VluvAnita.net

BOLLYWOOD started it all and the effect has now rubbed off on Tollywood too. For some time, you were left wondering how to spell Kareena. Is she Kareena or Kareina? Is it Sunil Shetty or Suniel Shetty? Now, the name-changing fever has gripped Tollywood. Which is why we saw Venkatesh’s last film Gemini as Gemeni.

Namita, who debuted in Sontham became Bhairavi in Gemeni. “I wasn’t going forward in my career as Namita. I felt the name Bhairavi would bring me luck,” she says. Though the audience kept guessing, Bhairavi has indeed become a trendsetter. More actors and actresses are treading the same path. Remember Anita from Nuvvu Nenu? Well, she’s got a new identity as Natassha when she stepped into Bollywood.

“I consulted numerologist Jumani who has helped many Bollywood stars change their names. He felt the name Anita wouldn’t assure me success. He gave me two options – either go for a spelling change in Anita or choose my Kucch To Hai character name Natassha. I opted for the latter,” she says. Will she remain Anita in Tollywood? “I’d prefer to be called Natassha in Telugu too. But that depends on my producers. If they think a new name will hamper my identity, I’ll stick to Anita in Telugu,” she says. A new identity apart, has the change brought success? “Kucch To Hai is doing well. If I hadn’t gone for a change and the film had failed, I’d have regretted it. In a competitive industry, who wants to take a risk?”

The luck factor is forcing actors to take a closer look at the numbers that their names are adding up to. Aryan Rajesh prefers to be addressed as Aryan henceforth. If this game works out, expect to see more actors with new names.

BOLLYWOOD started it all and the effect has now rubbed off on Tollywood too. For some time, you were left wondering how to spell Kareena. Is she Kareena or Kareina? Is it Sunil Shetty or Suniel Shetty? Now, the name-changing fever has gripped Tollywood. Which is why we saw Venkatesh’s last film Gemini as Gemeni.

Namita, who debuted in Sontham became Bhairavi in Gemeni. “I wasn’t going forward in my career as Namita. I felt the name Bhairavi would bring me luck,” she says. Though the audience kept guessing, Bhairavi has indeed become a trendsetter. More actors and actresses are treading the same path. Remember Anita from Nuvvu Nenu? Well, she’s got a new identity as Natassha when she stepped into Bollywood.

“I consulted numerologist Jumani who has helped many Bollywood stars change their names. He felt the name Anita wouldn’t assure me success. He gave me two options – either go for a spelling change in Anita or choose my Kucch To Hai character name Natassha. I opted for the latter,” she says. Will she remain Anita in Tollywood? “I’d prefer to be called Natassha in Telugu too. But that depends on my producers. If they think a new name will hamper my identity, I’ll stick to Anita in Telugu,” she says. A new identity apart, has the change brought success? “Kucch To Hai is doing well. If I hadn’t gone for a change and the film had failed, I’d have regretted it. In a competitive industry, who wants to take a risk?”

The luck factor is forcing actors to take a closer look at the numbers that their names are adding up to. Aryan Rajesh prefers to be addressed as Aryan henceforth. If this game works out, expect to see more actors with new names.
hyderabadtimes@indiatimes.com

Three’s company
KARISHMA UPADHYAY

What are your characters in the Kucch To Hai?
Tusshar: I play Karan, a very simple guy and he is madly in love with Tanya (Esha’s character). He is a regular Hindi film hero – very noble and loyal to his friends. What makes him different is the fact that he is very awkward because of his financial status. And, Natassha is my best friend.
Esha: For once, I am not called Esha in this film, which is quite a relief. I’m Tanya, a collegian.
An intelligent, popular girl. None of our characters in the film are very unique, we are all regular people stuck in a tough situation. I don’t identify with Tanya.
Natassha: My character is called Natassha and I am the girl-next-door. Though Karan is her best friend and in love with Esha, my character, eventually, falls in love with him.
You are all fairly new in the industry, did you often exchange notes?
T: Oh, yes. After every shot, I would ask everyone if I was okay or if my hair was out of place. But once, we got to the action sequences, there was too much happening to really bother about your appearances.
E: I don’t think any of us have enough experience to advise the other person. At the same time, if some one did come to me I would tell them what I thought of their performance or clothes.
N: Because this is my first film, I kept asking everyone for suggestions, specially about my clothes.
Did you enjoy working in a thriller?
E: I am not very found of this genre which is why I wasn’t very sure about this film, initially. But now that the film is over and done, I don’t think I will ever be scared of watching a thriller. Though, the schedule was very gruelling, the work most satisfying.
Did Tusshar get a lot of privileges because KHT is his home production?
N: Not at all. I think the poor guy was under a lot of stress because this was his home production.
E: Yeah, while we would chill out after a shot, Tusshar would be running around trying to get things done.
T: I must have been the most harassed person on the sets of KTH. And Ekta made sure of that. For any other film I would think like just an actor, but for this one I also had to think about production. I felt more responsible. For any other film, if a shoot was cancelled, my reaction would be, ‘‘Wow, let’s party.’’
Now, it was more like, ‘‘Hell, another delay.’’ I have never envied Ekta’s job, but this experience has left me totally in awe of her.