LETS TALK ABOUT SUCCESS

Publication:Times of India Mumbai;
Date:Jul 14, 2007;
Section:Bombay Times;
Page Number:31
Let’s talk about success, baby!

One person who has fine-tuned the art of holding a smile for a long while is Payal Rohatgi. At the success party of this super-duper hit film (another reason to party in Mumbai!). Payal smiled sweetly — and continuously — as she faced the flurry of flashbulbs, striking a happy picture with her canary yellow dress that did full justice to her wholesome figure. She was there at a suburban lounge on Thursday night to lend support to her director friend Anurag Basu, who was also smiling through the evening. But then, he had reason to, after all, he was celebrating his success. The perspiration on his kurta increased as the night went on; what with meeting and greeting his friends and then dancing the night away with music composer and singer Pritam. But not sweating a bit was Irrfan Khan, sporting a pleasant pink shirt and chilling out at the bar. Taking a long time to reach the bar, though, was Kangana Ranaut who was stopped by her many admirers and the shutterbugs, of course. She looked like she was in a happy holiday mood with her bouncy hair, colourful long skirt and bare midriff. But then, life can be a holiday after a success, right? Also making waves was Neetu Chandra, although missing in action and (quite conspicuously so) were some stars from the film — Shilpa Shetty, Konkana Sen Sharma, Kay Kay Menon and Shiney Ahuja. Sharman Joshi was his usual smiling self, he was seen having an apparently funny conversation with Anurag and Irrfan and later went on to chat with Satish Kaushik. Ken Ghosh continued to spread the good cheer all around. Scriptwriter Shibani Bathija, who came along with her brother Gaurav, was spotted in conversation with Sridhar Raghavan discussing, what else, but movies and more scripts! After the midnight hour, it was nach baliye live as Anurag and Pritam and a bunch of others shook their bodies to the beat. Yes, the success had spilled out on to the dance floor too. DANCE TRANCE: Anurag Basu and (below) Pritam rock the dance floor.

MORE ABOUT ME ONLINE

http://www.hamaraphotos.com/bollywood/payal-rohatgi/payal-was-in-delhi-to-meet-her-dear-dad-not-to-promote-dhol.html

http://www.telugupeople.com/news/shownews.aspx?newsid=32085&catid=5

http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentType=EDITORIAL&programId=1073750971&articleType=&contentId=2645228&BV_ID

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/Entertainment/20070705/705761.html=@@@

PEOPLE'S PAGES

http://pplpages.com/i-love-critics-and-criticism-payal-rohatgi-interview/

THE TIMES OF INDIA ARTICLE JULY 5TH 2007

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Criticism_is_welcome_Payal_Rohtagi/rssarticleshow/2176849.cms

Now you can peep into Payal's private space : Titbits

Now you can peep into Payal's private space : Titbits

DELHI TIMES 27TH JUNE 2007

‘I JUST WANT TO DO GOOD WORK’
Payal Rohatgi on why she’s been out of sight and what’s changed in the meantime
MANDVI SHARMA

TIME OUT: I’ve been on a long sabbatical. It was part of a conscious decision to change on my part. I was going through an image reversal, trying to get away from a very glamorous image, and that is why I had to cut down on the kind of work I was doing earlier. I guess that’s the reason why one has not seen a lot of me partying and doing any thing except work. All this while, I have been working on myself. Actors, I feel, must invest a lot in their own self before they begin to count on their talent. I am just trying to improve and give my 100 per cent. As for the rest, I’ll leave it to the audience and the critics to decide whether I am an integral part of this industry or not. I am with myself a lot these days. I don’t have friends. During my time out, I have cut off everyone from my life. So when people ask me if I have a godfather in the industry, I just say, God is my godfather.

DANCE, DANCE: To make it in Bollywood, you have to be good looking, well dressed, a good dancer and also have a great screen presence. The best directors in the industry want a polished artist and a complete package, and for that, one has to work very hard. There’s a lot of competition and to beat that, one has to be one step ahead of the rest. I have started learning kathak and I owe it a lot. Kathak has got my life back on track. I have realised the importance of this art form and it gives me a lot of calm. I am learning the moves from Jaipur gharana. I learn at home and now I have a very disciplined life. Kathak has really sorted out my life.

ALL WORK: My next film, Dhol, happened to me eight months ago. I’ve realised the importance of good directors and good work. It’s easier for an actress to do her work and find a firm foothold in Bollywood by working with Alist directors. So, after Abaas-Mastan and Madhur Bhandarkar, I met Priyan sir, and he told me that he’d get back to me if there was anything for me in the future. He has a good memory and he called me for this movie. Apart from Dhol, I’ve done a special appearance with Ritiesh Deshmukh in Heyy Babyy.

LOOKING BACK: I think I was rather aggressive in the past and I am trying to leave that behind. I come from a small town and I guess Mumbai’s glitter got to me. The sudden cultural shock, the glamour and the money was not easy to handle and it unsettled me. But my career graph showed me how to see things as they are. This sabbatical has left that part of Payal in the past.

FAMILY MATTERS: I’m a computer engineer. I come from a very middle-class family. I’d never planned to be an actress. If I had, then I would have taken the right projects initially. But this world of glamour happened to me after I participated in the Femina Miss India contest. My mother’s a teacher, my dad is a chemical engineer and my younger brother’s an electronic engineer. I’m really proud to be an engineer myself. But I guess I have finally learnt my lessons. My family is very happy. My brother says he’s proud of me. My mom was with me on Mother’s Day. I saw it in her eyes – the happiness – and that makes me complete.

SINGLE AND HAPPY: I am very much single. I did go through my own cycle of relationships but I think all that does not matter now. Right now is a very important time for my career and I have to be focused. I just want to do good work. I am a typical Scorpio.

Payal Rohatgi

DELHI SHOW and DAD MEETING

hi had been in delhi for a few days.. had a performance at a corporate - Real Estate Awards function as well as i met my dad after nearly 4 years..
it was quite a meeting as the moment i saw him i started crying, he looked fragile and very thin.. their was tears in his eyes too.. i made him sit , he got me biscuits - protein ones to take with me.. v chatted about my transition, he said he was proud i was doing it so well without any support system.. i smiled as i was not in much talking mood..
you know, my earlier side of my personality was a reflection of my relation with my father, too much insecurity and being alone in this city..am glad i could fight my own demons as every event in our life happens for a reason.. and i feel as if i can see between various situations that occurred in my life to make me the person that i am now..life's way to teach you - never blame anyone for your actions, and love cannot be forced..
i clicked photos with him , frankly for my emotional requirement, but i feel much at ease now with my conscience..i hope that he feels the same.. as at the end of the day he is my dad..

THE TIMES FOOD GUIDE AWARD FUNCTION

HI...

was too tied up last few days.. kathak riyaaz started so loving the feel of pain again.. in fact went for a FOOD AWARD function to hilton towers on 9th june 2007 .. had to present an award for ALL VEGETARIAN category.. it was being in the page 3 mumbai circle after ages, i guess felt very awkward, but that's work.. got to sit next to director TANUJA CHANDRA and what a wonderful person she is.. i was on time for the function and so was she , got time to chat and i suggested that she visit this site when free for my work updates as i am very keen to work with a WOMAN DIRECTOR..



after giving the award i left immediately as was feeling sleepy and wanted to be back HOME.. profusely thanked MR. VINEET JAIN for giving me this opportunity and left..



in fact going through certain work changes , POSITIVE by God's grace so very preoccupied too.. i read somewhere ' SUCCESS COMES TO THOSE WHO MOVE OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE ' -well i just am trying implement this..



mom is a sweetheart , i just have to call her and she will try all her means to try solving my problem...)

but i feel GR8 from within , my dance gives me a better lookout towards life..

I LOVE YOU NANI

when i say I LOVE YOU nani , she blushes and smiles but does not repeat it,, after much cajoling says SAME TO YOU BETA... that's my nani..
she is happy when i am , i can feel it .. and i get up with that fantastic enthusiasm that each new day has for me.. am travelling for a SHOW on sunday so busy with rehearsals..
i love the buzz of a live performance but nothing beats being in front of the camera.. that black round thing is my BEST FRIEND.. i am missing it..
have to go now as have to leave for an important work meeting .. i hope the director decides to work with me as he portrays his heroines beautifully.. i can close my eyes and just obey his commands..wish for me that i suit the vision he has imagined for his female lead..

DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

hi sorry been busy for few days.. family in town and busy with my meetings.. in fact the idea of a human being in my home 24*7 makes me feel too good to believe it true.. nani is adorable.. she is just like a child, wanting more attention than I demand.. i just love the innonence on her face mixed with the experience life has given her- loss of her husband and 3 son's, yet she is managing life in her own way..


i look at her and again message my director's whom i wish to work with, she has become MY inspiration..


in fact all is good and positive from the people i wanna work with , all appreciating my efforts singlehandely .. but you know reward would be when they all start working with me too.. IT WILL HAPPEN, IT HAS TOO.. the process has started and ..am doing all the right things now,,,


apart from that i feel a divine power guiding me in all my decisions - like this blog too, a friend of mine from college told me and here i am sharing my views, my life with all of YOU directly...


i have been remembering my nana a lot these past few days, just sometimes you want to linger on past memories, he never saw my MUMBAI house and life , he would have been really proud of what life has made me ACHIEVE as i was his PET granddaughter...)

CONTINUATION OF MY TRANSITION ....

so here i was now faced with working on my looks and sort out my clothes as it was in a mess.. i realised though being a part of a big banner does not tak care of everything ,as an ACTOR i need to understand what looks good on me and what does not.. i learnt saying NO.. i am the face in front of the camera , and trust me noone asks why this is wrong or that, all that matters is the end result which is ME.. i have to look good and deliver..

i got rid of my entire wardrobe and met up with this lady designer VIOLET MONIS who worked on my look honestly i admit.. one year since this process started i think i am much sorted now..
but still long way to go,,, growth is a never ending process...

lets see how critics and audiences react to PRIYAN sir film DHOL.. i think i look good ,, made best choices of options available regarding makeup,hair, clothes with my learning of 1 year and yes experience of my director whom i profusely THANK for this role.. its a nice role , mild yet i think got shades to it..

TRANSITION SINCE 2005

well i started off quite well in big banner bollywood setup in films like YEH KYA HO RAHA HAI, PLAN, RAKTH...i got even nominated with IRFAN KHAN in category of STARDUST NEGATIVE NEW TALENT AWARD for my debut film YEH KYA HO RAHA HAI.. i was lost in the other multi-starrers that i did.. i had to make my surname famous..) so got adviced to do small films where i could showcase my talent.. but i was not told that these filmmakers were not bothered about their talent, would release the film badly as they never cared about their brand..and their is a difference between a small film made by MAHESH BHATT camp or RAM GOPAL VERMA sir and the makers i worked with..

whats the point of a great script when none of the educated people who could get inspired by it, not watch it as the film gets promoted as a sex flick..but i must admit all of these past films gave me my brand, made my surname famous though in a way different from what i imagined..)
through that 1 year i realised i did not come from the same sensibilities as these people and prayed to GOD pls do somethingas i was not happy.. i decided to consciously cut myself off from the world other than work dealings, stopped having a personal social life as i did not want to be ridiculed by anyone, not that i could blame them as i did the work that made them have that opinion about me..only WORK mattered..

next came a call from MUKTA arts banner for a important role in 36 CHINA TOWN , not the main lead but a sort of second lead opposite PARESH RAWALJI.. i agreed as i was confident about my acting.. it took a year in filming.. then came a call from MADHUR BHANDARKAR sir for CORPORATE film song, and i jumped..

i knew the song was a HIT from the day i heard it and i knew madhur sir would promote it well.. and yes it remained on the music charts 2006 for quite a long time..but i had to work on my DANCE as show inquiries started coming in with my BRAND getting more clearer and upmarket..

i started taking KATHAK lessons and started enjoying my space..these films got released and though i did not get critisized for my work none of the critics appreciated it also.. people whose advice i could trust told me acting was decent but need to sort out my LOOK.. was too hard if i wanted to be A grade lead actress..

MY RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

well i believe in GOD and that HE has a plan for me.. i started from nowhere to think of, with 10000 rupees to leave ahmedabad where i was brought up my entire childhood to come to mumbai post MISS INDIA paegent.. no one to tell me the difference between good work and not -so- good work, all advicing me according to their benefits or fee commissions.. trust me have done a lot of work and the experience that i have achieved is amazing and i sincerely THANK all who were involved to get me whatever work they could as i believe human intentions are always good..
I always feel need to continue working , being in front of the camera as that's what brings a smile to my face.. but the not-so-good work is taking its time to wear off.. maybe it has 60%, but still this last 40% is taking its toll on me.. you know an actor needs to act , its like a medicine but i guess GOD wants me to take it a bit easy now.. i know he has great plans to make me busy 24*7 soon..
i went to HARIDWAR one day..stayed in a nice place and went to see the 16 diya AARTI that happens on the ghats of ganga mata in the evenings..i wore a simple salwar-kurti with duppata covering my head .. just did not want any undue attention .. i stood in one corner watching this magnificient scene when a small girl pointed a finger at me saying i was PAYAL ROHATGI from 36 CHINA TOWN.. i smiled - that was the power of a BIG BANNER BOLLYWOOD film..
and that resolved my decision that I will be seen only in big setups..

NAME CHANGE

so many instances of work people who meet me want me to change my name as they all feel that i am completely different from my earlier image ... but i feel did rekhaji or mumtazji change their names after their make over..no... so why should i .. am proud to have started from nowhere with no famous surname or backing of any kind..i think my name reflects my journey and now the beginning of a new innings for me in this profession.. i hope by GOD's grace to make this name more famous....)

NANIJI ADVICE

well am very close to my naniji.. she is not very much aware of the distinguished directors of bollywood.. but on one occassion she was watching dvd of BHAGAMBHAG at home and she loved the film.. she told my mom that i need to work a director like that..
i thought what a coincidence as i told my naniji that yes i am working with the same director PRIYAN SIR and have a release after 1 year nearly.. and am part of a proper comedy film for the first time.. i hope i can hold my ground as am bit scared now as i know the film matters to me and my career a lot..
though 36 CHINA TOWN and CORPORATE got me into the A plus league as an actor my look and the clothes that i wore was under criticism by all.. i hope this film sorts this out as have worked a lot on my natural healthy look required generally for an actress.
people who have seen the rushes say that am looking fresher and lovely..) but i am waiting for the family verdict and audiences...

FIRST FILM RELEASE IN 2OO7

well for me this year starts with the release of PRIYADARSHAN film DHOL produced by PERCEPT PICTURE company..
it my release after nearly 1 year gap post CORPORATE..
the film co stars tushar kapoor, sharman joshi, kunal kemmu, and tanushree dutta..
i learned latin dance for my role in this film is of a cabaret singer.. but my introduction song does have more of facial expressions as per my director's vision..but one thing i must admit these classes made me comfortable with the idea of dancing with heels..
i cant say much about my role as it is a comedy film and our story is the hero but am very thankful to priyan sir for giving me this role as at this point in my career i needed something like this..
about my acting and my looks let the critics decide,, but i hope they look at my work with open vision as their views do matter to being accepted in the industry ...
the lyrics of my song HALKA HALKA SA MITHA MITHA KAISA DARD HAI YEH, THODA THODA SA JAAGA JAAGA SA KISKE LIYA, DIL DIYA DIL DIYA RE, DIL DIYA DIL DIYA, DIL MERA LE LIYA RE...am humming it these days and i hope my fans also do..

ABOUT 2006 from ....

The sensuous Payal Rohatgi is learning the traditional Indian dance form of JAIPUR gharana Kathak nowadays.
Payal says she got the idea to learn Kathak while she was shooting for the song ‘O Sikander’ for Madhur Bhandarkar ’s movie Corporate in which she plays a marginal role of an actress.“When I did the song for ‘Corporate’, I realised how flexible one had to be. I want to look and work the best in whatever I do, so decided to take up kathak classes,” Payal is quoted as saying. she says its better to work on myself rather than doing work that I am not happy with. Payal has it clear she wants to do roles more substantial than the ones that require her to merely flaunt her anatomical assets. she says that when you do glamorous role also but in a A grade setup the director knows how to portray you and you can trust him as he has his name too to risk.. you learn from your past and that’s my frame of mind now..
In 36 China Town A Murder Story...and our sexy babe Payal Rohatgi played "Gracy" in 36 China Town along with other stars like Shahid Kapur, Kareena Kapoor, etc.
She is busy these days travelling for shows performing on hit ‘o sikanker ‘ song from CORPORATE and ‘aashiqui’ song from 36 CHINA TOWN.

FILM RELATED NEWS 2006

The sex siren who redefined the limits of skin exposure in Bollywood films is now a changed girl. Payal Rohatgi has moved beyond and is eager to carve a little niche of her own in the tinsel town. To this end, she has already begun working in some projects made by reputed production houses. Payal rohatgi was seen last in a second lead role in Subhash Ghai production 36 China Town . After that, Payal was seen in a song and dance important role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Corporate .To top it all, Payal was seen in a commercial that featured her alongside none other than megastar Amitabh Bachchan . The ad is for a battery brand and was directed by Pradeep Sarkar, the director of Parineeta .Payal says what matters the most to her now is whether her role in a movie has substance or not. Also her director and setup. I want to work and associate myself with good cinema only. The rest is secondary.

ADVERTISEMENTS IN 2006

PAYAL ROHATGI has shot an commercial with amitabh bachchan sir for Everready battery which was directed by PRADEEP SARKAR..she felt it to be an honour to work with the superstar at such an early stage of her career..
She found Amitabh ji to be such a humble person and a great co star, he would made her feel comfortable in his presence..this was her second advertisement with dada (pradeep sarkar) .. her first advertisement was for DABUR with VIRENDRA SEHWAG being starred opposite her..
Payal is wishing dada cast her in his films too as she knows she will be portrayed really well by him.

SHOWS IN 2006

SHOWS in 2006:

Performed on ‘o sikander ‘song from her film CORPORATE, and ‘aashiqui’ song from her film 36 CHINA TOWN in Delhi at Radisson hotel on 1-9-06 for Pushpanjali constructions launch.

Performed on ‘o sikander ‘song from her film CORPORATE, and ‘aashiqui’ song from her film 36 CHINA TOWN in pune for magna publication sister magazine-citadel, which had organized Mr/Miss pune on 20-8-06.

Performed at times property show at Mumbai on 07-10-06 for times utsav.

Performed at Calcutta for durga puja event at Nicco Park on 01-10-06.