Rani & Saif FC sigs added pg 131 - Page 14

Saif, Rani mature as actors -

This week's big release is from the Yashraj stable. Studio favorites Rani Mukherji and Saif Ali Khan pair up to play a couple who surpass insurmountable odds to come out tops.

Will this movie rake in the box office moolah? We don't quite know yet but what we do know is that after Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, Bollywood may well have stumbled upon its next huge onscreen pair.

The lead stars of Ta Ra Rum Pum actually know a thing or two about struggling themselves. Rani Mukherji and Saif Ali Khan were not exactly instant hits when they first arrived on the Bollywood scene.

Rani made her debut in the forgettable Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and followed that up with a string of flops. It was only in 1998 after Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai that the industry sat up to take notice of her.

From then on, there was no looking back. Be it in Chalte Chalte opposite King Khan, Yuva and Bunty aur Babli opposite Baby B, Aditya Chopra's Veer Zaara and of course Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black opposite Amitabh Bachchan, which sealed her standing as an actress to reckon with.

Her Hum Tum co star Saif Ali Khan struggled for close to a decade before his clever turn in Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai had other producers and filmmakers suddenly looking up.

Kal Ho Na Ho proved that he could hold his own even against King Khan.

Solo projects followed - Salaam Namaste, Hum Tum - and Saif was on his way. But it has been in the last year where with offbeat roles in Being Cyrus or as Iago in Vishal Bhardwaj's Omkara that the actor has truly been recognised.

Now as they come together for Ta Ra Rum Pum, it's safe to say, the story has hit a chord.

hi, i'm new here and am probably one of the biggest saif-rani fans around...I'm in awe of the pairing particularly in TRP...beautiful 😛

oh i forget to ask...can i join plz? 😳 😳

Originally posted by: nailaqureshi

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Rani Mukherjee: "Seven years from now I'd probably be a mom with two kids."

Wow! Sexy! Oomph! That's actress Rani Mukherjee's new avatar in Ta Ra Rum Pum. The actress talks about her just released film and her equation with co-star Saif Ali Khan, besides other things.

The film Ta Ra Rum Pum talks about a positive spirit during tough times. Your views?

"We Indians are a benchmark for this film because we are so strong. In spite of going through much, we eventually bounce back - like during the riots, we had so much happening but life was back to normal within 24 hours. We returned recharged, stronger and more courageous. That's what life and this movie is all about. That's the reason every person will relate to it. Every family goes through smooth and rough patches, and that family which has risen above problems with their love, hope and courage are winners."

"We Indians are so strong. In spite of going through much, we eventually bounce back."

The music of Ta Ra Rum Pum has topped the charts…

"The music is phenomenal. Every song in the movie is melodious. The range of music is also wide - from Hip-Hop to romantic and inspirational numbers. Javed Akhtar has written such fantastic lyrics."

If you were to dedicate one song from the film Ta Ra Rum Pum, which one would you choose and for whom?

"I'd dedicate the title track Ta Ra Rum Pum to my parents because I think that's how my parents have brought me up. My mother has always smiled through all the problems in life; she has never shown any signs of us going through hard times. My parents have always been so committed to their children. They are responsible for all that we are today. The special bond between children and parents are the high points of every Indian family. It's because of our culture, traditions and values that this 'special' feeling towards family members is passed down to every generation and remains unique to the world."

This is your first film with Siddharth Anand. How is he as a director?

"It's lovely working with Siddharth. I fondly call him Sid. I know him from school, so it's very difficult for me to accept that he is my director. Siddharth absolutely knows what he wants.

The common thing between me and Siddharth is that we both are commercial and massy. We are hardcore fans of Hindi films and because of that we get along so well. He's done a great job with Ta Ra Rum Pum."

Tell us five things you would do on a happy 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' Day?

"Spend time with my family, play with my niece, eat fantastic Bengali food, watch a great Hindi film, and sleep!"

It must've been special playing a Bengali on screen…

"It's always lovely to play a Bengali. The character I play is a Bengali who is born and brought up in New York, and her name in the film is Radhika Shekhar Rai Banerjee which is quite a tongue twister.

She is really sweet and just like every Bengali woman, is very strong, loving and caring, in love with music and her family."

You are playing a mother of two kids in the film. What was the experience like?

"It was wonderful. Seven years down the line, I'd probably be a mother with two kids, who knows? The most interesting part of the film was that we worked with kids and they were exceptional. They are so talented that we all had to be on our toes. They were very professional and very hard working. The girl and the boy used to know their lines perfectly well and they were fully in tune with the film. So many times they had to be up till 3:00 a.m. but they were there and doing their job so well. This is the first film that I have done with kids in a full-fledged way and I really enjoyed it."

How was it working with Saif again?

"Saif and I have done Hum Tum together and now Ta Ra Rum Pum. Saif has really come a long way since then and it's always nice to work with him. We share a great working relationship. He's a fantastic actor, and so it just makes it better for me, as acting is all about reacting. It was wonderful working with him."

Do you enjoy watching car races?

"I wouldn't say that I love watching car-races. That's more of a guy thing. But yes, when I went for the shooting of Ta Ra Rum Pum, I was really excited being at the race track as it was my first time.

The sound of the cars and the engines completely stuns you. It's exciting."

You have worked with Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra in the past. This time it was Surily Goel who worked on your look.

"Surily is very hard working and is always trying to put in her best. In this film, we required the costumes to be more real than fashion co-ordinated or fashion oriented. I hope the audience likes my look in the film. That would surely mean a lot to me and Surily."

Yash Raj Films and Rani Mukherjee have mutual admiration for each other…

"For me, Yash Raj Films is not merely a production house, it is family. I feel at home with them because of the kind of faith and trust they've had in my work and in me as an actor. They've really given me a lot of encouragement and have made me emerge victorious. I can never forget their contribution to my life and will never be able to thank them enough. If I had my way, I'd do all my films with Yash Raj because of the kind of roles they offer me. When I was offered Saathiya, Yash uncle and Adi were convinced that I could pull off the role, but I wasn't. And of course they proved me wrong and 'Saathiya' turned out to be the turning point of my career."

Originally posted by: spuffyfan

oh i forget to ask...can i join plz? 😳 😳

yes u can welcum here will add u to list