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Thursday March 1, 10:45 AM
 She is young and beautiful, and she is already in the
eye of the maddening media storm, what with her
eventful past and promising future! She is upfront
about sexuality, fame, controversies, and her
debutante venture Nishabd. And now, the 19-something
Jiah Khan speaks her heart out to IndiaFM in a way she
has never done before...
Were you intimidated while acting opposite Mr.
Bachchan?
Nice first question, I must say. I think if I was
intimidated by him throughout the film, I would not
have been able to complete the film. For me the minute
the camera was on, he was just my character. I don't
know how that happened I think that was God-sent but
he was just my character Vijay.
You have a startling screen presence and a terrific
body language...
Who says that?
I say that.
Wow. Thank you.
The body language for the kind of role you have is
simply stunning...
I'm nishabd! That's amazing; I mean you are first
person who has given me a compliment like this. Thank
you so much.
I said that in the press conference as well...
You did? Everything was so rushed... I was like,
'what's going on' at the press conference. My first
press conference, never again hopefully.
What was your reaction when you were offered this
role?
Obviously, Mr. Bachchan wasn't in the picture. As a
role in itself, it was very appealing to me because
even the male protagonist of the film is talking about
this female character. She is the main thing in the
film, and she is very hard to find in Indian cinema
today. A female character that is so much in the film
is a very powerful thing and as a first film, that is
amazing.
How did you prepare yourself for Nishabd?
Well, I went to an acting school where they teach us
method acting. And method acting is where from your
past experiences you take out this emotions and then
you put into the scene. So as far as preparation there
was no sort of preparation weeks before. It was very
much on the set during the scenes.
Where does Mr. Bachchan's appeal lie apart from him
smelling good?
Well, obviously he is very charismatic everyone can
see that and I'm sure you have obviously have seen him
a lot and I haven't seen him that much as what I have
saw at the music release and stuff, the way he answers
as well. He speaks so well, he sounds really good. His
style is so daring, which is very sexy. At his age if
he could take risks without thinking about it twice,
it is a really cool thing.
Do you think you could fall in love with a much
older man in real life?
Right now? I think the only reason anyone would stop
me from doing such a thing is because of what people
might say, basically social acceptance, which is sad
but it is very important to us as an individuals.
Social acceptance is a big thing in our lives. Whether
our boss agrees with what we do or whether our family
agrees and stuffs. So that's the only reason I would
shy away from it. No other reason.
How was Munnar as location for filming?
So romantic! I don't think I ever looked so good. It
doesn't even look like me in the film. My skin was
glowing. I think the weather was beautiful. Obviously
there is tea plantation and tea is know to be a sort
of a detoxer, so it detoxified me,
How does it feel to be on posters all around the
city?
Oh my god, I was on my way here and I was seeing my
poster being put up, and I nearly burst out into the
tears, and when I realized I have make-up on, I
couldn't. But it was so surreal, it is unbelievable. I
think every newcomer would say this thing.
Rozana seems to be a fabulous number...
Oh my God it is beautiful. Oh my God, the first time I
heard it I cried out saying that this song is sung for
me? I felt really special.
RGV has been linked with most of his heroines. Your
comments...
Some one said to me other day, "How do you feel being
called as Ramu's girl?" I was saying, what? I think
the focus is on both of us so I am more Mr. Bachchan's
girl than anyone else's. I mean come on he is my
director, when he comes in the room I shake. So like I
don't think there is any question about it.
Your father left you at an early age...Any regrets
or anger?
No there is no regret or anger anything.
There have been rumours about you being Aamir Khan's
step sister...
My God, do I look his sister from any angle? (No...)
You answered your own question!
If you meet Aamir, how will you react?
Yeah, I'll be awkward because he is a superstar,
that's the only reason.
You did a jig on Rangeela when you are young, Aamir is
much older now
Yeah, hello he is amazing, even now he is amazing.
Your favourite directors, films and actors...
Well I have always liked RGV but I think you obviously
know that already. I loved Mani Ratnam's films than
the conventional Bollywood cinema. This is what I
practice. For me Nishabd is something which I never
thought I would get, I never practiced for it. I would
always sing songs in front of the mirror and get
geared up for that sort of cinema, so Nishabd for me
was much harder. But I'm glad that I started with this
because it shows that anyone can do that, even though
it is very hard because it is so far from your real
personality. No one dances around trees and goes to
Switzerland, that doesn't happen in real life. Well,
this is more real so in a way it's a harder, in a way
it is easier as well.
Tell us about favourite directors and actors?
I know there are lots of directors. Actor wise I think
the most recent film I saw was Black and I think what
Rani Mukherji did was so commendable because she is
glamour icon. You know she looks beautiful in the
film, and for her to take such a risk to play role of
spastic which is not an interactive thing, and to do
it with no make up, and for that film to be
appreciated, is amazing thing. That's definitely
something to look up to. I'm such a tom boy. I like
films like Scarface, Godfather, and films about the
mafia.
Any regrets for not completing your stint at the
acting school?
I did about 6 months and then I called them up and I
said I got Nishabd and what you want me to do. I did
really want to complete it because I think it's very
important for an actor to do some sort of training
because everyone does it. Whether you go into
investment banking you have to study about it, this is
something that my mom told me. So I called him up when
I got this film and asked them what I should do. They
said you would be an idiot to come back. You have a
lifetime opportunity now, you can come back anytime.
What was your mother's reaction on your choice of
career?
She wanted me to actually go into investment banking
which is quite funny because I am very bad at math.
But once I got Nishabd she was very supportive.
Do you look up to your mother considering she has
been through so much in life?
Definitely look up to her, I mean, as an individual
and as a woman who comes from India where the society
is not so independent as far as women are concerned;
to come to London and bring up 3 children all by
herself is quite a job.
What kind of film offers have you been getting?
Yeah, lots. I have been getting loads of offers but I
haven't finalized it.
Bollywood follows stereotypes... Do you think
Nishabd is a risk?
Risks. Okay, I'm sitting here right now. From whatever
you see of me, do you think I care about risks!
Did you always want to be an actress?
Since I was three, I wanted to be an actress. I was
very fond of entertaining people. Like if someone is
crying I can't see anyone crying, it really upsets me,
no matter who it is, even if it is a stranger. I would
just get up on a table and I used to start acting just
like, just doing a scene!
Time for some rapid fire...a la Koffee With Karan....
What colour is the night?
Black
Difference between sensuality and obscenity...
The person who is showing it
Apart from smell what else appeals to you in a man?
Generosity
Your first date...
My first date...It was hilarious. My first date was a
school play where I was playing Marry and the guy was
playing Joseph.
Definition of fidelity...
There is no definition; it is as screwed up as the
word.
Importance of 'Desire' in one's life...
It would be on my list of high priority.
Finally, what would you say is the USP of Nishabd?
I think the USP of the film is- well I can't give you
the answer to this question. At least what I think - I
don't think you will get to see Mr. Bachchan romancing
at 60 in any other film. So if you want to see it then
definitely see the film. And as a human being to
understand love and to understand the message that we
are sending through Nishabd that's why you should go
and see the film.
What about the controversy surrounding Nishabd?
There is already controversy. I mean no one is even
creating it trust me it is just the concept. It is
bound to create some sort of controversy and have some
focus.
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