May 15, 2011

Kissing scene with Kalki Koechlin was shocker: Co-actress

Mumbai: Kissing is no more a taboo in Indian movies and most actors are doing it, but not for the one-film-old Kirti Kulhari because the newcomer was asked to lock lips with her co-actress Kalki Koechlin for ‘Shaitan’. She says it shocked her.

"The kiss with Kalki in the film was quite a shocker for me because I was not prepared for that," Kirti told reporters.

"Director Bejoy Nambiar used to joke around on the set that Kalki and Kirti will kiss, but I took it as a joke till I realized I have to do it. I was quite shocked and that`s what you`ll see on the screen - my shock and my real emotions coming out. It was too sudden," added the actress who made her big screen debut with ‘Khichdi - The Movie’ last year.

Set in Mumbai, Anurag Kashyap`s forthcoming production venture ‘Shaitan’ is about evil in human beings and is full of disturbing scenes. Nambiar also roped in Rajeev Khandelwal, Gulshan Deviah, Shiv Pandit and Neil Bhoopalam for his maiden venture that revolves around five youngsters.

The kissing scene was not the only part in the film that Kirti was uncomfortable with.

"I have a lot of confidence in Bejoy as a director; so I have done a few things in the film, which otherwise I would have taken a lot of time to get comfortable with. Like wearing a bikini. I would not have done it, but considering the kind of film it is, Bejoy explained why it is important and I did it," said the 24-year-old.

"There is another back shot that suggests that my boyfriend and I are making out. Even about that I was quite apprehensive, but I knew if Bejoy is thinking something, then it will be right. So I went ahead with it," she added.

Before doing films, Kirti used to work as a model. She started her modelling career in 2007 and has done ad films for products like Videocon, Parachute hair oil and ICICI Bank.

‘Shaitan’ sees Kirti as Tanya Sharma, a lower middle-class girl aspiring to be a top model. But she is unable to fulfil her big dreams.

For the actress, shooting for the film, which is landing in the theatres June 10, was mentally and physically exhausting.

"I have scenes which were very tough. There is a scene where I`m being slapped and my head is being banged against the wall. In one scene, I`m lying in a pool of blood and then one is where I`m in the hospital with all bruises.

"For me, it was a very disturbing experience. Because even though you are an actor, you don`t always act, there are moments when you actually feel what is happening in a scene. Many times during the shoot I cried to vent my emotions; it was very tough," she said.

Royals to take disciplinary action against Warne


Rajasthan Royals on Saturday decided to take disciplinary action against its captain Shane Warne after an internal probe found the Australian guilty of publicly insulting Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) secretary Sanjay Dixit.

"The player (Warne) has accepted the action that we have taken and apologised for any distress caused," Rajasthan Royals CEO Sean Morris informed Dixit about the action taken against Warne

He could be banned from one Indian Premier League (IPL) match and also fined.  The incident happened after Rajasthan Royals' match against Bangalore Royal Challengers on Wednesday.  RCA said Warne "insulted and abused" Dixit, who did not pay heed to his repeated request for changing the pitch. RCA lodged an official complaint against Warne.

Morris said an internal disciplinary panel was convened on the issue. "The panel met Warne to review his comments made to yourself (Dixit) post the prize ceremony. Following submissions from the player and other management staff who were present at the incident, we have decided to take disciplinary action against the player," Morris said in the letter.

Morris said the franchise will not tolerate such behaviour from any player.

"We have told all our players that we will not tolerate colourful language towards anyone and in particular not a senior officer such as yourself (Dixit)," Morris said.

RCA has also convened a meeting of its Legal Affairs Committee today "to consider the criminal complaint against Shane Warne for publicly insulting honorary secretary of RCA Sanjay Dixit".

It all started when Warne expressed shock and disappointment over being instructed to play on a new surface in their home match against Chennai on Monday. "We have never been told to play on any particular wicket in the past four years. It is ridiculous to have instructions for the pitch." "It is the right of every team to extract the best out of home conditions," Warne had said after his team's 63-run loss to the Super Kings.