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| Puja Gupta (Right) with Bollywood Actress Ameesha Patel |
"Perhaps it's because I've been a beauty queen. That journey gives you so much. After Miss India Universe, I was with Donald Trump's organisation for six months and travelled the world with U2's Bono and actor Ashley Judd, raising awareness about AIDS." When Miss India Universe 2007 Puja Gupta debuted with
F.A.L.T.U in 2011, she knew she didn't have a significant part in the film. She says she had nothing to do in the film, but, it was the idea of working with Vashu Bhagnani, who goes all out to promote his films, that she said yes. Little did she know that the film would get her the next two projects she she signed —
Go Goa Gone and
Shortcut Romeo. In fact, it is the latter's lead actor Neil Nitin Mukesh who recommended her to director Susi Ganesan. "Neil liked my screen presence and recommended me to Susi sir, who didn't even audition me," she says.
About her role in the film, Puja says, "For Neil's character, money is everything. But things change when this girl enters his life. She makes him a better person." In real life, it's been the other way round, with Neil helping her improve her skill-set. "It's my first romantic film, and I am glad that I worked with Susi sir, Ameesha Patel and Neil. He is such a mature actor; I've only done films with amateurs or young actors." The director is another person Puja is indebted to. "Susi sir has presented me so well as the heroine. He has shot me in a way that I've never looked so beautiful. He enhanced my acting," she says.
Talking to her, one can never believe she went through a disturbing phase after her debut. "I had no work and no one was calling me. It was the most horrible time of my life. But Atul Kasbekar, whom I work with, had faith in me." She used that time to polish her skills. "My ability to accept, learn and move on helps me," she says, adding, "Perhaps it's because I've been a beauty queen. That journey gives you so much. After Miss India Universe, I was with Donald Trump's organisation for six months and travelled the world with U2's Bono and actor Ashley Judd, raising awareness about AIDS."
Incidentally, the year she was crowned, Aishwarya Rai and Sonam Kapoor were both in the headlines for their Cannes visit. And as she now prepares to visit Cannes for
Shortcut Romeo, she says, "At that time, I'd thought that one day I too will go to Cannes. And here I am, packing my bags!"
Shortcut Romeo, produced by Susi Ganesh Productions, releases on June 21.
