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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.

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By: Shaheen Parkar
January 23, 2003

Along with Tusshar and Esha Deol in Balaji Films’ Kucch To Hai is the new-find Natassha.

One look at her name (that double ‘s’) and it’s obvious that she is part of the Balaji’s numerology brigade. “My real name is Anita Hasanandani,” she says.

“The film’s producers (Shobha and Ekta Kapoor) felt that it did not have the zing to it.

They rechristened me Natassha for the big screen with a double ‘s’ which is numerically correct. It’s not that I am into all this. They wanted it and I agreed.”

If the name Anita Hasanandani sounds even a wee bit familiar it will be because of her modelling stint (Sunsilk, Boroplus) and her Balaji TV show Kabhi Souten Kabhi Saheli.

“It was during the shoot of this soap that I auditioned for the film. Ekta was on the look out for a new face.

She liked my work in Kabhi Souten… Ekta thought I had this innocent girl look which would suit the role in Kucch To Hai.

She made me do a photo shoot with Gautam Rajyadhaksha. In fact even before she could get back to me, there was this buzz on the sets of Kabhi Souten… that I was going to be Ekta’s heroine. It was much later that she told me that I was in the movie.”

In Kucch To Hai, Natassha plays a college student in love with a classmate (Tusshar) who likes someone else (Esha Deol). “More than the romantic angle, Kucch To Hai is all about thrills; you won’t know what to expect next.”

Preparing for the film was no big deal for her. “I knew I had to lose weight and managed to knock off lots of it. Anyway, I always wanted to be an actress.

I wanted to act and make lots of money. I am not from a film background but from a middle-class family in Khar.

After schooling in Bai Avabai Petit, I didn’t pursue my education as I was not at all interested in studies. I even did a job in a communications office for a while.”

Then began the rounds of studios and producers. “When things began to happen, they all occurred together.

There was modelling initially followed by television. I even managed to act in five Telugu films from which Nuvvu Mennu (You and Me) was a hit.”

Incidentally, Nuvvu Mennu has been remade in Hindi called Yeh Dil by Teja. Natassha stars in it along with Tusshar.

Natassha is also part of Ekta’s next film to be directed by Santram Varma with Aftab Shivdasani and Ishaa Koppikar.

It’s clear that she is part of the Balaji camp. “Ekta gave me a break and if she is repeating me in her next project it’s because she thinks I can act.”

The rest, meanwhile, will have to decide after Kucch To Hai.

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