I want to do only A-grade films: Bhoomika Chawla

Remember Bhoomika Chawla? This actress began with a bang in Bollywood starring opposite Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan, but fade into oblivion soon after her films bombed at the box office.

Presently, Bhoomika is doing regional films – Telugu, Punjabi and more. She says she is happy with what she is doing, but longs to return to Bollywood in a big way.

Recently, we spoke to Bhoomika and she revealed a lot about her career, aspirations and more. Here is the excerpt.

Q: Tell us something about this Punjabi film of yours...
A: This film is called ‘Yaariyean’, which in Punjabi means relationships and friendships. It is completely based on all sorts of relationships and not just one. It could be between a boy and a girl, a mother and a son, a father and a daughter, a friends and another, two strangers or even between a boyfriend and a girlfriend.

Q: So can it be called a family entertainer?
A: Yes, why not. It is a beautiful film for one and all. I mean everyone is going to love watching this film. It is a complete family entertainer.

Q: What is your role in the film?
A: My role in the film is that of a girl called Simran who lives abroad and is rather a simple, but a very intelligent girl. She loves to see and live life to the fullest, but somehow does not do it much. Then comes a point in her life where her life changes and she start to enjoy life.

Q: How did this film come about you?
A: See, when the director had approached me for this film and narrated me the story, what interested me was the script. For me what mattered was I was getting a different film, which deals with relation which deals with the fact that you can go out of the country to earn big buck.

I think it is a very common factor around us, whether it is Punjabi or Telegu people; everybody would like to go out and earn their money and be successful. Sometimes it happens that they don’t earn anything, but yet come back and say that I’m a foreign return and all that.

So, because the film is so realistic and because the fact that every emotion dealt in the film is real, that I had to accept it. There was no way I could say no to it. An the fact that Dipak Sir(director) said that it stars Om Puriji, Gurdas Mann Sir was even another reason for me to do this film. My desire was to work with them.

Q: What do you look for in a film while signing it?
A: I am a person who goes by scripts. The end result which is the after release result, I would not say does not matter much to me but it is not that important to me as it would be for any other actor. I’m happy with whatever I have done till now.

Q: Where had this film been shot and when is the expected time for release?
A: Around 90% of this film has been shot in Vancouver in Canada. Then rest of it had been shot at different locales.

Q: It is a family film so there must have been intense moments?
A: Yes, there was one intense film with Om Puri Sir. I cannot divulge too much about the scene, but I was literally chocked in the first take, I could not deliver my dialogues, I actually broke down. Then even Om Puri Sir broke down and when we finished the scene he told me it was a very good effort.

Q: How is the director?
A: Dipak Sir is a fine director. You need to sit with him to know that depth that he has. He narrates the scene so well that you would relive every moment. I’m not just saying it to say it to the media.

You will feel that you have actually done the shot; he takes you so deep down that it will happen from the soul. He has never been that kind of a man who will show that he is working. He will work but it will be like a picnic. It is fun working with him.

Q: What is happening down South, you have signed quiet a few films…
A: Yes, I have one release on July 6 in Telugu. It is a title role called ‘Satyabhama’. Then I have another title film called ‘Anasua’, where I play a journalist. It is a grey film. Then my third film is a cute romantic story and the fourth is a comedy. I work a lot in south as I get my creative satisfaction there.

Q: What else?
A: I have done a ‘Bhojpuri’ film called ‘Gangotri’. Then in Bollywood, I have ‘Gandhi- My father’. Then there is ‘Benaam’.

Q: Why this break from Bollywood?
A: Actually, after ‘Family’ the kind of scripts that I heard did not appeal to me much. I don’t really care about what people think. Here there are over active minds which feel that if you are not seen you do not have work. I don’t care about that.

I’m a person who lives in my house, eats the same usually food and then go down south and do my films. Fortunately, the kind of work that I have done in Bollywood has been the best of my time, best director, best producers. I have done good work.

Now since I’m back after a break, I have to work all the better and now I want to work with the ‘A’ league. I want to be back with a bang. What happens is when you are not seen here in Bollywood, unknowingly or unwittingly, people think that you are not getting work but I have had two Telegu releases last year. Work is work no matter where you work.

Q: Do you find any change in the working style of Bollywood and South films?
A: Not much, but I think that in the south people are more professional. If they give a call time of 6.00 a.m. you have to be there at six other wise they will pack your bags. Also the technicians are much better in the south. But Bollywood in terms of fame is unmatched.

Q: Do you have any language problems?
A: No, in the beginning I had this problem in the South, but not now. I would like to work in more regional films if I am offered a good script. I’m a creative hungry person and where ever the hunger is satisfied I will work there.

Q: Any one script which you cannot say no to?
A: It is very difficult to say. I have not set and boundary for myself that I would like any romantic film or something or the other. I have liked all the films and all the roles that I have done till now.

Q: How would you analyze yourself now?
A: I think I have improved as a person. The industry teaches you a lot; it makes you a fine person and a little more patient with things. I have definitely improved in my dancing skills (laughs) where I though I was too bad.