Salil:
Hello and welcome to Star Stop. You are with me Salil and today we have an exciting new prospect in Bollywood. The prospect is this fabulous lady whose Promos we are seeing off late. Who we hear is in a very new sexy avatar and we shall talk to her all about it. The name of the film that we are going to talk about of course is Wood Stock Villa; actually have been hearing about it for quite sometime. But we hear now it is finally up for a release. Thank you for joining us Neha

Neha:
Thank you

Salil:
Neha Uberoi, the big bad world of Bollywood beckons. It was there for a while. This isn’t your debut, but it is your debut in a full feature film in Hindi

Neha:
I started shooting for this before Dus but Dus Kahaniyaan released before this, let me put it that way.

Salil:
Now the thing is you are doing a film which has got a great look we have seen the Promos so far and I loved the Promos, its nice and dark, a very sexy. Is that completely different from the film, just to create a shock reaction with the viewers you know…

Neha:
No its not. It is a very glamorous movie, it is a very colorful movie and it is produced by White Feather films. Most of Mr. Gupta’s movies are very sleek. So Wood Stock Villa is also one of them

Salil:
So when you are sitting in your arms and suddenly you get a call saying that ok! We want to do this film with you. We have heard, we have seen the Musafir and the Kaante, we have seen how sleek and sexy they are. So the first thing that come into your mind is a slightly different launch for a heroine, it’s a sexy sleek launch.

Neha:
Its not only sexy, I mean the role is not only sexy it has a lot more character, it has a lot more material than being just sexy. But if you are asking that the first thing that came into my mind was that I will be presented really well, because you know how Mr. Gupta presents his women and the leading men in his movies. So that is the first thing that came into my mind.

Salil:
When you were shooting the film, what’s your acting background? Have you done a lot of work? I know that you had started working in south films and you have won an award

Neha:
Ya (smiling)

Salil:
You must have come into this, but starting from scratch. You have a body of work behind this which is very great. Do they consider that a large body of work when you come to Bollywood?

Neha:
I think definitely the work that I have done down south holds a lot of weight. The Filmfare award speaks a lot also. It’s the experience that matters at the end of the day, yes that does hold a lot of weight.

Salil:
So people in the industry, there is always a buzz about something new coming into this field. Now I know they were making this film, and Dus Kahaniyaan released prior to this, but the response that came after that, and now may be they have removed interest in that film, you have worked with Aftab in that little segment of yours in Dus Kahaniyaan, Do you think its fun, its fun to shoot a small little film, like a little Appetizer for the big one.

Neha:
Ya! I think it was … I enjoyed, Dus Kahaniyaan was a film with a new concept and it is good to be associated with something you know, and I think I was lucky that I got that opportunity at the start of my career. So ya Dus Kahaniyaan were a very good experience for me.

Salil:
Now tell me something, you walk in the industry, there is a bit of buzz as to how you must have got into the industry, how you might not have got into the industry, do you think family connections help? We here that there is a family connection with Sanjay Gupta, do you think that family connection helps or do you think that at the end of the day it poise down to how good that person is?

Neha:
I don’t think anybody is going to cast you purely because you are somebody’s son, daughter, niece, at the end of the day the only thing that matters is the work that you are doing and the work that you have done. But I think the only way it may help you is that you are a part of the circle and it’s a lot more easier to break through than somebody who has no connections at all. But at the end of the day its work that speaks at the end of the day and nothing else.

Salil:
I think that the pressure itself increases when you are somebody’s relative then it’s their money that is on you

Neha:
And there are more expectations also. So it’s a lot of expectations also that you have to live up to.

Salil:
Well so far she is living up to all those expectations so no worries then we take a quick break and come right back . This is Star Stop Neha Uberoi in house with us, don’t go anywhere.

(Break)

Salil:
All right you are back on Star Stop. This is me Salil and Neha Uberoi in house with us talking about Wood Stock villa and we are actually we are talking about her entry into Bollywood and lets talk about prior to that also. Thanks again for joining us Neha. Were you groomed to enter here or …

Neha:
No not at all. I was doing science and I had no plans to getting into this industry and I did a music video Sajna hain mujhe sajna ke liye and I think that changed my life completely.

Salil:
Because you liked it or because people loved you?

Neha:
Both because I loved doing it actually I never faced the camera before that, and those two days of my life I had a blast on set. And then I start getting offers down south and I honestly I haven’t heard much about south and I was very skeptical because of the language more than anything else, spoke to a couple of people and they told me that it is the best industry to go work in, get experience and then come. So that’s how it all happened.

Salil:
Because they say it is very professional and you get paid on time and people are very on time with everything. Is that the same how’s your experience being here, have you found it to be, if you equate the two industries, I know you would love to do both at the same time I guess, is it easier to start here or is it easier to start down South.

Neha:
I started down South, it was easier for me because I did a video and I got offers sitting at home. I never went out or to anybody or took that effort. So in that way it was much easier then I came here and Wood Stock happened and I really enjoyed the journey and the experience so I would say that it was better for me that I went there and then came here.

Salil:
Winning an award helps always and especially when it’s on a very high caliber. Right we will talk about Hansal Mehta, wonderful gentleman but he has had a bad luck as far as his releases are concerned over the years but your interaction with him, he is always seemed to be quiet at times and animated at times. As a director on the set how is he?

Neha:
He is wonderful. I think the best part about him being around is that he was extremely patient. Sikku and I are both newcomers and there were time you know where we weren’t getting a shot correct, he never lost his temper and he was always very patient and he was always there and helping like chill take your time, we will come back to it in sometime so I think that’s the best part about him.

Salil:
You know one thing that I love when you are talking about patience also on how heroines are so patient. I think one thing that is there in almost all male fantasies is water and sexy lady and it’s a lot of that with you also especially the promos also you know. I was reading somewhere that this is a new avatar for you, why, because you didn’t want to because we haven’t seen your South films and this sexy image of yours is it new to you and your family also?

Neha:
Ya! It is new because is have played a very sweet and simple girl in all the movies that I have done down South and this is a very glamorous role and a very sexy role, so yes it was something new.

Salil:
You seemed at ease and there was no trouble there. Is it pouting in front of the camera when you know that there are five people looking at you and you know that it’s all fake and you know you got to look really sexy so that everyone gets their money’s worth? Is it tough?

Neha:
I don’t think… I don’t think it’s tough. I mean it is how comfortable I think you are around with the people on set and touch wood I was very comfortable, with Hansal Mehta with my co-star, everybody made me feel very comfortable, so I think that’s why it went off with so much ease.

Salil:
Ya well the audience is wanting for more and Mr. Sikku Kher great lineage and has a lot to live up to, some great friends also. How is he on the set?

Neha:
Oh! He is wonderful, he is a lot of energy and I think that’s the best part about Sikandar. He kept us going. There were times when we were shooting late till four or five in the morning and everybody was you know was getting a little low and down but Sikku kept every body pepped up and kept us all going, he was cracking jokes, he was playing pranks on everybody, his energy as the best part.

Salil:
Ok that’s a sweet part what don’t you like about him on the set?

Neha:
Nothing really. I think…

Salil:
He can’t be that perfect?

Neha:
No, I didn’t interact with him so much. The only interaction that I had with him was purely professional and where work is concerned he is brilliant.

Salil:
He is nit a brat on the set?

Neha:
No he is a prankster but like I said that was a good part about him.

Salil:
He keeps everything going… Ya one more assume him to be a prankster coming from the various friends circle that he has. We will take a little break right now and come right back, she is not dodging any questions, really lovely. She is standing up to the wicket and Taking all the bouncers and hooking them with élan. We will take a little break and come right back.

(Break)

Salil:
All right we are back on Star Stop. Neha Uberoi in house with us. Thank you very much for joining me.

Neha:
Thank you

Salil:
The journey is on its way and the best complement that you have received so far for what ever promos that have been shown. Have you had any experience yet?

Neha:
No not yet. It’s a suspense thriller and I don’t think they wont have a screening for quiet sometime, because the way things are going you know the one sms and the suspense are out.

Salil:
So now since it is a suspense thriller we were having a little chat about what she can talk about , wasn’t too long so let me just tell you how brief that chat was. What is Neha Uberoi doing in the film?

Neha:
The name of my character is Reshma. Reshma is a small town girl, she comes to Bombay and she is an aspiring actress, very ambitious girl , has no boundaries, has no limitations, and she is ready to go to any extent to get what she wants out of life. So that is what she is all about.

Salil:
Go to any extent to get what she wants out of life. Very unlike of how Neha is in real life?

Neha:
Yes …very unlike Neha has a lot of limitations and lot of boundaries and I don’t think so she will.

Salil:
Was it difficult to portray the character at times?

Neha:
It is not so. See it is a very glamorous role. Normally I will walk out in a short skirt and a t- shirt so that’s Reshma is all about you know.

Salil:
But ya I guess when you are talking about cinema I guess that’s pushing the envelope as well . is it?

Neha:
A little bit. I don’t know may be.

Salil:
Now in the film itself I know you said it’s a suspense thriller so do we have at least 5 minutes that we can chat about no suspense or is it all about the suspense

Neha:
No there are a lot of twist and turns in the movie so I really cannot reveal much because one thing I say will be giving out a lot of things.

Salil:
How is Sikandar in the film?

Neha:
He is good. He is brilliant. He has done a mind blowing job and I think the promo says it all.

Salil:
But you know sometimes promos can be a bit misleading also. I have seen some fabulous promos of films and I have realized that at the end of the day that promos spoke brilliant and when we walked out of the movie saying that we should not watch the movie again…I was joking

Neha:
I don’t think so that you are going to say that about Wood Stock villa.

Salil:
Now tell me something , once the film is done and you were waiting, there was a time of wait before the film released, how frustrating is that for an actor because were you allowed to do other stuff? Were you allowed to pick up some other films?

Neha:
Yes I was allowed to do what I want to do so I was never stopped from doing anything that’s the best part about it. But if you are talking to me about the wait period then I am a very positive person, I see positive things, I never see the negative in things. If the movie didn’t release earlier then I am sure it was for my good only

Salil:
Ya actually it is releasing in a very good time. And its ended up working really well for everybody. So now it works out fine. Do you like the songs in the films?

Neha:
I love the songs. Mr. Gupta in all his movies the songs have been the usp of the movies and I think in Wood Stock also the songs are also brilliant.

Salil:
And what’s his interaction. I know Hansal is directing the film, but is Sanjay in the set or does he stay away and let the director do the job?

Neha:
No, he gave Mr. Hansal Mehta all the freedom to do what he want to do. Mr. gupta would barely be around.

Salil:
Right so its styling sleek and its fabulous , I know you like the songs but there is gonna be one, a really good one that you really like?

Neha:
Its undoubtedly Kyon .

Salil:
Does it has the Big daddy in it?

Neha:
Yes it has Sanju sir in it and the song was shot between Sanju sir and me in khandala. And I think that is the best song of the movie. He is looking like a rock star.

Salil:
He looks a million dollars all the time.

Neha:
But you have to see him in this song .I don’t think he has ever looked like the way he is looking in this song.

Salil:
I always had the picture of Vastav in my head yaar. I can never forget Sanjay dutt from that time. Did you watch a lot of his films when you were young?

Neha:
I did! I did

Salil:
And now you are acting with him

Neha:
(Laughing)
But trust me I think the song will erase all your memories of Vastav. This one song where he is looking like such a rock star.

Salil:
At the end of the day it works out beautifully for you , you have some release lined up. Have you got some more that you have started or are you waiting still?

Neha:
I have completed shooting with this movie call “

Salil:
So the career is already moving forward with time. We wish you all the very best and for more.

You canwrite to me at salil@b4uworld.com