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Some excerpts from the interview with
Pooja Kumar
- Former Miss India-USA, SAG Emerging Actress Award winner, veejay of
Channel V's BPL Oye, lead hostess for ImaginAsian TV and also the lead
actress of Night of Henna.
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by Anupama Gopalakrishnan -
anupama@miindia.com |
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 AG:
From the Miss India USA title to the SAG Emerging Actress award, you
have come a long way.
PK:
I always did plays and musicals in schools while growing up, but never
thought of it as a profession but as a hobby. I also played a male's
part - Petruchio in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. I always wanted
to be a lawyer which explains why I graduated in Political Science and
Finance. I graduated from college and then decided to pursue films.
I was chosen among 40,000 participants to be launched in feature films by
Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited and they put me through vigorous
training. Acting with Roshan Taneja and dancing. It was quite an
experience because the techniques I learned in India were a little
different than here.What an actor/actress requires is "preparation". Keep preparing
yourself because there will be hundreds and hundreds of auditions that
will happen.
AG: How was it working with Hassan and the film Night of Henna?
PK:Hassan is a great director who feels deeply about
women's causes. My mother is from Lucknow and Dad from Dehradun, so I
grew up speaking Urdu and Hindi.
This is the director’s first film. Hassan has written, produced and directed it.
There are very few South Asian films that talk about the woman's
perspective.What attracted me to the film was about this woman- about her strife,
her struggle. It is very important for the woman of today to
understand and stand up for her rights as an individual.
AG:
How do you associate yourself with Hava's character in Night of Henna?
PK: The film shows Hava- a young non-confrontational woman who
creates a balance of both worlds. By blending two cultures she can
still be successful. Hava respects her parents and traditions. However
she still manages to pursue her dreams. She is a beautiful and loving
daughter yet an independent woman who stands up for her cause. I
personally think that maintaining balance in culture and preparation
of work are two major attributes for a successful American-Indian
actress.
AG:Being a balanced individual with the best of American and Indian
cultures, how do you perceive the survival of American Indian women in
the entertainment industry of the west?
PK:The biggest challenge in any audition is "Can you speak with this accent". It is
tough for most women. You have to convince that you can do any role -
be it Shakespeare, Contemporary style...anything. Even though I look
brown - whether it limits or delimits you, the confidence and the
ability to carry a role goes a long way. There are auditions all the
time. One needs to develop a thick skin. You should be able to take a
"no" in this industry.
AG: How is it being showcased in the bill boards for Bombay Dreams?
PK: It was exciting. Though I would have loved to be a part of this Broadway
musical. I auditioned but did not get it as I was not a singer. But I
am thrilled that I was used to promote the venture that has staged a
difference for the future.
AG: From theater to acting to hosting shows. Which do you prefer?
PK:
All three are different mediums intended for its respective audience. Personally
I prefer being on stage. Theater puts the artist right in front of the
people. The connection is instant. There is a certain amount of
truthfulness in the character. The feedback is instantaneous. They
like you- you get an applause They don't like you- there is silence.
AG: What is your dream role as an actress? Do you prefer serious
cinema or commercial potboilers?
PK:
Arth - the Hindi movie that captured the audience with its theme on
relationships. I love that movie. It is so real. I loved Shabana
Azmi's role and that is the kind of role I would like to play. I also
love Smita Patil and Nandita Das. With regard to Hollywood, its Glenn
Close' character in Fatal Attraction. Meryl Streep is my favorite
actress. To me, cinema is all the same-It is all one medium. It can
really make a difference to one's life. Commercial/Parallel - It all
depends on the director and the script. I have worked in a Tamil Film
"Kadhal Rojave" and also in New York based Tirlok Malik's "Little
Magician 3D". At the same time, I am working on a short film about
racism with Saira Nair (Mira Nair's niece).
Of Indian background, Pooja
writes and co-hosts “Movies for the ImaginAsian,” where she and
Jackson Loo introduce movies from Korea, Japan, China, and India in an
innovative way. Pooja attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
in New York, and has studied Indian classical dance – her first
performance at the age of two gave her the confidence to continue to
study the beautiful art. Additionally, she has a degree in political
science and finance from Washington University in Saint Louis and has
worked on Capital Hill for Senator Jim Talent. |
