"I love my sex symbol tag but..." - Koena Mitra 
By Screen Weekly, April 23, 2007 - 05:25 IST
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The actor confides that her sexy image is coming in the way of endorsements and performance-oriented roles. But may be Anamika will make people “look” at her differently.
Your new film, Anamika-The Untold Story, we're told, is reportedly a remake of Rebecca
There's only a very slight resemblance in that this film too is about a dead wife. Rebecca would be a very difficult novel to film. Anamika is nothing like anything you've read or seen on screen before. Even I have a very different, performance-oriented role with just one song in the entire film. Enacting this serious character was a real challenge even though Ananth (director Ananth Mahadevan) rehearsed every scene with us before it was shot, sometimes even acting out scenes himself. I worked really hard on the body language... The way this girl spoke...The climax in particular was real tough. (With a laugh) This being a mystery movie I'm not at a liberty to reveal more details.
Is it anything like Kohraa or Bees Saal Baad?
Well, it's not a scary movie but there's a scary feel to it thanks to the sound effects and the ambience. Basically it's a love story.
The buzz is that Subhash Ghai was so impressed with you during Apna Sapna Money Money that he has signed you for two more films. True?
Yeah, and I'm really excited about it because Subhashji is such a big movie-maker with a string of superhits to his credit. He's been busy with Black & White but we've been discussing scripts and he should be finalising his directors soon. With Subhashji I'm not going to insist on a line-by-line narration.
You've also gotten back with Sanjay Gupta?
Yeah, we should be working together this year. We've been talking of a comedy. It's heartening that most of those I've worked with want to repeat me. I guess, it's because I'm professional, punctual and a good listener. Pritish Nandy who gave me a great role backed with chart-topping music and a respected banner in my first solo lead and solo hit, Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena is also in talks with me. Two months ago we'd zeroed in on a project but it didn't pan out. But there will be other projects. The Nandys are like family. They gave me everything I could have wished for in that one film. (With a laugh) And best of all they are Bengalis which is one more reason to bond.
You've not worked with Ramgopal Varma since Road.
It's his call. I'm always game to work with good directors. Road came to me too early. I had just been crowned super model, I was the Glad Rags title holder, when I did that item number and almost immediately I was flooded with similar offers. Today, even superstars are doing such special appearance songs and it is no big deal. But back then I didn't want to be labelled an “item girl”. So I ran away from Bollywood and concentrated on my modelling. It was only two years later that I was coaxed back by Sanjay Gupta whose Musafir actually flagged off my acting career.
You said earlier that you wouldn't do any more item numbers yet you're making a special appearance in the title track of Heyy Babyy?
It's not even a “g” of a guest appearance because I'm there along with 12-16 actors. Sajid (Khan) is a friend and since this is his directorial debut I couldn't say “no”. Besides the song gave me a chance to work with one of my favourite choreographers, Farah Khan.
Yeah, your dream is to star in a musical.
I'd love to do a musical but unfortunately it's not a genre that's tapped often. Only once in a while does a Subhash Ghai make a Taal, a Yash Chopra a Dil To Pagal Hai or a JP Dutta an Umrao Jaan.
What about Bengali films?
If Reenadi (Aparna Sen) or Rituda (Rituprano Ghosh) were to give me an offer I'd take it up because there's a lot to learn from them. But I'm not interested in a normal bangla commercial film or even parallel cinema.
Today when every actor promoting everything from soaps and shampoos to colas and chips why is the former super model fighting shy?
See, I've been given this sex symbol tag. I have no issues with it. In fact, I love it. But thanks to my sexy image I'm only getting offers to endorse alcohol or the like. I'm not into alcohol and I don't do drugs. In fact, I lead a very healthy life. If I got brands I actively supported for instance fitness equipment I'd have no hesitation endorsing it.
It's been a year since your apartment burnt down and you had to move into a new home. Have you put the nightmare behind you?
I'll never forget. It was a huge loss. But may be God wanted me to move out of that place. I'd been going through hell, both personally and professionally, for about 4-5 months that culminated in my apartment burning down. I was in a mess because I had to face it all alone but as my mother's pointed out to me recently, may be the shift of residence was meant as a fresh new beginning. My new home has really been lucky for me. Things have certainly changed for the better since the past 12 months. Hit films...Good offers...As a person too I am happier now. I have four dogs at home to keep me company.
You need dogs to keep you company?
(Laughing out loud) My parents are simple, ordinary people who have never treated me like a star. If I were to throw tantrums around them I'd get a tight slap. My upbringing has been very grounded which is why I have never lived life as an actor. Once it's “pack-up” I return home and go back to being Koena Mitra. I'm free. I live alone. Had I wanted I could have gone wild. I could have partied every night. But I don't enjoy the high life. I'm actually a very boring person.
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