Actresses smarter than male actors: Soha

Actress Soha Ali Khan, who boasts of a strong educational background and sound work experience in the corporate world, has no qualms in saying that actresses in Bollywood are smarter and more intelligent than their male counterparts.

"I think the female actors are far more intelligent than the male actors. I think it's a misnomer to say that actresses are not smart and I think they are deeply in touch with emotions," said Soha.

Soha, who belongs to the family of the erstwhile Nawabs of Pataudi, attended the British School here before graduating from Oxford University. She then pursued a masters degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

She then worked for the New York-based Ford Foundation and later joined global financial service provider Citibank. Only after that did she venture into the world of Bollywood with Dil Maange More in 2004.

Soha, who rose to prominence with Rang De Basanti, Khoya Khoya Chand and more recently Mumbai Meri Jaan, said actresses had to be smart to manage their career and strike a balance between their public and personal life.

"We do have very intelligent actresses in our country. They are all very capable, smart and managing their professions very well," she said.

According to her, it is important for actresses to be vigilant all the time due to the multiple and often complicated aspects of their lives.

"There is media, glamour, travelling, managing private and public life - it's difficult and now there's a business angle to films as well. Now it's not just about the art, it's about how you package your image and how you sell a film, your choices of films - and it's all quite unforgiving.

"If you make too many mistakes, there are far too many people who will be ready to do the job and you'll be replaced at the blink of an eye. I think it requires a huge amount of intelligence to be an actor," Soha added.

Questions on Saif-Kareena are frustrating: Soha

Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan doesn't mind media attention, but asking her questions related to her brother Saif Ali Khan and his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor definitely rubs her the wrong way.

"It's very frustrating when people ask me about them, but it doesn't annoy me any more. I very calmly and politely ask the media not to ask about them (Saif and Kareena)," Soha told reporters.

"Not because I don't want to speak about my brother or Kareena, but because I don't speak for them in case the media is not able to reach them. I don't want to be their spokesperson. Also, these questions are often private and I'm not comfortable with that," she said.

Soha had to face the media glare earlier when her gun licence was cancelled in May. She was also in the news for posing in a sexy, skimpy outfit for lifestyle magazine Maxim.

All that is past and Soha is now relaxed, free of controversies and is enjoying every bit of entering a new decade in life. Having turned 30 on Oct 4, Soha says that she still feels like she's 16, though her responsibilities in life have increased.

"Honestly, in my heart and in my mind, I feel like I am 16, which is probably a bad thing. I need to grow up at some stage, but I am not ready to do it as yet.

"I have responsibilities now, I manage a house, I'm financially independent and have bought a new house in Mumbai - these are great things. I do feel like an adult in many ways, but when it comes to the real things, I'm very selfish and very much in the youngest child syndrome," she said.

The actress, who made her debut with "Dil Maange More" in 2004, has featured in a variety of films but gained prominence with "Rang De Basanti", "Khoya Khoya Chand" and more recently "Mumbai Meri Jaan".

Soha was in the capital to shoot for forthcoming comedy "99" along with actor Kunal Khemu and comedian Cyrus Broacha. The actress has a long line-up of projects, signalling busy times ahead.

"I am doing a lot of comedies for the first time. There's '99', then there's 'Dil Kabaddi' where I play Irrfan Khan's wife - it's an unusual pairing. There is 'Dhoondhte Rahe Jaoge' with Kunal Khemu and then a Sudhir Mishra film 'Tera Kya Hoga Johnny' - a slightly darker film where I play a small town model.

Talking about unusual pairings, Soha will also soon be seen opposite Emraan Hashmi.

"After '99', I'm doing one romantic film opposite Emraan Hashmi. That's by Vishesh Films and Kunal Deshmukh, who directed 'Jannat', will be making it. I also have an English horror film in hand," the actress said.

I want to get married: Soha

Actress Soha Ali Khan's tryst with realistic films continues. After Mumbai Meri Jaan, about the serial train blasts, she is doing a movie where she will relive the trauma of July 26, 2005, when torrential rains nearly drowned the city.

"This is my second film based on real trauma that happened to Mumbai. I was in Pondicherry when the Mumbai train blasts happened. I was shooting an ad campaign in Pondicherry. But I was right here in Mumbai when the monsoon deluge happened," Soha said.

"I had gone to town and got trapped in the deluge in the evening. My car broke down and I had to make my way through the deluge. A friend found me walking through the water. We went to a mutual friend's house where I spent the night dressed in someone else's clothes," she added.

Mukesh Bhatt will produce the yet to be titled project and Soha will team up with Emraan Hashmi in the film.

"We're shooting the film in November. It's a love story set on the night of the floods in Mumbai. Kunal Deshmukh, who did Jannat, is directing it," Soha said.

Soha says that rainy day she didn't eat at all.

"And, of course, lost my slipper in the dirty water. I was submerged in the water. And I pretended I was someone else when Kunal Kohli spotted me wading through the water. Getting home was never more pleasurable."

Soha's home, which she bought last year, keeps getting additional stuff.

"Every time my mom visits, she adds, or takes away, something into it. I feel very settled now in my house. I love being at home. And I like to be by myself. Being a little mysterious is good, no? "

Asked about her marriage plans, she said: "Have you been talking to my mother? If you mean marriage then right now I feel too young and too selfish to share my space with anyone else. Both my elder sister and brother are unmarried. Let them get married. I'm not mature enough to think of marriage."

"I don't have a vision beyond a year. And I don't see it happening in a year. But I do want to get married and I do want to have a couple of kids. When I decide to marry, I'll start thinking about who it would be to," said the actress who was until recently dating her Rang De Basanti co-star Siddharth.

Speaking about her brother Saif and his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor, she said, "They're both very happy together. It's a very strong relationship. I'm looking for a similar permanency in my life. But let me tell you, I'm happy in the place that I am in. So I don't need to be envious of anyone else's happiness."

"I am a very romantic person" - Soha Ali Khan

Starting her career with 2004 released flick Dil Mange More, Soha Ali Khan is still struggling to make her name count amongst the top actresses of tinsel town. Let's try to peek into the personal life of this gorgeous actress

You don't seem to be bothered by rumours?
That might stem from the fact that my family has been in the public light for many years now. Hence we very well know how some sections of the media, especially tabloid, functions and how to ignore them. Some smart people use such magazines for their own publicity by making provocative statements and then denying them later knowing very well that the public has already heard it. So, it doesn't matter what others are talking about.

Who is your favourite personal designer?
I don't like anybody in particular. I sometimes even mix a Versace skirt with a streetside top. I will wear anything that catches my fancy. On the whole, I am a very casual person - mostly you will see me in jeans and kurtis. For the evening I prefer saris.

Do you take advice from your mother and brother before signing a film?
Yes, I always take their view points before signing on any new project.

How well do you jell with your brother Saif?
Just like other siblings, Bhai and I used to fight a lot, but nowadays since we hardly get time to meet each other, whenever we do we have a lot to catch up with. Though we try not to talk about movies, we end up discussing the same.

Your take on Saif as an actor?
He is one great actor and has this uncanny ability where despite playing greyish and negative characters Ek Haseena Thi, Omkara, he does not have the audience hating him.

If given a chance, which of your mother's films would you want to act in - if remade?
Personally, I don't support remakes unless you can better the original. Making that clear, I would like to try my hands at Amma"s Mausam and Amar Prem.

It looks like you are in complete awe of your mom?
You bet. She is such a great lady who has successfully handled both work and family. Besides this she is also actively involved in social welfare. She is also such a great dresser. Even now when we dress for a party I have to be doubly sure to dress as good as she dresses. Compared to her wardrobe mine is nothing. She has a great choice in clothes, bags, shoes, etc.

The success of Rang De Basanti has changed your career graph. Has it not?
Absolutely. I am being offered a whole variety of roles which range from practical to interesting to downright outrageous.

What do you mean by outrageous?
(Laughs) You media folks are always looking for some kind of controversy. What I meant by outrageous were the kind of roles which I would not be comfortable doing.

What do you do in your spare time?
I just love to read anything - be it an autobiography or something interesting like Pulp Fiction (Fredrick Forsyth).

Your relationship with your dad?
Dad and I share a similar nature. While Mom just snaps, Dad and I don't lose our cool easily. I discuss almost everything with him - be it politics, sports, history, religion or just anything under the sun but films.

Can you cook?
If you consider boiling, then I am a cook for I can make very good boiled eggs and pasta. Since I studied in England, I had to learn basic cooking like dal chaaval to fend for myself.

What do your parents think of you?
My parents are very happy knowing that their daughter is very grounded and a smart person who knows what she wants. But being folks, they worry about me and would be much happier if I quit films and went back to my corporate job with Citibank.

Are you a romantic person?
Yes, I am a very romantic person. Although there is no one currently with whom I can be romantic with.

Dark desire

Move over, Neil Nitin Mukesh. Your director, Sudhir Mishra, is vying for the top casting honours in Tera Kya Hoga Johnny. Barely had we gotten over the surprise of Sudhir Mishra casting a real street-boy from Kolkata in the central role of Johnny, when he springs another surprise. Sudhir is set to play one of the leads in Tera Kya Hoga Johnny. Says Sudhir, "I never cease to surprise myself."

Sudhir has cast himself opposite one of his favourite actresses Soha Ali Khan, though we don't see his face. Explains Sudhir, "It is one of the episodes in the film. I play one of those powerful forces in Mumbai that determine the way the city's aspirants' and dreamers' lives go. I play the messiah, sugar daddy, star-maker in Soha's life. But you never see my face. Throughout the film I'm in silhouette or caught from the back. A lot of the time I'm just a voice on the phone. I couldn't think of anyone else for the role. The idea is to make the power-brokers of Mumbai shadowy, unnamed, and unattainable."

The last time a leading actor played a role without showing his face was Dharmendra in Khamoshi, 40 years ago. "I wouldn't even go there," dead-pans the new pancake purveyor of Bollywood who, by his own admission, gave a terrible performance as a ganglord in Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal. "Why do you think I don't show my face in Tera Kya Hoga Johnny?" he says.


The film is now complete. "There were two days of re-shooting to do with Neil Nitin Mukesh which he promptly did before leaving for the US. Now I'm done."

Sudhir wanted the Pakistani rocker, Ali Azmat (former member of the band Junoon) to sing two of the songs in the film. It wasn't difficult getting him down. Sudhir said that he had great fun doing the music of Tera Kya Hoga Johnny. "Every episode has the music that suits the characters. If we're talking about the music that the street-boy Johnny likes, it has to be pulpy and filmi."

Sexy Soha has another tiff with her stud boyfriend Siddharth

Saif Ali Khan’s young and sexy little sister has had a lover’s tiff with her boyfriend Siddharth with him moving out of her house.

According to some Indian tabloids, the two youngsters argued over some minute matter. A source says, “It all began with a small argument. Soha felt that Siddharth wasn’t giving her enough time and attention. Since Siddharth refused to go public about their relationship, Soha is feeling stifled. Siddharth is extremely moody and they often have fights. Soha loves to party and is an extrovert while Siddharth is a loner. Though Siddharth is getting many offers in B-Town, he has been refusing them all. He’s having difficulty adjusting in Mumbai. Whenever they have fights Soha is the one who ends up compromising and making up with him.”

Siddharth finally had enough and told Soha that he was not going to stay with her anymore and moved out immediately. This all happened a day before Soha’s elder brother Saif’s birthday. The two did attend that party as a couple but only not to create gossip. The source adds, “The main problem is that Soha is more committed to the relationship than Siddharth. The last time they had a fight they patched up soon and were even seen going for a film trial together. Soha and Siddharth have had lot of fights in the past, but they haven’t yet called it quits. Soha is madly in love with him and wants to make it work at any cost. Both being very strong, independent yet level-headed people, they are giving each other plenty of space and are trying to work it out.”

Siddharth walks out of Soha’s life and apartment

The trouble in Soha and Siddharth’s love paradise seems to be unending, the lovebirds have fought again with Siddharth (Sid) walking out on Soha. If this wasn’t all, the South Indian sensation made things worse by leaving Soha’s studio apartment in Bandra (where he stays every time he is in Mumbai).

According to reports, the two are facing trouble since long as they are said to have distinct personalities. While Soha, being an extrovert likes to hang out, Siddharth is a home bird and extremely moody. Soha is also infuriated with the fact that her beau is always trying to keep their relationship under wraps due to the fear that it might affect his popularity, while Soha is candid about their relationship and likes Siddharth to accompany her when he is in Mumbai.

The latest clash which was hushed up for long, took place a day before Saif’s birthday party last month, following which Siddharth walked out of Soha’s house and went to stay elsewhere. Those present at the party say that it was Siddharth’s refusal to get ‘clicked’ with ladylove that infuriated Soha to the hilt. Soha confronted him on the issue and asked as to why he wasn't giving her enough time and attention. Siddharth couldn’t take the face-off and chose to evade it by sneaking out of the situation.

It is believed that Soha wants Sid to settle down in Mumbai as he is getting many Bollywood offers but he has been refusing them all as he finds it hard to adjust to Mumbai’s fast life. Soha has been trying hard to make up to him every time they fight over trivial things but of recent she seems to be fed up with the demanding relationship.

Guess, it’s time for Siddharth to take some cue from Soha’s big bro Saifu and learn some tips to please his lady-love from him or else, there is no hope for their love to last!

Soha's real life stories

Soha Ali Khan will be seen essaying the role of a journalist in her upcoming film Mumbai Meri Jaan. The film is about the serial train blasts that shook Mumbai on 11th July 2006.

Very few people know that like her character in the film, Soha actually wanted to be a journalist in real life. "I wanted to be a journalist myself. I have experienced that drive to report and to get to the truth of the matter. My character is very emotional. We have not tried to ridicule the media in the film. The film takes a very hard look at journalism. I am not sure how the media would respond to it and whether it would accept it or not.

"I hope it will generate a lot of discussion. Films like these aim to make you think. If it sparks some kind of discussion then it will achieve its ambition. No one can deny that journalism is sensationalist. Sometimes the media forgets that the people they are interviewing are human. A lot of journalism out there has become desensitized to that. I am appalled by some of the reporting that I see on Television."

The entire Khan family, be it brother Saif Ali Khan, father Mansoor Ali Khan or even herself; have always been in the limelight. So has there been an incident where Soha came across an insensitive reporter like her character in the film? "It has happened many times. There was a particular event that we had for spreading awareness about terrorism quite recently. Perhaps because the journalists who attended were required to cover entertainment news, the lines got a little blurred. The questions were more entertainment related or more about the bold trend in Bollywood or Hollywod these days when actually what we were trying to cover was something more significant.

"That was very frustrating. Also personal questions are asked a lot of times in a way in which they are very upsetting. I am often asked my opinion on certain issues which I obviously do not feel great about. On the other side of the camera, when I am being interviewed I am unsympathetic to the media," revealed the petite actress

Sweet Soha now goes topless for photo shoot

Well it had to happen… few months after posing in her underwear, the once so sweet and lovable Soha Ali Khan has decided to take her clothes fully of…

Sweet Soha now goes topless for photo shoot

Now what do you make of this… send us your thoughts using the comments.