20 Years of Ishq Vishk EXCLUSIVE: Amrita Rao reveals how the producers persuaded her to sign the film: “Tips came home with a bouquet and cake which said, ‘We will make you a star’”

Ishq Vishk (2003), one of the most loved romcoms of Bollywood, completed 20 years on May 9. It is a film that launched Shahid Kapoor and after its release, he and Amrita Rao became heartthrobs of the nation. On Ishq Vishk’s 20th anniversary, the talented and beautiful Amrita spoke exclusively to Bollywood Hungama about her memories and a lot more.

How important is Ishq Vishk to you? Ishq Vishk was supposed to be my debut movie. But director Ken Ghosh took time in finding the male lead for the role of Rajiv Mathur, and eventually, it became my third movie to release. However, people still woke up to me because of Ishq Vishk and that's how I found my name, fame, place and identity in the film industry. Ishq Vishk is indeed a special film.

How did you bag the film? Ken Ghosh spotted me in a Cadbury Perk ad which had a Karwa Chauth theme. Ken Ghosh instantly found his Payal in me and took the ad film to Mr Kumar Taurani and Ramesh Taurani of Tips Films. I was still in school and not interested in debuting in the movies as yet. Tips came home with a bouquet and cake which said 'We will make you a star’! They also had a very promising contract in place. The rest is history!

Were you like Payal Mehra in real life? Absolutely! While I was shooting for Ishq Vishk, I was exactly like Payal. I gave a lot of myself to the role then.

How was it working with Shahid Kapoor? Shahid and I had auditioned for an ad film before. So, when we met on the sets of Ishq Vishk, we weren’t strangers. Both of us got our characters so well that Shahid and I instantly clicked, resulting in an unbelievable on-screen chemistry as Rajiv and Payal.

Did you visit cinema halls to check the audience’s reaction? I have amazing memories of all of us standing in the exit aisle of almost all the theatres possible in Mumbai and watching the audience laugh, cry and applaud our performances. We just loved watching their reactions. I also remember the promotional Planet M visits after the movie was released where boys and girls used to scream at the sight of Shahid and me.

What feedback did you get for your role? Also, a lot of girls could relate to Payal. Your thoughts? Apart from the fact that I got some overwhelming reviews for my acting from the critics, I know that many girls permed their hair and got it coloured just to look like Payal. Guys used to write letters to me that they want me as their girlfriend or just a girl like me!

How did your life change after watching Ishq Vishk? I found compliments from the biggest stars and superstars in the industry. I became the talk of the tinsel town. I got many awards but you will be surprised to know that I haven't watched Ishq Vishk even once after 2003. This was mostly not to repeat myself as an actor. I do that for all my films.

Looking back, why do you think Ishq Vishk worked so well and continues to get viewership even today? That’s because it had a solid script. I recall Ken Ghosh and his team revised the script, the dialogues and the screenplay for at least 10 versions before they had the most perfect script. Anu Malik's melodious songs added to and uplifted the magic.

What does RJ Anmol, your hubby, have to say about your performance in Ishq Vishk? Oh, he absolutely loves it. Anmol always requests me to watch the movie at least once with him but I always ditch him (laughs)!

A sequel to Ishq Vishk is being made. Your thoughts? Ishq Vishk is a cult college film in this country. People have a lot of their love and sentiments attached to this film. I am sure it's a huge challenge for the director and the actors to keep up with the expectations. I wish them the very best to find the same love.

We can't have an interview about Ishq Vishk and not talk about music. Which is your favourite song from the album and why? Tips is essentially a music company and so, the music of Ishq Vishk had to be amazing. Anu Malik's melody and Ken Ghosh's long hours of labour in the recording studio added so much value. I was most excited to give expressions to the songs particularly 'Mere Dil Ko Yeh Kya Ho Gaya' sung brilliantly by Alka Yagnik ji. By the way, I also choreographed a lot of this very girly number along with Ahmed Khan's assistant Ravi Botalje in Cape Town!

 

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