Tuesday, May 22, 2012 5:28 PM IST
I don’t need to be in every film that I produce
Last Updated : 08 May 2011
Lara Dutta (Image Courtesy: Jatin Kampani).
Lara Dutta’s maiden film as producer, 'Chalo Dilli', is currently running in theatres. The former Miss Universe-turned-actress is part of a small but steady trickle of Hindi film heroines exploring career avenues beyond acting and brand endorsements. What inspired her to take the plunge? Dutta answers that question and discusses further plans in this conversation with Consulting Editor Anna M.M. Vetticad.How long have you been contemplating becoming a producer?Turning producer has been something that I have been thinking of for the last two years but the time needed to be right and I wanted to find a film that suited my sensibilities of the kind of film I’d like to be involved in. All that fell into place with 'Chalo Dilli'.Why did you choose the name 'Bheegi Basanti' for your production house?Basanti obviously came from my favorite film 'Sholay' and it’s also a typical Hindi film heroine name. I think 'Bheegi Basanti' is a very quintessential, typical image of a Hindi film heroine that has been in cinema across time. For me, it was a little bit of a tongue-in-cheek take also on how heroines are viewed in the Hindi film industry.Will you only produce films in which you see a role for yourself as an actress? Or do you have the mindspace, time, funds and inclination to back other projects too?I don’t need to be in every film I produce. I enjoy the role of being producer and look forward to being part of a film with an interesting storyline regardless of my presence in it.Why do you think the Hindi film industry has such limited roles to offer good female actors who want to be more than pretty props in a film?The industry has more male talent in the form of writers, directors and producers who find it much easier to develop and create male characters on screen than women. And therefore most on-screen female characters are one dimensional. The advent of more women being involved in the industry at various levels has slowly resulted in us seeing scripts evolving, stories being more content driven, and characters being more finely nuanced.In a Hindi film industry that gives primacy to male stars, do you think turning producer is the way forward for actresses in search of substantial, author-backed roles?I am not interested in making female-oriented films. It’s not my reason to turn producer but I definitely do think that both men and women can be given equal chances to perform on screen and stories can get more real.Why are so few Hindi film actresses producing films in comparison with the number of actress-producers in Hollywood?The mechanisms of both industries in the way they function are very very different. The union is much stronger in the West than it is here. It’s also tough being a producer in the Indian film industry as it’s still a new concept for women in India especially actresses to understand the business of production, and you need a very strong set-up and support backing to be relatively successful.How you plan to take forward the yoga DVD that you brought out a few months back? Can we expect a series? Do you have other fitness products in mind?Ever since my Miss Universe days, I’ve been very fitness conscious. Being fit and, more importantly, healthy has become a way of life for me. I am the only Indian woman to win the Best Body competition at any international pageant and I’ve always been inspired to help women build better bodies and simultaneously enjoy the benefits of good health. I have been collaborating with the experts that I have worked with on these DVDs for a long time. It’s taken over a year of research and the understanding of various body types and requirements to formulate and put together the content on the DVDs. Therein was born the concept of H.E.A.L with Lara that stands for Health, Exercise and Longevity. It is a brand I intend to expand on over the years and guarantee to bring quality fitness guidance to the consumer.The first DVD we released in November was 'Yoga – Recovery and Rejuvenation'. For someone who is looking for a more dynamic workout, we have just released Power Play which provides the viewer with a 40 minute routine combining strength and cardio intervals to maximize weight loss and increase muscle tone. The final DVD in this 3-DVD series is Posture Perfect which we will release soon.You also have a footwear range coming up?The footwear range should be out by the end of summer. It’s a collaboration with a brand where I’m involved in all aspects of design and creativity. I will share more about it later.What are the other business plans you can share with me?I plan to continue to expand H.E.A.L. with Lara along with starting my second production under Bheegi Basanti. I will still continue to act in films that are not produced by me.So what are the projects coming up from Bheegi Basanti Entertainment?Well, you’ll have to wait and watch.(Anna M.M. Vetticad is on Twitter as @annavetticad)
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