She was first spotted in a cola commercial with Aishwarya Rai and Aamir Khan. She bagged the spotlight with debut film ‘Pardes’ playing the leading lady to SRK. A couple of hits, the infamous break-up with tennis player Leander Paes followed by a discreet marriage and then motherhood - model-turned-actress Mahima Choudhary has been in the limelight for all reasons. But now she is back testing the waters with an English film ‘Hope and a Little Sugar’. Metrolife caught up with a sindoor-clad Mahima who came to town recently to inaugurate a boutique.

Is this your first visit to Bangalore?

I have visited Bangalore earlier for shoots and events. One such was ‘Dil Kya Kare’ with Ajay Devgan and Kajol. Bangalore is beautiful. I love the idea of women wearing flowers on their hair. In the West, it’s just one big flower but women here wear it in a bunch and smell so good.

‘Hope and A Little Sugar’ is your first release post marriage and baby. Nervous?

It’s been nine months since I had my baby. This film is like my second baby. It’s the first premiere that I am attending with my husband. The film has already travelled film festivals in Los Angeles, New York, Milan and Karachi. In New York, it won the Best Film of the Festival award. Now it releases in India on April 18. And I have no other project as yet. So, I am really excited. 

What’s the film about?

It’s a love story between a Sikh girl named Saloni and a Muslim boy. The film is set in the pre and post 9/11 period in New York. There was much anger between the communities post 9/11 and many lost hope universally. It is in this atmosphere that these two people find love. And Saloni believes that nothing can go wrong in life if you have hope and a little sugar.

How did the film happen?
It all happened on the internet. Tanuja Chandra had floated the film’s script. Two American producers Glen and Scott found it on the net and showed interest. Actually, we all were worried thinking it was a hoax. But we got the signing amount (that too by email). And soon we found ourselves at the John F Kennedy Airport.

We shot for 25 days in the thick of winter. But the film is set in September. I had to wear summer dresses. So, besides it being in English, the film was also physically challenging (laughs).

Is it easy balancing home and career?

You can never get it right. I take inspiration from my maid. They do it beautifully - working, managing their house, family, in-laws, children and with minimal finances.

Advise to models aspiring to be actors...

Models have an advantage of having faced the camera. So, they are ahead of other aspirants. Make use of it and don’t forget to thank us who have proven wrong the notion that models cannot act.
DHNS