a very leggy Isha

is dis a shot from de new Don?

I don't think so but I could be wrong. What's with the fuzz in the first pic?

Mumbai – Baring her teeth through the bars of a tiny cage and dressed in a pleather cat suit, actress Isha Koppikar proclaims, "Cats Are Too Cool to Be in Zoos", in PETA's latest ad to raise awareness about the cruelty of zoos. Known for her compassion for animals, Koppikar stepped forward to become an ambassador for PETA's zoo campaign. She teamed up with ace photographer Atul Kasbekar to make the stunning ad, which comes in the wake of a landmark Mumbai High Court order demanding improvements at the Mumbai Zoo. PETA filed a case last October against the Mumbai Zoo for failing to provide even the most basic care for its animals. Acting on the findings of its inspection committee, the High Court of Mumbai ordered several improvements at the zoo. Animals such as Mohan the bear and Nina the hippo, along with two other hippos, have already been relocated. Raj Kumar the elephant and Shiva the rhino, who has been alone for 25 years, will be moved to other facilities too. The population of deer and exotic birds will be controlled, and 10 more security guards, who will be trained by PETA, will be hired. Visitors can no longer bring food or plastic into the zoo or tease the animals. And most importantly, the zoo is not allowed to acquire any more animals unless it provides them with appropriate housing.

Isha Koppikar plays the role of the real Don's girlfriend Anita, which was enacted by Aparna Chaudhary in the original. However, unlike the 1978 flick, Isha’s role in this film will have more substance and footage. Also, Isha has been made to look much more glamorous for her portions in the film.

Face to Face with Isha Kopikar

Although she did a cameo in 'Fiza' (and has done a number of films down South), Isha Kopikar prefers to call her next film 'Pyar Ishq Aur Mohabbat' her debut. Here's the pretty lady in a tete-a-tete, on her expectations and her future plans.


Did you always want to be an actress?

Isha Kopikar: "Since my grandfather was a doctor in the army -- he was a G.P. - and my father is a gynecologist and has his own nursing home, I wanted to be a doctor. But destiny had other plans for me.

I didn't get good marks to get into a medical college and I did not want my father to pay a donation, so I just finished my BSC in life sciences. Then I signed some films down south and last year I did around nine films in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu."

Then this is your first Hindi film?

Isha: Actually, technically my first Hindi film was 'Fiza', but that was only a special appearance as Karisma's friend. So I'd say 'Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat' ('PIAM') is my debut. I did 'Fiza' because I know the producers very well. They even warned me that the role was very small and that no other actress was willing to do it. They needed someone who could act well and looked good too. So I agreed, because I think now the age of being typecast is gone.

How did you clinch the role in 'PIAM'?

Isha: Rajiv had already done the casting for 'PIAM' and he told me that we'd work together another time. But as he finished the second or third draft of the film, the role just happened. It started off with just 2-3 scenes and then just kept getting bigger. I told Rajiv I wanted to work with him, and he agreed. And I guess he was pretty happy with the way I performed and so he really went out of his way to weed my character into the script to such an extent that now it's become a full fledged role, though it's definitely not as meaty as that of Keerti Reddy

Tell us a little about your role in the film.

Isha: I play an NRI, a very bubbly girl, very full of life but not interested in relationships, men, or affairs. She is studying in an American school and she is a friend of Keerti, who's happens to get a scholarship and comes to Glasco University. The film is about these three guys who fall in love with her and how each of them finds their soul mate in the end. I won't reveal who gets Keerti because that will be letting out the climax.

How was it working with Rajiv Rai?

Isha: Amazing. It's one of the best units I've worked with so far. Rajiv is a gem of a person and a thorough gentleman who knows how to deal with people. He ensures that everybody is given equal footage. 'Everybody' means even junior artistes who are in a particular frame at that time, even the people from Glasco. He does not discriminate between his artistes.

Isn't it true that people are very impressed with Rajiv abroad as well?

Isha: Yes, Rajiv is very big in Europe. That's also because he's settled in London. And as far as making a film is concerned, Rajiv is very good with publicity. He is known for that. Even before the film starts, people know that Rajiv Rai is making a film. In fact, when we went to shoot there, people were ready to interview us! Even before I'd shot my first scene! So I asked Rajiv what the hell was I going to tell them? I didn't know anything about the film. I was just doing the film because it was a Rajiv Rai banner.

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When Isha Koppikar was unrecognizable

When Isha Koppikar shed her glamorous image for a forthcoming Ram Gopal Varma movie, she was unrecognizable on the film’s shooting sets.

In Ramu’s movie Shabri , Isha plays a woman who runs a crime racket from a Mumbai chawl. In accordance with her character, Isha sports a non-glamorized look in the film and even speaks foul language.

In fact, while shooting for the movie Isha looked so convincing in her new look that crewmembers on the sets often failed to recognize her.

A media report quotes Isha as saying: “One time, my production controller refused to get me in on set, as he couldn’t recognise me. Even executive producers get confused and fail to identify me in my get-up. Later on they’d come and apologise and I would say, ‘Superb!’ I’m glad that I look very convincing.”

In the coming weeks Isha would be seen in two important Bollywood movies. First, Ramu’s Darna Zaroori Hai hits the theatres this week. Then on May 5, Subhash Ghai’s 36 China Town will release. Isha plays a marginal role in the film.

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When I was in class five, I fell in love with one of my school teachers : a confession from Isha Koppikar
Pam Bhandari
Jan. 13, 2007

When I was in class five, I fell in love with one of my school teachers : a confession from Isha Koppikar.

Isha still feels love for her teacher while doing excercise?

Isha's gorgeous body shape is well known but rumor worlkd say she could maintain the same for a physical instructir that she still loves!

"When I was in class fifth, I fell in love with one of my school teachers. I didn''t realize it initially but later on found that am really in love. It was my first crush and it happened when I was very small. He was a fantastic human being and took my physical training classes. I was so much in love with him that I never wanted to miss the class. I might have missed other classes but I made sure that I am present in his class everyday" confesses Isha!


So many girls fell for their teacher:

'Girlfriend' Isha Koppiker defends herself

"Girlfriend" has invited the ire of the self-proclaimed Hindu culture police and gays, actress Isha Koppiker who plays a lesbian in the film is asking what the fuss is all about.

"What are people protesting about? Girlfriendis a very real film, based on real situations," Isha, who plays the traumatised psycho Tanya in the film, told IANS.

"Having said that, I'd like to say it was just another role for me...nothing more, nothing less. I've already moved on. For me Girlfriendis history. If others want to hold on to it and create controversies because it suits their purpose, they are welcome to their moment of glory. I'll have none of it."

"For me, Tanya was just another character. That she happened to be a lesbian made it a fascinating challenge to play the role. Though some of my close friends are gay I knew nothing about how they think or behave. So I had to work very hard on getting the body language and attitude right. Which I did."

There have been protests in Varanasi, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar by Hindu rightwing activists, who say the film's theme of alternate sexuality is against Indian culture.

Gay rights activists too have opposed "Girlfriend", saying it is a warped, unrealistic take on lesbianism.

Download Girlfreinds WallpapersBut asks Isha: "Now what's the big deal? Why all this fuss? If it offends a certain section of viewers they've the option of not seeing the film, just like I had the option of not doing the role if it offended my sensibilities as a human being and an actress."

But why the explicit love making sequence with Amrita Arora, filled with suggestive groans on the soundtrack?

Reveals Isha, "Frankly, when it came up I did feel uncomfortable about it. But I left the decision entirely to the director. You'll have to ask him about the groans and moans."

Isha seems adamant on moving on, not being part of the gathering storm that threatens to envelope "Girlfriend".

One recalls how staunchly Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das had defended the lesbian relationship of their characters in Deepa Mehta's "Fire".

Says Isha: "I don't disown Girlfriend. But I don't own it either. The director called the shots. I did what I had to as an actress. Now it's over.

"I've worked so hard on being convincing as a butch that now I'm afraid men will be scared away from me."

Download Girlfreinds WallpapersThe controversies remind one of "Fire", the only mainstream film on female homosexuality from any part of the world, until Andy Wachowsky's "Bound" in 1996 where Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly played lesbian lovers collaborating in a heist. However, the film had no overt reference to homosexuality.

Nor did the gay hero, played by Tom Hanks, in Jonatham Demme's Oscar-winning "Philadelphia", smooch and get into bed with his screen lover Antonio Banderas to prove his sexuality.

So is the Indian censor board getting more liberal than its Hollywood counterpart?

Censor chief Anupam Kher is, for once, evasive. "I haven't seen Girlfriend, nor is it my job to watch every film that comes up for censoring. I've been out of the country with my new play, so I wouldn't know about the explicit content of Girlfriend.

"But yes, I do know that what was submitted for censoring was far more strong in content. Now that the film has been properly graded and censored, there's nothing more to be said on the matter."

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MORE ON ISHA KOPPIKER AS A LESBAIN IN "GIRLFRIEND"


It is a landmark-in my career"

What's happening career wise?

I am being selective because good scripts are coming my way now. If you are good then heroine-oriented films will come your way.

What are you looking for?

A good package-producer, director script, banner, and co-stars.

What's in the pipeline?

The Balaji film is to start on 1st July it is titled 'kya kool hai na'-it has Tusshar and Ritesh. Sangeet Sivan directs it.

How is the girlfriend controversy affecting you?

girlfriend-1 The girlfriend controversy? I felt a little weird because I wasn't intentionally out to hurt people. If I don't like a film I wouldn't see it. What they were objecting to-the homosexuality- you know if it is not acknowledged-it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I did the best I could in the role.

How difficult was it to perform this role?

Yes it was-it is a landmark-in my career it is one of the first performances which would be remembered. It wasn't easy to play a psychotic girl- she's not only lesbian she's a psycho too and not every lesbian is a psycho-she is a very complicated character. There was a lot of homework that went into the role. I was constantly going to my director for tips. I was very manly in the film and I wanted to see how I could portray this manliness. I had to get the man inside me out.

From whatever I have known of men and from whatever I see around me-I got the character- and of course the background of the character helped-why was she so complicated-what had gone into her childhood -all things together.

What was your parent's reaction?

They loved the film. They loved me. They are very cool. I have got a lot of praise for it.

What interesting things are happening in your life?

Interesting? I have no love life. I am falling ill a lot-but people are now realizing that I am a good actress and good offers are coming my way.

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WE SAY ALL THE BEST TO ISHA KOPPIKER, IT TAKES GUTS TO DO A ROLE THAT SHE DID IN GIRLFRIENDS;WISH HER BEST IN THE FUTURE: OUR NEXT BOLLYWOOD BABES 007: WILL BE CELINA JAITLEY:

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Filmography:

1. Unusual Love Story (2007)
2. Anamika (2007)
3. Jawani Diwani (2006)
4. Idiot (2006)
5. Zinda (2006)
6. Tom Dick and Harry (2006)
7. Apna Sapna Money Money (2006)
8. Silsiilay (2005)
9. No Entry (2005)
10. Janasheen (2003)
11. Khel (2003)


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