Mumbai: Her entry into Bollywood was rather damp, with Himmatwala sinking faster than a brick. Part of the reason was the plot, the wardrobe and yes, those unflattering camera angles. Tamannaah — one of the prettiest actresses around — has been tackling weight issues to suit both industries.
“Yeah! When I finish my assignments in Bollywood and then go down to attend my Tamil and Telugu shoots, the first thing the directors say is, ‘Oh! My God! You have become very thin.’ And when I go up North, it’s the exact opposite, ‘Oh my god, you have become so fat!’ ‘I just go hmmmm...’.
So, it’s true — South wants its heroines plump and up North, I feel they want a bit of Hollywood, and the men want the women slimmer.
There is even a number. “I’m fine putting on five kilos of weight, while I work in the South and then I shed five, while I work here in Bollywood,” the actress adds with a smile.
For Humshakals, Tamannaah’s style quotient is pitted against two glam headliners Bipasha Basu and Esha Gupta.
The movie producers even had a complete diet plan for the star. “I am not allowed to eat in excess, obviously. My trainer asked me to eat every two hours and the regime is extremely strict — and rice, meat, nuts and fruits are to be taken only in very small quantities. Surprisingly, I was asked to put on some weight for Humshakals and I have no hassles putting on extra here and there,” Tamannaah reveals.
Fortunately for her, that bizarre Himmatwala wardrobe will not repeat itself this time around.
“That film was about the Eighties and since it was also my debut, I had to go with whatever the director wanted and as actors, we can’t compromise on what they want. But in Humshakals, my character is that of a modern girl... in fact, I’m a VJ! So, the clothes will be different.
About her on-screen competition who are former models with no “thunder thigh issues”, the star is all praise.
“Oh, they have great bodies. But I don’t compare because what they eat may not suit me and vice-versa. As of now, my career has just begun and I’m acting in two industries so, I will continue experimenting. At this point, I need to promote my career to the best of my abilities, the weight debate can wait.”
