JAYAPRADA ISN'T YET OUT OF FILMS, HERE SHE TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

ON HER DEBUT IN TELUGU FILMS
My mother loved art and got me enrolled in music and dance classes. I began learning traditional Indian dance forms when I was only seven. My dancing skills were noticed at the school’s annual function and I ended up bagging a three-minute role in the Telugu film Bhoomi Kosam. I was paid Rs 10 for the role.

ON THE REACTION OF HER FRIENDS
I suddenly became a star even for my close friends. The distance they were maintaining made me uncomfortable

ON HER ENTRY INTO BOLLYWOOD
My big break in Hindi films came in Sargam in which I portrayed the role of a mute dancer. The film was a remake of the Telugu film Siri Siri Muvva. I observed mute students closely in preparation for the role. The film opposite Rishi Kapoor was a resounding success.

ON HER INTIAL LANGUAGE PROBLEMS IN BOLLYWOOD
I kept a tutor who rehearsed my lines. I was keen to do my own dubbing. I would get up at 5 am, take my Hindi class and then leave for my shoot. I would again work on my diction at night.

ON HER FIRST BREAK WITH AMITABH BACHCHAN IN SHARABI
It was my first film opposite Amitji. I was very nervous on the sets. But he made me feel comfortable and corrected my lines. And the comfort level we shared was apparent on the screen. Amitji is a unique and sensitive artiste. Acting opposite him, one can learn a lot by carefully observing his skills.

ON HER NEW FILMS
I am playing a character similar to that of Jhansi ki Rani in a Kannada film. It is about a fiery queen who fought the British in 1800. In October, I will do a Bengali film directed by Ashok Vishwanath. It will be shot in 45 days in Kolkata. Then there is a Tamil film Dasavatharam with Kamal Haasan.

ON DEHA HER UPCOMING HINDI FILM
Mahesh Manjrekar plays my husband. Even though he cheats on his wife and distrusts her, the wife struggles to keep the marriage going.

ON WHAT KIND OF FILMS SHE LIKES
After a hard day's work, people want to watch entertaining movies. Thought-provoking films like Black are also being made. Of course, I don’t like classics like Mughal-e-Azam being remade. I cannot imagine anyone else playing the character of Dilip Kumar or Madhubala in that historic film.

ON HER REPORTED RIVALRY WITH SRIDEVI
There was no jealously. All our films were done in a professional manner.

DON'T GET IN RAJENDRA PRASAD'S WAY. HE IS THE QUICK GUN MURUGAN ON THE PROWL

Talking about Rambha, who stole the thunder from under the feet of Sri Devi, literally (she has inherited her thunder thighs title, from Sri Devi) has bagged the role of a heroine in a Rajendra Prasad film. Now, before you ask: Rajendra Prasad who? Let us explain that the comedy hero of yesteryear, who has been struggling to hold on to the Telugu film industry with his Uncle Sam roles, has been booked for a bilingual film Quick Gun Murugan. He will appear as a cowherd or cow boy or cowdung, whatever it may be, and try his best to make you laugh. And Rambha would provide the sensuous elements in the movie. So it is gonna be a riotous mix of sensuality and laughter. Will it do the trick for the Aa okkatee adakku pair?

WHY DO K RAGHAVENDRA RAO'S FILMS HAVE THE HERO THROWING FRUITS ON THE HEROINE'S NAVEL?

Director K Raghavendra Rao is called for an interview with the censors regarding his new film Grapes, Oranges and Bananas.

CENSORS: Mr Raghavendra Rao, this is about your new films, Grapes, Oranges and Bananas. You call it an educational film, what does it teach?

RAGHAVENDRA RAO: Human Anatomy, sir. Human Anatomy. Everytime our hero playfully hits the heroine with a grape or an orange or a banana, the audiences are so engrossed with the navel that they are forced to know a thing or two about it. And soon their curiosity will be roused and they will enquire about the other parts of the body like stomach, hips, heart, lungs, etc. This way they will be thoroughly informed about the anatomy of the whole body.

CENSORS (zapped): ?????

RAGHAVENDRA RAO: If you are still not convinced, ask the audiences and they will tell you the exact dimensions of the navels of the actresses who worked with me -- from Jayasudha to Genelia, including Sri Devi, Jayaprada, Ramyakrishna, Rambha, Nagma, Radha, Vijayashanti, Raasi, Ravali, Deepti Bhatnagar, and even Meenakshi Sheshadri.

CENSORS (recover from their shock): But, what if any of the heroine gets hurt or dies in the fruits throwing binge?

RAGHAVENDRA RAO: Then they will learn about death, sir. They benefit one way or the other. And in the process the audiences get to have some lusty entertainment too. It is for no reason that heroines make a beeline to my house. And audiences love to watch my films.

CENSORS: ?????

Now sit back and enjoy this Raghavendra Rao's song from Vetagadu. Sri Devi was a rage and set many a heart aflutter in the late 70s and early 80s.

Item songs are so boring, says Alka Yagnik

She may have sung one of the most successful item songs in Hindi cinema, but the voice behind Ek do teen number, Alka Yagnik, is not happy with current trend of husky and seductive item songs and she is reluctant to give her voice to Beedi kind of songs.
"In the initial stage of my career, I might have considered singing these type of item numbers. But, at this stage, I don't intend to. But, I have no problem with immense popularity of songs like re or Beedi says the veteran singer Alka.
"People still remember Ek do teen and start dancing when they hear it. Whereas item songs today are short-lived. In the same way we don't have actresses like Madhuri Dixit or Sridevi. Husky and seductive voices are sought for new generation of actresses," she says.
Alka started her journey of success with Mere Angne me, a super hit number from Amitabh Bachchan starer Lawaris released in 1981. She has two national, seven Filmfare and two IIFA awards in her kitty.
She was considered the voice of then numero uno actress Madhuri, and is an integral part of the super stardom of Dhak Dhak girl. Apart from Tezaab, Qayamat se Qayamat tak, Saajan, Beta, Hum Tum and Lagaan are some of her musical blockbusters.
Her latest releases include Aishwarya Rai starrer, Umrao Jaan, remake of yesteryears classic. She denies that she was influenced by legendary Asha Bhonsle during the recordings.

(Courtesy: PTI)