Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai

She was seen in some of the most talked about films of last year. And Urmila Matondkar has begun the new year too with a bang in the thriller ‘Ek Hasina Thi’. While her films bombard screens, the self-confessed workaholic told in an interview why she shuns the limelight and how there is “no time” for love in her life. Excerpts:

Urmila with Saif and a title like ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ sounds like a breezy musical.

It’s anything but breezy or musical. We discussed the feasibility of the title, and we knew people would initially misread it. But we also knew once the promotion and trailers started, audiences would know what it’s about. That’s exactly what has happened. The catch-line, “And to think it began like a love story”, has everyone hooked.

What was it like working with Saif?

Cool. This is my first film with him. ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ is one of my favourite films. Saif was brilliant in it. But what he has done in ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ is unbelievable. He’s completely grey and he hasn’t tried to be any other way. Saif is completely in character in ‘Ek Hasina Thi’. Since we both have a streak of fun, some day I hope to do a nice frothy romantic musical with him.

You’re known to be reserved on the sets.

Not really. I go out of my way to be comfortable on the sets with my co-star. But since we’re supposed to be hostile to each other, Saif and I had to go totally against our personalities.

What sort of a film is ‘Ek Hasina Thi’?

I’d call it a modern-day thriller, or as you rightly put it, the extraordinary story of an ordinary girl. Director Sriram Raghavan has treated the theme in a realistic manner. I’ve never encountered a more realistic thriller. Also, the emotional content is very strong. I think nowadays it takes a lot for audiences to be moved. We went through a lot of brainstorming sessions on the sets. At the end of the day it’s all paid off. You know, I think I’m the one actress who has worked with the maximum new directors.

Ram Gopal Varma says ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ is your best performance to date.

Does he? Please thank him. I can’t rate my performance. But I can tell you what I’ve tried to achieve in the film. In the middle of several dramatic characters like ‘Bhoot’, ‘Tehzeeb’ and ‘Pinjar’, ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ gave me the chance to play a completely ‘normal’ girl. My character Sarika is the kind of working girl you see in Mumbai commuting by trains and auto-rickshaws every day. When I see myself playing Sarika in the promos I’m struck by her lack of glamour.

But your presence suggests an inherent glamour?

No, no. I believe a performance is all about finding a meeting-point between what the character requires and what you can give to it. The drama of the crisis in ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ had to come through without any overt effort from the actress. Unlike ‘Pinjar’ or ‘Bhoot’ where I had many performing opportunities here I just had to become the character. Cinema is a larger-than-life experience. And glamour is part of that experience.

What about love in real life?

Love is a beautiful feeling. Unfortunately an Indian girl isn’t given the freedom to speak about it honestly. She either speaks of love in rushed or hushed tones. Where’s the time for love in my life?

Does anyone realise how tough it’s for an actress to concentrate on her work? Imagine shooting for ‘Pinjar’ on a road in Surat, pretending it’s deserted when in fact there are hundreds of people staring at you? Or for that matter for ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ I got into an open rickshaw to ride through the crowded Chandni Chowk locality of old Delhi for a sequence.