you've ever heard
I've heard that a very famous woman from Indian film frat religiously jogs on the Dadar road every day between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m! The strangest part is that she lives some where in Andheri or Juhu, like an hour away from Dadar! Why she would go all the way to Dadar to jog, that too at 2:00 a.m? (laughs)

Hint please?
(laughs) No names! She's from the industry but she's not an actress. Trust me, many industrywallahs have seen her on that same road. Freaky, no?

Hottest rumour doing the rounds
Everything related to Aishwarya and Abhishek. Jokes apart, it really doesn't matter what the two decide to do in their personal lives. The media should give them a break.

And? And?
(laughs) Well, I think they look fantastic on screen. That's all I'm telling!

Hottest youth icon
Sunidhi Chauhan. She started singing at such a young age and now rules the music industry. That speaks volumes about her determination.The hottest thing about her is her ability to modulate her voice according to the mood of the song. Check out Beedi from Omkara.

Hottest artiste
Can I say Himesh Reshammiya? (laughs)

Hottest fitness tip
Self-restraint and self-control are the keywords for a hot bod. The mind controls the body, not vice versa. Overcome the temptation of junk food.Yoga also works wonders for the mind and body but I'm too lazy to practise it religiously. (laughs)

Hottest stress-buster
Watching a good Bollywood flick.

Hottest dish
A bowl of spicy hot and sour soup.

Hottest romantic getaway
Prague! Whether it is the quaint cobbled streets, the intricate artwork on the high ceilings, the breathtaking architecture, every nook and corner of the city spells romance.The hottest thing about it—it's so lost in time and yet so real.

Hottest fragrance
The invigorating smell of a bunch of raat ki rani.

Hottest music
The Omkara soundtrack

Hottest quote
Shah Rukh, when he doesn't bag an award, says, “It isn't as though I don't deserve the awards. Just that the awards don't deserve me.”

Hottest prank you've ever played or heard of
I have always been at the receiving end of most pranks. When Ken Ghosh once called me for a movie narration, I gladly went, little realising that I was in for a major spin. From the moment this weird nerdy scriptwriter started off (in the worst Canadian accent ever), I knew something was amiss. He declared I was the lead heroine and he would essay the hero! There would be this bizarre dance sequence followed by our on-screen wedding, after which we would proceed for my 'real offscreen' wedding with him. When I heard that, I cracked up. It was too wacky to be true. It was MTV Bakra.

Hottest hangouts
‘Out Of The Blue’ at Pali Hill. From the décor to the ambience to the service to the hot cuisine, the place rocks.

Your hottest kiss
Well well well (giggles)... I'm actually still waiting for it, while on a never-ending wait for my Prince Charming.

Something hot we don't know about you
Quite often, I put on a cap and sneak into a theatre running my film. It's a lot of fun because that's where you get the most honest feedback.

Things that are so NOT hot
Actors being misquoted in media. Journalists must make sure the essence of what we say does not change. Mincing words 'into' our mouths is so not cool.

Hottest date you've ever been on
Forget the hottest, I have NEVER been on a date!

Hottest hunk in India
Hrithik Roshan—perfection personified. He has great facial features, coveted height, sexy physique. He's India's finest actor today. And, to top it all, he's genuinely humble.

Hottest fantasy
Shooting a romantic song in gorgeous snow-clad Ladakh with Hrithik (co-star) and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. (director)

Hottest fetish
Singing. I love listening to old film music and crooning along

Flaming 5
HOTTEST FRAGRANCE
Raat ki rani
HOTTEST STRESS-BUSTER
A good Bollywood flick

HOTTEST ARTISTE
Himesh Reshammiya

HOTTEST FITNESS TIP
Self-restraint

HOTTEST MUSIC
Omkara OST

It all happened at 15
Amrita Rao, who was in Dubai for the shoot of the Telugu film Atithi airs her views …
How did Bollywood that happen?
Getting into films was a childhood dream, which I had kept to myself. But I guess I was destined to be an actress. I had just finished Class 10. I was 15. It was the summer vacation. I heard of an audition for a fairness crème ad film. I tried my luck, and I got it. And then, even as I joined college, modelling assignments started pouring in —Close-up, Coke, Pepsi Bru, Perk…. A few of the ad films got noticed. And that got me film roles — Ab Ke Baras, Ishq Vishq, The Legend of Bhagat Singh Mai Hoon Na. This was in 2003. Vivah happened two years later, and is still going on. Things began for me on a fantastic note with back-to-back hits.

You started off very young. Any regrets?
Actually, no, because even after so many films, I still have so much to look forward to … so many years ahead of me.

You come from a family that has nothing to do with films. How did you cope with the big bad world of Bollywood?
Actually, it’s not such a big bad world. When you are an insider you realise there are different levels, as in every industry. The level you come from, you automatically begin to deal with that level. You avoid anything that looks remotely shady.

What about the casting couch?
I don’t know if anything like that exists. I have not seen it or experienced it. I didn’t have to really struggle to get my roles I have dealt with highly professional people and production houses, like Tips, Ken Ghosh, Raj Kumar Santoshi Rajshree…. So, I have not had to deal with anything sleazy. I suppose the casting couch is a desperate measure, which unfortunately some people succumb to. It’s a personal choice. But finally, no one can force you to do anything you don’t want to do.

It is believed that models don’t make good actresses. Your take on that?
I think it’s a myth. It’s a generalisation, and like all other generalisations, it’s not true. Look at Bipasha Basu, Sushmita Sen Gul Penag. They were models who are also fine actresses.

What about competition?
Yes, there’s more competition in movies than in modelling. When you are a model, no one says ‘That shampoo girl is better than the coffee girl’. But once you enter films, you have to be prepared for it — comparisons and criticisms. You have to be strong enough to deal with it. You are only as good as your last film. As an actress you have to gamble with your name and reputation. What if you are not received well by the audiences? What if you are written off by the media? You are constantly plagued by such questions.

How do you deal with over-exposure?
It’s easy to lose one’s freshness. We need to keep doing different kinds of roles to remain in the public eye. But then, if over-exposure was bad, then Hollywood actresses would have been the first targets. People like Julia Roberts have survived for so long because of their creativity and versatility. But again, you cannot have too many releases in a year. You need to space them out and choose roles that leave a lasting impression.

Your take on beauty pageants?
It gives winners an opportunity to become goodwill ambassadors of their country. People want glamorous symbols to go with compassion. It let’s these people do a lot of good work.

You are being politically correct.
Well, these pageants also provide a huge platform to the world of glamour. They are steppingstones to the world of modelling and movies.

What do you think of the Aishwarya-Abhishek wedding? Will it last?
I think it is the most historic wedding to happen in Bollywood. Most Bollywood marriages have lasted. Look at Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Sri Devi … all big names. Their marriages have lasted.

How do you handle gossip and rumour-mongering?
They come with the territory. It does hurt because you are human. But you have to learn to live with it. You have to take it as part of the fame and find other things to help you find a balance. The best way to deal with gossip is to keep quiet and not react. It’s practically impossible to go door-to-door telling people what they’ve heard is not true.

'I am ready for an item number'
She made her debut with Ab Ke Baras. Now, she is artist M F Hussian's muse. In an interview with us, Amrita Rao discusses her short but momentous journey in Bollywood.
Real vs reel: I have played a variety of roles and, somewhere, I am like a few. Ishq Vishq was more like myself, while I had fun experimenting with the rest. But, the best part about being an actress is that you get to do it all in this life time.

Ultimate fantasy: I'm glad my characters gave me the opportunity to connect with my generation of people. Punam in Vivah was a very mature role of a small town girl. Yes, a lot of guys have complimented me on the role. And I feel happy that guys still like such girls.

Muse's views: It is a compliment to be MF Hussain's muse after Madhuri, and I still cannot believe it's true. The fact that he has immortalised me in his canvas would freeze as a historical moment in my career.

Big banners, bigger co-stars: I remember when Sushmita won the Miss Universe crown, every schoolgirl including me wanted to be like her. I never imagined that I would get to do such a beautiful role with her in Main Hoon Na.

Item girl: For me, sensuality lies in the attitude and expression and not the clothes. I would love to work with Farah Khan in a guest appearance song or, as you call it, an item number.

On working with King Khan: I worked with Shah Rukh first in Main Hoon Na and now in My name is Gonsalves. Now I know why they call him the Badshah. His response can only make your reflexes better.

A day off in her life: Lazying around, catching up with friends and relatives, watching a movie and driving around the city...

Romancing Shahid, onscreen: I know Shahid since Ishq Vishq and we get along well with each other.

Waiting for Mr Right? I believe there is no Mr Right. If you find the right person and want to spent the rest of your life with him, then you would have to make it work towards making it right.