'No films excited me as Rang De Basanti did'

We loved Siddharth in 2006's Rang De Basanti. But that was the last we saw of the actor in Hindi cinema. Siddharth, who was busy with his Tamil and Telugu movies, makes a comeback to Bollywood with Striker, a gritty tale about a carom player.

Siddharth tells Patcy N that he doesn't feel bad about being left out of 3 Idiots, starring the RDB cast Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi and R Madhavan, and why he's looking forward to Striker.

After getting an MBA degree, you decided to get into the movies, and assisted Mani Ratnam. Then you turned actor with Shankar's Boys, and did quite a few Tamil and Telugu movies. Why did you jump into so many streams all at once?

I'm very restless -- as a person, as well as creatively. I was jumping around so much because I was looking for good work. In fact, after Rang De Basanti, people were shocked that an actor, who had got a big Bollywood break, did not go all out and push for a Bollywood career.

There were two reasons for that -- I was looking for a good script, as I wanted to do a perfect film and not be a flash in the pan. Secondly, I wanted to concentrate on my Telugu career, which had just taken off in a big way.

In the south, I can commission my own films, as I am involved from the start to the end of the film. But in Mumbai, it took me time to get a film where I could be involved from start to finish.

How many Hindi film offers did you get after RDB?

Many. Producers even told me that I was mad not to take up any. But I did not get any film that excited me as RDB did.

Did you ask Aamir for any sort of help in Bollywood?

Why should I ask him? I have got to this place where I am on my own. With all due respect, I have a box office of over Rs 150 crores in Telugu films without anyone's help. I don't need anyone's help to be a star. I am doing everything my way.

Do you regret missing out any opportunities in Bollywood?

Absolutely not. I had four superhits in Hyderabad in the four years that I wasn't here. There is no film that I think I should be part of, except Striker.

Image: A scene from Striker

One New 'Idiot' ?

It's a waiting game that trailed off on a reverse track. Kangana Ranaut was asked to report early on the sets of director Anand Rai's 'Manu Weds Tanu'. And R Madhavan was asked to report late on sets, since the rivetting Ranaut would require ample time to slap on the greasepaint.

But, guess what, Kangy managed to finish her make up in a jiffy …. and there was no sign of Maddy. The actor showed up….. an hour later, citing traffic hassles even as a hassled Kangy muttered under her celeb breath. Director Rai must have felt like an 'Idiot'!

Aamir nervous about audience reaction to 'Three Idiots'

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Bollywood star Aamir Khan has finished shooting for Rajkumar Hirani's much awaited '3 Idiots', based on Chetan Bhagat's bestseller 'Five Point Someone', and confesses that now he is worried about the audiences' reaction.

'The last one week has been very busy with '3 Idiots' work. The final song is done and now the cut is locked too. I think we have managed to make the film that we set out to. In the coming weeks I will tell you more about the film and what is happening,' Aamir posted on his blog aamirkhan.com/blog.

'As you can well imagine the good old butterflies have begun to spread their wings once again and their feathery touch has started to tickle my insides. I'm tempted to try and snuff them out with smoke...but I won't. I think this time I have quit for good,' he said.

Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, '3 Idiots' also stars Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor and Mona Singh.

Aamir nervous about audience reaction to 'Three Idiots'

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Bollywood star Aamir Khan has finished shooting for Rajkumar Hirani's much awaited '3 Idiots', based on Chetan Bhagat's bestseller 'Five Point Someone', and confesses that now he is worried about the audiences' reaction.

'The last one week has been very busy with '3 Idiots' work. The final song is done and now the cut is locked too. I think we have managed to make the film that we set out to. In the coming weeks I will tell you more about the film and what is happening,' Aamir posted on his blog aamirkhan.com/blog.

'As you can well imagine the good old butterflies have begun to spread their wings once again and their feathery touch has started to tickle my insides. I'm tempted to try and snuff them out with smoke...but I won't. I think this time I have quit for good,' he said.

Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, '3 Idiots' also stars Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor and Mona Singh.

Aamir Khan and Kareena sizzle in rain for ‘3 Idiots’!

Spicezee Bureau Xboard

Mumbai: Come December and you’ll get to see Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor paired opposite each other for the first time in Raju Hirani’s ‘3 Idiots.’

With the movie in its final stages of completion, Aamir and Kareena were recently spotted cavorting in the rains for as long as three days in Film City. Both the stars have been drenching in simulated rain for a love song for the past three days.

Talking to a news paper, a close source from the film set said, "This is the final song which is being shot on the lead pair. Aamir and Bebo both have to be under water and as they are practically sitting in wet clothes for the whole day, they are taking adequate measures not to fall sick. This is the last shooting stint for the film, after which the film will be termed complete and move towards post production."

Based on Chetan Bhagat’s famous novel ‘Five Point Someone’ and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, ‘3 Idiots’ will hit the theaters during this Christmas. Apart from Aamir and Kareena, ‘3 Idiots’ also stars Sharman Joshi and R Madhavan.