'I've been given a retro look'

New role

V Ravichandran-starrer ‘Premaloka’ created quite a flutter when it was released. The movie’s impact owed as much to its showman actor-director as to its leading lady — Juhi Chawla.

Juhi's big debut in the South Indian film is still talked about. The actor recollects how hard she had to work for the movie. “I still remember we shot in Kanteerava Studios and I would be so engrossed and involved in learning my lines and understanding Kannada, that I barely had time for anything else,” says Juhi, who is back to acting in Sandalwood, playing herself in ‘Pushpaka Vimana.’

Juhi has spent the last fortnight in the city, shooting for a special song for the film. The director has worked on Juhi’s look to not only make her appear different but also make the song a catchy one.

What clinched the project? Juhi explains, “I found the song and the lyrics quite interesting. I’ve been given a retro look. I am wearing sunglasses and also wield a guitar. The concept is different,” says she. She says that she can’t give away too much of the script.

“I play a movie star who is invited to attend a function organised in the jail for the inmates and I am expected to perform during the function. The lyrics are a mix of Hindi and Kannada which is good because a lot of people will relate to it,” she explains.

Juhi says that she has been getting offers from the Kannada film industry but couldn’t accept any because of date issues. “I was particular that my return to Kannada films must be for a very different kind of project and that’s exactly what I’ve found in ‘Pushpaka Vimana,’” she says.

The film also has popular actor Ramesh Aravind playing an interesting role. “Ramesh and I have worked together in ‘Shanti Kranti’ and now it’s wonderful to work with him again,” she says.

Juhi recollects that she was simultaneously shooting for both ‘Premaloka’ and ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’. “I used to travel between Bengaluru and Mumbai a lot for work back then but it was ‘Premaloka’ that released first and that makes the film and the Kannada film industry special for me,” she recalls.

Now, returning to Bengaluru and spending a few days here has sent Juhi into a nostalgic mode. “I remember M G Road to be very quiet with very few shops and fewer people on the streets. I stayed at The Taj West End during the shooting for ‘Premaloka’ and I stayed there again this time. MG Road has become very commercial,” she says.

Juhi confesses that she has become a little choosy with work because she doesn’t intend to stay away from her children for too long. “I don’t want to be gone away on work for too long. I try to strike a balance between work and home,” she adds.
 Juhi is also co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders with Shah Rukh Khan and she observes that much has changed this year.

“We are so used to seeing Dhoni wearing yellow but now he’s in a different colour. There’s so much excitement during IPL,” she observes.