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The Record: Tell us about your role in the movie Raja Bhaiya.
Aarti: I feel very lucky that so early in my career I've got such a good role to perform because it's not a run of the mill character. Initially I play a rich, glamorous, girl, but at a point I lose my memory and my mental level becomes like a small child. I had to really work on this character. I had to start noticing children, the way they talk, their innocence, their expressions; I went to Nair hospital and spent time with the patients there who were mentally ill. I hardly wear any makeup in a film.
TR: What was it like working with Govinda?
Aarti: Working with Govinda was great because he's a very simple guy; he's very light hearted, open to suggestions. We used to sit together and discuss the scene. We would rehearse each scene, we would work on the dialogues and how we would say it so we don't waste any film. Most of the takes in Raja Bhaiya were one shot takes.
TR: Is he as funny off-screen as he is on-screen?
Aarti: Not really. He's very caring. He wants his co-star to feel comfortable. He makes sure that he doesn't make himself appear starry.
TR: Are there any interesting anecdotes you can share with us about the shooting process?
Aarti: There was this one scene - I've done my own stunts in this film and now I've decided not to do any more of my own stunts every again because I'm scared now. [Laughs] I've got a long way to go and I don't want to lose any of my limbs or anything. So there's this one scene where I have to learn how to ride a bike - which I did in 20 minutes flat. And not only ride a bike, but go triple seater with three children behind me. The camera was positioned in front of me and I had to act like there was this truck coming at me and I had to scream and be horrified. All of a sudden they felt like I was losing balance so everyone ran towards me to hold the bike and I was only acting! They thought I lost balance. The next shot, I actually lost balance and forgot how to stop the bike, and no one came to my rescue! The cameraman realized when he was looking through his lens and I was almost going to run into him so he started running with the rolling camera in the opposite direction. For 45 minutes I was under shock. So I have to be careful about that in future.
Also, once I had a very bad tooth ache and I had to have a root canal. The ironic part is my dad is a dentist but I was away from him in Hyderabad. I would never have such a problem in Bombay. I had five injections in my mouth and I had a numb mouth and I shot with it. There is a shaadi scene where I am getting married but I felt like it helped me in my scene. It imparted so much to the scene. The entire body language and voice changed.
TR: What is your favourite song from the film?
Aarti: Janam Janam Jo Saath Nibhaye is one of my favourite songs. It's the first time I'll be appearing on scene with a saree in a song.
TR: You've done drama and comedy - what do you find comes more naturally to you?
Aarti: Both. My forte lies in my versatility. I enjoy comedy because I know I am confident about my sense of timing. Working with Govinda, Akshay Kumar, Johnny Lever, Paresh Rawal has taught me a lot. Emotional scenes always come easily to me. I feel there's a lot more to me that has to be explored.
You can read the rest of our exclusive interview with Aarti Chhabria in the October 2003 issue of The Record Music Magazine available at your local newsagent.
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