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Anybody who comes into the limelight gets an entry into Bollywood and not just the crowned beauties,” says Sayali Bhagat, Miss India World 2004 who debuted in Bollywood with The Train. Since then, she has been associated with films and was recently in town to promote her latest film, Rajdhani Express.
Being one among the many crowned beauties who took to Bollywood, Sayali opines, “It is not just winning the Miss India pageant which leads to films, but could be any other platform as well.
The trend of winning the pageant and entering Bollywood was on a high from 2000 to 2002 and among all those who opted for it, only the talented lot stayed back. In the last six to seven years not many girls have taken up acting after being crowned,” which shows that the trend could be changing.
Sayali however, seems to be fine with the options that she has received. “I don’t think I am dissatisfied with the roles I’ve got,” and adds what seems to be worrying her the most, “Unfortunately my films haven't been blockbuster hits. Be it Paying Guest or Ghost, my character was good but the films weren’t hits.”
So wasn’t she sceptical about accepting Rajdhani Express which stars Leander Paes as her co-star, and the focus of attention may be him only?
“With this film, I am not looking to get into limelight. Leander is an international celebrity and it is important to have a film highlight the subject of terrorism. My reason for accepting Rajdhani Express was its subject. I feel a lot of people from metros especially Mumbai will relate to this film because we as celebrities get on in our lives but the acts of terrorism affect the common people the most.”
“Plus, a non-film background director, Ashok Kohli, who has been a criminal lawyer and has had a first hand experience of the subject, interested me,” she shares. Her character in the film as she explains, "Is quite crisp. I play a regular metro girl who is affected by the things happening not to her but around her.”
The actress has two projects - Yaariyan (directorial debut of Divya Kumar) and This Weekend (directed by action director Tinu Verma), upcoming for future but her prayer for 2013 is more for her films. “I don't believe in grading cinema. I am getting good roles and films but all I hope is that 2013 brings good work to me. I really want my films to work now,” she signs off with the prayer.