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Far from Mumbai, Shilpa celebrates a quiet birthday
 
M D Riti in Bangalore | June 19, 2003 16:33 IST
Shilpa Shetty has never celebrated her birthday in such simple fashion -- not even during the years when she was just another student and athlete who had yet to succumb to the lure of Bollywood.
Ever since she became a star, Shetty, a Tulu, originally from the Karavali coast of Karnataka, has always thrown a party in Mumbai to celebrate her birthday.
This June 8, however, saw her in Manipal, shooting for her second Kannada film Ondagona Baa (Come, let us become one).
The Shetty family is mired in controversy; her father was recently accused of extortion. Shetty was out of the country when it happened -- she was performing at the IIFA awards at Johannesburg, South Africa, followed by another performance at the Cannes International Film Festival. When she returned to India, she avoided the press and made straight for Karnataka. The shooting schedules of Ondagona Baa, costarring middle-aged but popular hero Ravichandran, came at a most convenient time; it took her to Mysore and then to Manipal.
So all Shetty did this year to bring in her birthday was attend a small party organised for her by Ondagona Baa's producer, Rockline Venkatesh. Ravichandran and a few of her acquaintances were there as well. Earlier in the day, the unit garlanded her and made her cut a cake on the sets.
After over 10 days of avoiding the press, Shetty finally stepped into the spotlight in Bangalore, at an Ondagona Baa press conference. Much before the do, Rockline and Ravichandran spread the word that she would turn down questions about the ongoing controversy. Only questions about the film would be answered, they said.
Shetty appeared calm at the five-star hotel where the meet was held. She was dressed in a stylish lemon yellow churidar-kurta. "I have come to a press conference of this film," she said at the outset. "I will not answer questions on any subject other than this film."
This is her second Kannada film. The first, Preethisodu Thappa, had the same combination of producer, hero and music director (Hamsalekha) and did well at the box office.
Interestingly, Hamsalekha and Ravichandran fell apart after Preethisodu Thappa. After a three-year feud, the two made up and have come together for Ondagona Baa which, like Preethisodu Thappa, is a remake of a Telugu film
Smiling vibrantly, Shetty said, "It is great fun working in southern movies. I make it a point to work in at least one south film once in two or three years or whenever I am free."
When asked why she agreed to star in Ondagona Baa, Shetty said it was because it had a very good script. "We have a good hero, Ravichandran, and a good cameraman, Seetharam," she explained. "Totally, we have a good team, and I hope the film clicks."
She spoke in English, explaining with a smile that, though she is a Kannadiga, she cannot speak Kannada well. She had to learn her dialogues in the film by rote, she admitted.
In the film, Shetty plays a medical student who is 'simple, sweet and fun-loving.' She feels this role is quite different from any other role she has played so far.
"This is a film with a message," she said. "That is why I decided to do it. The story revolves around a family. The character I play is both fun-loving and emotional. This role will really tap my potential fully. As for the plot, it is something that will appeal to everyone, from children to the elderly."
Shetty has now begun shooting at Rockline's studio on the outskirts of the city, beyond Dasarahalli.
The producer has refused to allow the media on the sets. Indoor scenes are under way at this new studio, which is yet to be formally inaugurated.
Rediff.com
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