Tsunami
November 13th, 2000, 04:33 PM
The Soch of ADITI GOVITRIKAR???
She’s got smile that it seems to me,
Reminds me of childhood memories,
Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue skies...
She’s got the eyes of the bluest skies,
And if they thought of rain,
I’d hate to look into those eyes,
And see an ounce of pain,
O sweet child of mine...
‘Innocence’ is unpersistent, it is a phase of one’s life that slips through like water, escapes through the gaps between the enclasped hands. It’s a rare quality that one can only hope to cherish, for once lost, can never be revived.
Imagine a world which is untouched by the shadows of deception, foul, selfishness and guilt... not possible, right? I envy myself for having found that world in the blue eyes of a woman, a beauty named Aditi Govitrikar.
It’s a sultry Saturday afternoon and the sun’s playing games with Aditi’s auburn tresses, her blue eyes seem to reflect the wispy blue chiffon curtains in her apartment. Her skin resembles that of a newborn, like the skin of a peach that has just been scalded. While her Victorian looks can almost intimidate you for a split second, in the next, her genuine warmth can put you at complete ease. I can vividly remember having spotted her in Anu Malik’s video ‘Baarish’ a while ago, and the buzz went like this... “Have you seen the new girl who looks like a photocopy of Aishwarya Rai?” And she was just as pretty as Ash herself. When you mention it, Aditi denounces the fact, “It’s probably the complexion and the light eyes that make us pass off as similar. She’s much prettier in comparison. But I hope that her success rubs on to me though”.
Aditi is as unpretentious as they come. There’s a bitter unawareness she emits. The unknowingness of her exceptional beauty is an endearing contrast to an Aishwarya, who claims to be ‘a cut above the norm’. Ignorance is bliss, they say. I nod in blissful agreement.
She cuts my mental thoughts to discuss the beginning of her career, “I never intended to be a model or an actress for that matter.” Ordinarily, I would’ve dismissed the statement as another cliche, but in this case, it holds logic, for Aditi was educated in medicine to be a gynaecologist. Unlike most models and film stars, who are generally college dropouts, Aditi was brilliant in her academics and was one of the six to be selected out of six hundred students for the gynaec seats. As a child, she was the coy introvert who would rather be left to her own devices. “I was standing at this bus-stop once with a couple of friends when we happened to spot this hoarding displaying the Gladrags Mega Model Hunt ad. A friend suggested I take part.”
That year Aditi emerged winner and became the Gladrags Mega-Model. Considering that the contest was a big leap, what were her thoughts then? “Throughout the contest, I was carrying mixed feelings. I was under the impression that I wouldn’t win. I kept questioning myself for being there and thinking I’d rather study than waste my time here. Besides, I had an attack of typhoid just before the contest, so I was even more apprehensive. Naturally, the after-effects would be visible on my face”.
But perhaps they didn’t. Her winning the contest was proof galore. Not only did she win the local contest, she was also selected the Most Beautiful Face and Body Beautiful. “I didn’t know what I was doing, I was so nervous that all the while, I kept smiling in order to cover up my nervousness. Which probably helped,” she recounts.
It occurs to one that Aditi hails from a conservative Maharashtrian family. Didn’t her upbringing ever restrict her from treading into the glamour line? “Initially my parents were very shocked. But later, they came around gradually. Maybe it was because of my introverted nature that they were a little skeptical about the glamour line. They thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I reassured them time and again that I wouldn’t give up on my studies, ever. But gradually, even I realized that I wouldn’t be able to balance my medical profession with the modeling job. So I prioritized on the latter, thinking that I could always continue medicine, after a while.”
Modelling continued for Aditi with a barricade of high-profile assignments like the Shoppers Stop, IFB and Ponds campaign, amongst others. In the meanwhile, films happened. Around a year back, she made her first big-screen appearance with a Telugu film. And today, she has signed on ‘Soch’ co-starring Sanjay Kapoor and Arbaaz Khan. Having shot a few scenes for the film, Aditi relives the experience. “I have always wanted to act. Besides, being in front of the camera fascinates me. And having been a model, I’m most comfortable facing it. I love saying lines and emoting. So, I enjoy every bit of the experience.”
Was films a very obvious next-step after modelling? “No. ‘Soch’ happened quite by accident. Three years ago, I had done a show with this designer Riffat, who was incidentally the designer for this film too. Back then, I had shown some interest in doing films, so she remembered me while they were casting for ‘Soch’. I went and met the director, Sushen Bhatnagar, and things just fell into place.”
Was the role just a run-of-the-mill character or something different? “It’s not at all a regular character. It is the role of an obsessive wife, a jealous wife who’s not completely psyched out, but bordering on abnormality. She’s basically suspicious of her husband, no matter how much he loves her and cares for her.In a way, she wants to make herself believe that he doesn’t love her. Her baseless suspicion becomes the bane of their healthy relationship. The film is a murder mystery.” Her eyes turn a glistened oceanic blue with the emphasis on mystery, as though a child is on its way to solving a jigsaw puzzle.
Any other debutante would’ve opted to do a safer role, like a romantic better-half, for instance. Why go for a complicated role like hers? “I am a very impulsive person. I mean, I’ve taken some wrong decisions in my life and some right. Like earlier, I was offered the role that Sushmita Sen did in ‘Sirf Tum’, which I rejected then. But I’m regretting on having done so now, because all said and done, it was a strong role. When the role of ‘Soch’ was narrated to me, I saw it as challenge. And that prodded me to take it up.”
On second thoughts, how come all the roles offered to her - ‘Sirf Tum’ and now ‘Soch’ - are coming from the Boney Kapoor camp? “Well, I hope I am offered a role opposite Anil Kapoor then, that’ll be fabulous!” she giggles.
One wonders whether, having been a sophisticated model, could she see herself doing mainstream commercial roles? “Yes, of course. In fact, I love getting wet in the rain, dancing around trees, singing romantic verses, probably because in reality I’m such a hopeless romantic. On the other hand, I’d love to do a total masala film like, for instance, a David Dhawan film. It’ll be fun!”
Contrarily, in real life, can she relate to the aggressive role she’s playing in ‘Soch’? Could that be her?... “To a certain extent, I can, because every human being has a negative side. It’s the good judgment in us that helps us keep the negative side suppressed, most times. But, I’m sure we all have violent outbursts sometimes.”
Speaking of her opening shot for ‘Soch’, she relates, “I had to run out of a room while having a heated argument with my husband (played by Sanjay). In fact, all my opening shots for the film were the more serious ones. It was a little difficult doing them for the simple reason that, in real life, I’m a very controlled person. I’m a Taurus-Gemini cusp. So, probably one of the hyper signs helped me give the aggressive shot,” she informs in amusement.
At this point of time, both her male co-stars, Sanjay and Arbaaz, have failed to raise any interests at the box office. Wouldn’t that affect her debut film? “Personally, I’m not aware of what standing Sanjay and Arbaaz have at the box office and even if I did, it doesn’t matter. According to me, what really matters is the script of the film, which incidentally is very strong. Sanjay is a great actor whose potential hasn’t been completely tapped”. And what about Arbaaz?...”Well as much as what we have shot for the film, I have only seen him fight. So, can’t say much at this point of time. He plays a negative character”.
Arbaaz seems to be getting mostly negative roles, ‘Daraar’ and now ‘Soch’?...”Yeah!I hope only I don’t get typecasted after this film”.
Will ‘Soch’ resurrect the heroes’ careers? “I hope so,” she retorts affirmatively. Always hoping for better things, that’s what constitutes Aditi in a mug shot. She’s the original destiny’s child, its favourite one. Her hit ratio with Lady Luck is apparent by the fact that, around a couple of days back, she was expressing her keen interest in working with Hrithik Roshan whom she found very sweet. And the next thing that followed, was her lapping up the new Coke ad with Hrithik. When asked about it, she replies with a luminescent twinkle in her eyes, “Yeah, isn’t that great? I just went for the audition and got through... Later, I was flown down to Mauritius to shoot for the ad.”
How was the experience considering that she’d always fancied Hrithik? “To tell you frankly, I was a little jittery. The day that we were supposed to begin shooting, I discovered that the ad was to be directed by Rakesh Roshan and captured by Ashok Mehta, who are both so well-honed in their respective professions. But, they were very accommodating and everything worked out smoothly. It was a pleasure, they were all so wonderful. Especially Hrithik, who’s so down-to-earth. Not even for a second does he make you realize his star status. It’s amazing how success hasn’t hit his head. All in all, it was a fun shoot”.
Having seen the rushes of the ad,I sincerely hope she gets to work with Hrithik in the near future. The fizz is evident, Aditi and Hrithik seem to elude a fantastic chemistry. One dekho at the ad, and you are sure that looks speak louder than words.It’s probably the coloured eye contact between the duo that has a tantalizing effect on the viewers who are left gasping for more.
Incidentally, Aishwarya was signed on for the same ad, but she opted out for the fear that Hrithik would hog all the limelight. Logical, considering that Rakesh was directing the ad. Was Aditi aware of this switch of models? “Yes, I did hear something, but I was not aware of what happened. All I know was that I was contesting with many other girls for the ad and luckily got chosen. This ad is a Diwali special.”
It brings to one’s notice that Aditi is a very well known face, be it on the ramp, fashion glossies or music videos, name it and the woman seems to have been there all, isn’t an actress supposed to observe a certain amount of exclusivity? I ask... “The small screen is a completely different canvas as opposed to the megascreen, so the change is going to be noticeable. Besides, I think, the audience hasn’t yet seen me on the big screen emoting, so that mystery is still there”. It’s been a long fruitful conversation and the sun is now beginning to change colours to a deep shade of flame orange above Aditi’s window. The maid servant serves us some hot tea, while Aditi offers some biscuits “These are shrews bury biscuits from Pune, try some you’ll like them”.
Her absorption of small things reflects that she is a woman of ‘simple abundance,’ one who finds happiness in little things in life like a child finds joy in a bar of chocolate. I leave Aditi’s nest hoping against hope that the child in this woman stays forever and that life’s bitterness and struggle doesn’t ever see the end of her innocence
She’s got smile that it seems to me,
Reminds me of childhood memories,
Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue skies...
She’s got the eyes of the bluest skies,
And if they thought of rain,
I’d hate to look into those eyes,
And see an ounce of pain,
O sweet child of mine...
‘Innocence’ is unpersistent, it is a phase of one’s life that slips through like water, escapes through the gaps between the enclasped hands. It’s a rare quality that one can only hope to cherish, for once lost, can never be revived.
Imagine a world which is untouched by the shadows of deception, foul, selfishness and guilt... not possible, right? I envy myself for having found that world in the blue eyes of a woman, a beauty named Aditi Govitrikar.
It’s a sultry Saturday afternoon and the sun’s playing games with Aditi’s auburn tresses, her blue eyes seem to reflect the wispy blue chiffon curtains in her apartment. Her skin resembles that of a newborn, like the skin of a peach that has just been scalded. While her Victorian looks can almost intimidate you for a split second, in the next, her genuine warmth can put you at complete ease. I can vividly remember having spotted her in Anu Malik’s video ‘Baarish’ a while ago, and the buzz went like this... “Have you seen the new girl who looks like a photocopy of Aishwarya Rai?” And she was just as pretty as Ash herself. When you mention it, Aditi denounces the fact, “It’s probably the complexion and the light eyes that make us pass off as similar. She’s much prettier in comparison. But I hope that her success rubs on to me though”.
Aditi is as unpretentious as they come. There’s a bitter unawareness she emits. The unknowingness of her exceptional beauty is an endearing contrast to an Aishwarya, who claims to be ‘a cut above the norm’. Ignorance is bliss, they say. I nod in blissful agreement.
She cuts my mental thoughts to discuss the beginning of her career, “I never intended to be a model or an actress for that matter.” Ordinarily, I would’ve dismissed the statement as another cliche, but in this case, it holds logic, for Aditi was educated in medicine to be a gynaecologist. Unlike most models and film stars, who are generally college dropouts, Aditi was brilliant in her academics and was one of the six to be selected out of six hundred students for the gynaec seats. As a child, she was the coy introvert who would rather be left to her own devices. “I was standing at this bus-stop once with a couple of friends when we happened to spot this hoarding displaying the Gladrags Mega Model Hunt ad. A friend suggested I take part.”
That year Aditi emerged winner and became the Gladrags Mega-Model. Considering that the contest was a big leap, what were her thoughts then? “Throughout the contest, I was carrying mixed feelings. I was under the impression that I wouldn’t win. I kept questioning myself for being there and thinking I’d rather study than waste my time here. Besides, I had an attack of typhoid just before the contest, so I was even more apprehensive. Naturally, the after-effects would be visible on my face”.
But perhaps they didn’t. Her winning the contest was proof galore. Not only did she win the local contest, she was also selected the Most Beautiful Face and Body Beautiful. “I didn’t know what I was doing, I was so nervous that all the while, I kept smiling in order to cover up my nervousness. Which probably helped,” she recounts.
It occurs to one that Aditi hails from a conservative Maharashtrian family. Didn’t her upbringing ever restrict her from treading into the glamour line? “Initially my parents were very shocked. But later, they came around gradually. Maybe it was because of my introverted nature that they were a little skeptical about the glamour line. They thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I reassured them time and again that I wouldn’t give up on my studies, ever. But gradually, even I realized that I wouldn’t be able to balance my medical profession with the modeling job. So I prioritized on the latter, thinking that I could always continue medicine, after a while.”
Modelling continued for Aditi with a barricade of high-profile assignments like the Shoppers Stop, IFB and Ponds campaign, amongst others. In the meanwhile, films happened. Around a year back, she made her first big-screen appearance with a Telugu film. And today, she has signed on ‘Soch’ co-starring Sanjay Kapoor and Arbaaz Khan. Having shot a few scenes for the film, Aditi relives the experience. “I have always wanted to act. Besides, being in front of the camera fascinates me. And having been a model, I’m most comfortable facing it. I love saying lines and emoting. So, I enjoy every bit of the experience.”
Was films a very obvious next-step after modelling? “No. ‘Soch’ happened quite by accident. Three years ago, I had done a show with this designer Riffat, who was incidentally the designer for this film too. Back then, I had shown some interest in doing films, so she remembered me while they were casting for ‘Soch’. I went and met the director, Sushen Bhatnagar, and things just fell into place.”
Was the role just a run-of-the-mill character or something different? “It’s not at all a regular character. It is the role of an obsessive wife, a jealous wife who’s not completely psyched out, but bordering on abnormality. She’s basically suspicious of her husband, no matter how much he loves her and cares for her.In a way, she wants to make herself believe that he doesn’t love her. Her baseless suspicion becomes the bane of their healthy relationship. The film is a murder mystery.” Her eyes turn a glistened oceanic blue with the emphasis on mystery, as though a child is on its way to solving a jigsaw puzzle.
Any other debutante would’ve opted to do a safer role, like a romantic better-half, for instance. Why go for a complicated role like hers? “I am a very impulsive person. I mean, I’ve taken some wrong decisions in my life and some right. Like earlier, I was offered the role that Sushmita Sen did in ‘Sirf Tum’, which I rejected then. But I’m regretting on having done so now, because all said and done, it was a strong role. When the role of ‘Soch’ was narrated to me, I saw it as challenge. And that prodded me to take it up.”
On second thoughts, how come all the roles offered to her - ‘Sirf Tum’ and now ‘Soch’ - are coming from the Boney Kapoor camp? “Well, I hope I am offered a role opposite Anil Kapoor then, that’ll be fabulous!” she giggles.
One wonders whether, having been a sophisticated model, could she see herself doing mainstream commercial roles? “Yes, of course. In fact, I love getting wet in the rain, dancing around trees, singing romantic verses, probably because in reality I’m such a hopeless romantic. On the other hand, I’d love to do a total masala film like, for instance, a David Dhawan film. It’ll be fun!”
Contrarily, in real life, can she relate to the aggressive role she’s playing in ‘Soch’? Could that be her?... “To a certain extent, I can, because every human being has a negative side. It’s the good judgment in us that helps us keep the negative side suppressed, most times. But, I’m sure we all have violent outbursts sometimes.”
Speaking of her opening shot for ‘Soch’, she relates, “I had to run out of a room while having a heated argument with my husband (played by Sanjay). In fact, all my opening shots for the film were the more serious ones. It was a little difficult doing them for the simple reason that, in real life, I’m a very controlled person. I’m a Taurus-Gemini cusp. So, probably one of the hyper signs helped me give the aggressive shot,” she informs in amusement.
At this point of time, both her male co-stars, Sanjay and Arbaaz, have failed to raise any interests at the box office. Wouldn’t that affect her debut film? “Personally, I’m not aware of what standing Sanjay and Arbaaz have at the box office and even if I did, it doesn’t matter. According to me, what really matters is the script of the film, which incidentally is very strong. Sanjay is a great actor whose potential hasn’t been completely tapped”. And what about Arbaaz?...”Well as much as what we have shot for the film, I have only seen him fight. So, can’t say much at this point of time. He plays a negative character”.
Arbaaz seems to be getting mostly negative roles, ‘Daraar’ and now ‘Soch’?...”Yeah!I hope only I don’t get typecasted after this film”.
Will ‘Soch’ resurrect the heroes’ careers? “I hope so,” she retorts affirmatively. Always hoping for better things, that’s what constitutes Aditi in a mug shot. She’s the original destiny’s child, its favourite one. Her hit ratio with Lady Luck is apparent by the fact that, around a couple of days back, she was expressing her keen interest in working with Hrithik Roshan whom she found very sweet. And the next thing that followed, was her lapping up the new Coke ad with Hrithik. When asked about it, she replies with a luminescent twinkle in her eyes, “Yeah, isn’t that great? I just went for the audition and got through... Later, I was flown down to Mauritius to shoot for the ad.”
How was the experience considering that she’d always fancied Hrithik? “To tell you frankly, I was a little jittery. The day that we were supposed to begin shooting, I discovered that the ad was to be directed by Rakesh Roshan and captured by Ashok Mehta, who are both so well-honed in their respective professions. But, they were very accommodating and everything worked out smoothly. It was a pleasure, they were all so wonderful. Especially Hrithik, who’s so down-to-earth. Not even for a second does he make you realize his star status. It’s amazing how success hasn’t hit his head. All in all, it was a fun shoot”.
Having seen the rushes of the ad,I sincerely hope she gets to work with Hrithik in the near future. The fizz is evident, Aditi and Hrithik seem to elude a fantastic chemistry. One dekho at the ad, and you are sure that looks speak louder than words.It’s probably the coloured eye contact between the duo that has a tantalizing effect on the viewers who are left gasping for more.
Incidentally, Aishwarya was signed on for the same ad, but she opted out for the fear that Hrithik would hog all the limelight. Logical, considering that Rakesh was directing the ad. Was Aditi aware of this switch of models? “Yes, I did hear something, but I was not aware of what happened. All I know was that I was contesting with many other girls for the ad and luckily got chosen. This ad is a Diwali special.”
It brings to one’s notice that Aditi is a very well known face, be it on the ramp, fashion glossies or music videos, name it and the woman seems to have been there all, isn’t an actress supposed to observe a certain amount of exclusivity? I ask... “The small screen is a completely different canvas as opposed to the megascreen, so the change is going to be noticeable. Besides, I think, the audience hasn’t yet seen me on the big screen emoting, so that mystery is still there”. It’s been a long fruitful conversation and the sun is now beginning to change colours to a deep shade of flame orange above Aditi’s window. The maid servant serves us some hot tea, while Aditi offers some biscuits “These are shrews bury biscuits from Pune, try some you’ll like them”.
Her absorption of small things reflects that she is a woman of ‘simple abundance,’ one who finds happiness in little things in life like a child finds joy in a bar of chocolate. I leave Aditi’s nest hoping against hope that the child in this woman stays forever and that life’s bitterness and struggle doesn’t ever see the end of her innocence