MAHIMA INTERVIEW

Jaten: Subhash Ghai - Mahima Chaudhary kiss and make-up!

  • "It was not planned. The 'fight' was still on when I left the country for the u.s. it was there that i heard that Subhash Ghai had given a statement in some paper that he had forgiven me. On my return i met a common friend from delhi who knows both of us. It was this friend who talked to us and convinced us to bury the hatchet. He told me, 'forget it, make-up with him,' and things like that. I gave that some thought and we met, talked things over and decided to stop fighting, forgive and forget. And that was it. It was not Jackie Shroff who patched us, as it was reported."
    Mahima disowned: Subhash Ghai signs Aishwarya Rai for 'Taal'!

  • "Not at all, i wasn't upset about not being in 'taal'. I knew that he was planning a film called 'Taal' during the making of 'Pardes' itself. I know about the role anil kapoor is playing in the film. And also that govinda was a strong contender for the same role. He was considering Govinda, they had several meetings. As for the girl, i knew that it was not going to be me, because there was no indication of that. So when Aishwarya's name was announced, it didn't come as a surprise to me at all..."
    Subhash Ghai sues Mahima for breach of contract!

  • "My contract is for five years and it was signed two years ago. 'Taal' will take another year,which leaves two more years, and three movies in that period. Scenes shift so drastically, we just have to wait and see. I don't know if it's possible. I hope nothing goes wrong now. I don't think it will. So far everything is fine."
    Mahima shattered: godfather spurns his protegee!

  • "I was completely taken aback, it came as something totally unexpected and sometimes I did cry. I guess it's all part of life."
    Smart cookie: is mahima the industry's social climber?

  • "I think that's a sad and wrong picture of me. I don't think I'm like that. What social climbing are people talking about? I was screen-tested for 'Pardes' on my own merit. I got the film on my own steam. My boarding-school background had made me self-sufficient and independent, and someone like me can never even dream of using people to get anywhere in life. I wasn't a big name when I got 'Pardes', I didn't use any influence to get the movie. I agree that 'pardes' was a dream-launch for me and I was fortunate to get it. Well, people liked me in the film and on the strength of that I got good offers and I signed them. So on what basis does that become 'social climbing'?"
    MS ambitious : is Mahima the new manipulator in town?

  • "I think it's the other way round. I think i'm too straight, and i keep telling myself to become more diplomatic.. Diplomacy pays, straight-forwardness doesn't. I'm begining to realise this. Where have i manipulated anything? I'm not thhat kind, I play straight and I expect people to play straight."
    Has success gone to Mahima's head?

  • "I say 'hi' to people I like, and people who say 'hi' to me. I only talk to people I like. If I don't like you, I won't talk to you. And I couldn't give a shif if people don't say 'hi' to me. If you give me good vibes I'll give you good vibes, if I'm uncomfortable with you, I'll just keep my distance. It's a very mutual thing. If I treat a perrson with respect, then I expect the same in return. That's not being arrogant or letting success go to my head, that's just the way I am. If it's misunderstood, too bad."
    Why Mahima's rivals love to hate her!

  • "I know success bring out envy in jealous minds and there are people who cannot see anyone happy. There are always people around who will try to pull you down. I hope they are there though, (laughs) because that means I've achieved something and they haven't. I would feel bad if people say, 'oh, I'd hate to be in mahima's shoes'. I want people to say, 'I'd love to be in mahima's shoes,' because that means I'm wearing good shoes (laugh) and I've made something of myself."
    Fear: is mahima scared of competition?

  • "Not really, insecurity lowers your self-esteem and I don't want that. Low self-esteem is scary, I want my self-esteem to be high so that i'm confident. And with that confidence I can take on anything and I can perform bettter. I am not scared of competition because I only compete with myself. I'm constantly thinking what I have done and how to better my work. How to improve the way I did a scene or a dance movement. Since my modelling days I've been like that... I'm continuously thinking of all of that."
    Actresses at war: Urmila blasts Mahima!

  • "I know, I believe that she said somewhere that I am always making statement against her and that she has never retaliated to them. I've read what she said but I really don't know why she thinks that way. Because I haven't said anything about her or against her. And honestly speaking, I think that certain people are causing trouble between the two of us, it's sick."
    Branded unpopular: why Mahima rubs people the wrong way!

  • "I'm straight forward and that's what rubs people the wrong way. I'm not manipulative and that comes as a shock. I don't sing unnecessary tunes about people and I'm ant sugary and flowery, which upsets them, and that's why I think people are bent on pulling me down."
    Has mahima become Sunjay Dutt's new passion?

  • "That's flatering and very sweet of him. When he walked on stage during the shows abroad, the crowds went hysterical. He has a brilliant walk, and as I got to know him I realised that Sunjay is a very simple, nice, straight and easy to understand guy. After meeting him I could understand why everybody's so fond of him and why everyone calls him 'Baba'."
    Spurned: rival actress (Karisma?) Excludes mahima from birth day party guest-list!

  • "There were seventy-five people on that recent show abroad and frankly speaking, not a single person got into a scrap with another. It was my sister's birthday on the 15th of april and we left on the tenth. That's the birthday thing. I don't know of any actress who was with me who got insecure and didn't invite me. In fact, I was the newcomer out there. They were ahead of me. I haven't said anything in print and this is a hyped-up, pen-made story."
    Narcissist: is Mahima the next rekha in the making?

  • "Please! I don't let my looks get the better of me. Because I think with pride comes a fall. I'm not the cat's whiskers and I think it's very frivolous to think that way. Looks aren't permanent. My biggest asset is my strength, nothing can run me down. I face everything head-on and my family is my biggest support system."
    Single right female: is Mahima scared to love?

  • "I am not scared of love, it's just that I have no time for it. And no, i don't miss not being in love because I don't have the time to miss it. In fact, there are so many times when I see my friends fighting with their guys and I feel happy that i don't have one. There's peace in my life."
    Out-in-the-open: Mahima's 'involvement' with T.V. actor Vishal Singh!

  • "What? Another rumour involving me? Who is this Vishal Singh (of 'Dekh Bhai Dekh' fame)? He's not even a friend, leave alone a boyfriend. I've seen his work on T.V. and I think he's a good actor but that's it. This is a new one. Just now, before you came, somebody told me that I've been linked to a politician from Delhi, which is ridiculous, it's been over a year-and-a-half since I've gone to Delhi. Where do these 'relationships' happen? Do they happen in the clouds?"
    Mahima's involvement with Sameer Soni - the actor admits!

  • "I think half of India's supposed to be seeing me and linked with me (laughs). Sameer Soni and I did one ad, a charms ad together. When we did that ad., I think he was already seeing somebody who he later got married to. After that ad, I got 'Pardes'. He was attached when I met him and I think he was probably misquoted. I don't believe he'd say that we aren't even good friends. We haven't even been out with each other."
    Is Mahima being wooed by a yound producer?

  • "That's trash. Bunty Soorma was with us on the shows because he was one of the organisers. There was nothing going on between us. For thee last time, I'm single and I'm happy. Period. I can't help it if I haven't fallen in love. Just because I'm single why do I have to be linke up to every male around?"
    Little wild one: is Mahima living life in the fast lane?

  • "Not really. I'm not a party person. It's very avoidable. I prefer being at home. I can be at home endlessly, just laze around, watch a movie, spend time with my family. In fact, people complain that I don't party with them. Call me borring but I honestly don't enjoy partying, and I've never understood this thing about being seen."
    Mahima dumped for Rani Mukherjee!

  • "Oh, that film, 'Hadh Kar Di Aapne'? They took my dates of forty-five days, and most of the film was to be shot on a ship. We were supposed to go on a cruise in may. I don't know why they postponed the whole schedule to september, and my dates for September were committed to other producers. I can't possibly re-track my dates and leave them in the lunch. It's not possible. I had commitments in september, which I couldn't take back. That would've been unetthical. So that's why I opted out. Ofcourse, there are cynics who are searching for something more, but they'll be disappointed for it was just a date problem."
    Producer Rakesh Mehrohtra accuses Mahima of unprofessionalism!

  • "How can that be possible? He's so nice to me whenever he meets me, and I don't believe that. I think people are just trying to create trouble between us."
    Why Govinda will never forgive Mahima!

  • "That's news to me. In the first place I accepted this film because of Chi Chi. He told me that I should do this film and he told me we'd start shooting on the tenth of May which got postponed to September, so why should he be upset with me? The schedule was not cancelled because of me."
    Is Mahima vying for the number one chair?

  • "I don't give much importance to the number one tag. What is the criteria for being number one? Every friday the equation changes. What matters to me are good performances, not numbers. When I see an actress give a good performance, I always keep wondering how I would perform in the same situation. I am constantly trying to improve myself as an actress."

    • In another interview Mahima speaks about herself and in the way also defends herself from the indictions imposed on her by the who-said-it-fellows around.
    Why have you become super-starry? Trying to reach you is like trying to reach Greta Garbo.

  • Hey, I'm not starry-varry at all. I've been out of town for nearly four months on shows and outdoor shoots. I've only hopped in and out of Mumbai to change planes. That's why I've been inaccessible. I really can't understand why everyone's bitching about me. I've had no time to stir up controversies. I was in Ooty for 45 days for Polygram's Pyar Koi Khel Nahin with Sunny Deol. I was also shooting in Ooty for Raj Kunwar's Daag with Sanjay Dutt and Chandrachur Singh. Believe me, all work and no play has actually made me a dull girl. Perhaps the film industry can't accept the fact that an actress can keep to herself, that she can mind her own business. I don't encourage hangers-on, I hate to be disturbed on the sets. I don't even do interviews inbetween shots. But I do return calls. Drop in at my place sometime. You'll see there's a telephone message book in which every caller's name is recorded. At the end of the day, I make it a point to call all those who matter.
    Now, now, who are the people who "matter"?

  • Every producer who genuinely wants to work with me. And every press person I know. I don't spend time chatting up fans though because then I wouldn't have time to breathe.
    Why do some producers insist that your family is high-handed and rude?

  • My mother, Akanksha, and my brother, Siddharth, only have my best interests at heart. They're not crazy, they're not glamour-struck. My family is cultured, they know how to deal with people...atleast the right people.
    Who's to blame, then, for your misconduct?

  • What're you talking about? If you're asking me why I walked out of Vinod Avlani's Hadh Kar Di Aapne, it's because I had genuine date problems. They'd been waiting for my dates for three months. I just couldn't fit them into my schedule. I'm still in a bit of a jam. So they signed Rani Mukherjee instead. What's the big deal? This happens everyday in the industry. Why make me out to be a vamp who's been dangling producers and then dumping them?
    Why have you raised the hackles of Govinda?

  • Our so-called fight in Mauritius is a case of exaggerated reporting. Understandably, Govinda came a week late for the schedule of Dil Ke Aas Pas in Mauritius because his father had passed away. I stayed back for four to five days to complete as much of our combination work as was humanly possible. I couldn't do anything beyond that. My other producer's wouldn't hear of me staying back in Mauritius. I think Govinda understood my predicament. To the best of my knowledge, he hasn't sworn not to work with me again. I get along famously with most of my co-stars. Sunny Deol is a bit reserved. So he didn't invite me to cosy dinners in Ooty. But we did chat about everything from films to food and more. Controry to rumours, I got along famously with Salman Khan during our shows abroad. I've had no hassles...none that I know atleast...with Shah Rukh either. As for Aamir Khan, I haven't met him since we did a Pepsi commercial together some years together. But we share decent vibes.
    Come, come, it's widely known that Salman Khan was miffed with you during the concert tour.

  • That's exaggerated again. I got along with the organisers (the Moranis), Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt. Some people have tried to spread silly stories that I had a good thing going with Salman. Please, could I ever do something like that? The press first linked me with Bunty Soorma. Then with Salman Khan. Make up your minds, please! Look, why don't we talk about my films for a change? So be it. In Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin, I'm a bubbly college girl. In Daag I'm doing a double role which is quite different from Chaalbaaz and Duplicate.I won't say it's my best performance yet... because I truly believe that I've to still polish up my act. But I'm confident that once these films are released, I'll be noticed. Some day Yash Chopra , Sooraj Barjatya and Rajkumar Santoshi will definitely work with me. Then all those who bitching about me will have to eat their words. Uh huh Now don't look so sceptical. I'm confident that I have what it takes to make it right to the top. I don't care about the back-biters because I'm here to stay.

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