Newbies on a mission

Bollywood buzz

They are the latest newbies in town: Armaan Jain and Deeksha Seth, who are the lead pair of Eros International’s and Illuminati Films’ Lekar Hum Deewana Dil.

 Armaan, maternal grandson to the legendary Raj Kapoor, has been an assistant director to Karan Johar on My Name Is Khan. Deeksha, like so many actresses from Vyjayantimala down to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kriti Sanon, has first made a mark in the South — with seven films.

Both share a great fondness for food, which was their first bonding factor when they met. As Deeksha puts it, “Armaan was fat as a child, and so was I. Food is something that gives me immense happiness and I really do not subscribe to the size-zero idea. As my mom says, I must look like a khaate-peete ghar ki ladki (a girl from a well-to-do family).”

Agrees Armaan, “At the age of five and till I was about 10, I was a fat kid who tried his best to move around. I loved my gulab jamuns and ghee.”

Acting, incidentally, was neither actor’s first love. Armaan recalls being shown Mera Naam Joker by his mother Reema (the younger of Raj Kapoor’s two daughters) every time he had to be fed. “I must have watched it at least 5,000 times and am willing to watch it 6,000 times more,” he smiles.

Watching stock market news at eight in the morning and playing football in the evenings was a part of Armaan’s normal, non-filmi life. However, his maternal genes soon became active. “When I told my parents about wanting to become an actor, my father was supportive,” smiles Armaan. “And mom said that I should assist someone to learn the craft.”

Deeksha’s story was more dramatic. It was in college that she was told, “You look good. Why don’t you act?” Laughs the actress, “When I won the Mr & Ms competition in my college, they used the same logic to persuade me to enter the Miss India pageant. Though I did not get selected, I earned Rs 10,000 for a ramp-walk that lasted less than five minutes.” she chirps.

Deeksha signed her first film — Vedam, one of those rare films that was a hit as well as won a National award. It was then that she realised that she enjoyed doing everything that acting involved. “I decided to refine my art, and even took dance lessons,” she says. 

At no point in time, says the petite actress, did she feel insecure about her film being a launch-pad for her co-star from the Kapoor lineage. “Arif Ali, my director, had a bound script, and both of us were there throughout the film,” she reasons. Deeksha compliments Armaan for his enthusiasm and penchant for more retakes that helped avoid complacency in her. “Though I had acted in seven films, he was more like the veteran,” she smiles.  An unusual common point is their fondness for Salman Khan, though Deeksha has never met him. As she enthuses, “I would love to meet Salman-sir even if I cannot work with him.”

Salman, of course, has had a role in Armaan’s career. Recalls the youngster, “We were all at the Saawariya premiere when someone mentioned that my cousin Ranbir Kapoor was the last Kapoor in films. And Salman immediately corrected that person and said, ‘You are wrong. There are two more.’ He meant my younger brother and me and added, ‘Mashallah, they will be good.’ I cannot forget that.” 

Both youngsters are floored by A R Rahman being on board. “He is the star of our film,” gushes Armaan. “Since Arif told me that they were trying for Rahman-sir as our composer, I was praying it would happen.”

Asked if he would do comedies since he loves making people laugh, Armaan self-deprecatingly says, “Why not? But I hope I get a second film, of any kind, first. Right now, I do not even know if I am good, or what stardom means.” 

Deeksha would like to do a variety of roles and act and dance better. “It is important for an artiste not to be slotted,” she says.