Why I went topless for tigers, actress reveals all
While others are shedding tears for the fast disappearing tiger population in India, Kavita Radheshyam decided to shed her clothes. Bollywood's new bindaas babe, who will make her debut in Faisal Saif's 'Paanch Ghante Mein Paanch Crore', did a no-holds barred photoshoot to show her love for the Big Cats. Want to know more about Kavita's animal instincts? Read on.
So what made you decide to do a nude photoshoot for tiger conservation?
I have always loved animals. I can't bear to see any living creature abused. Someone sent me a video of 300-400 villagers pouring petrol on a caged leopard and burning it alive. That is when I knew I couldn't be a mute spectator to such barbarism. Going naked seemed the best way to draw attention to the plight of animals in India.
Did it ever occur to you that such a bold move could end up offending some people?
I am an emotional woman. I do what I think is right. And why should people find my photoshoot offensive? After all, vulgarity lies in the eyes of the beholder! These images have been shot beautifully and have great aesthetic appeal. There is also a very strong message about protection of animal rights and tiger conservation attached to them. If someone doesn't like what they see, well, what can I say. They are entitled to their opinion.
What was the concept behind the photoshoot?
This was my own initiative entirely. No one asked me to do it; no one paid me for it. It occurred to me that we strip animals of their skin and their fur without even sparing a minute's thought. We use the flesh from their bodies to make fancy clothes for us. Then, what was the harm if I took off my clothes to speak for them? They cannot make their pain known to us in any language that we would understand. So I had to become their voice for the world.
Do you think your photoshoot has made any tangible difference to the Save Tigers campaign?
Certainly. It is only because the pictures are provocative that the media is talking about them. I have forced people to think about how tigers are today on the verge of extinction. It would be a crime to sit back and do nothing while these magnificent animals die one by one. We have a duty to protect and preserve our national heritage. I have been approached by the International Organisation for Animal Protection (OIPA). As OIPA's brand ambassador, I will do everything I can to focus media and public attention on issues like tiger conservation.
How has your journey in Bollywood been so far?
Let me tell you that it's not easy for a girl from Delhi with no connections to walk into Bollywood and make it big. At the acting institute where I trained, I received an outstanding degree and a scholarship as well. But even then it was hard to get a foot in the door. There were always people who had certain 'expectations' and it would have been easy for me to compromise and land roles. However I wanted to succeed on my own terms. Luckily I met Mr Faisal Saif who has made films like 'Jigyaasa' with Hrishita Bhatt. He was kind enough to give me a break.
Yana Gupta was accused of engineering the wardrobe malfunction incident to revive her Bollywood career. What if the same accusations are made against you?
I will admit that I am as ambitious as anybody else to make a name for myself in the film industry. However that does not mean I want to succeed at any cost. Believe me I would have my kitty full of films if I said yes to every lewd offer that was made to me. But that's not who I am. That's not who I want to be. If I did not take short-cuts when I was just starting out and and knew no one in Mumbai, why should I start taking short-cuts now when I already have two films in the pipeline and also working with Mr Vikram Bhatt in his serial 'Uljhan'? I am serious about animal rights issues and will continue to demonstrate my involvement in the days to come. Also to put things in perspective, it is only in India that such a hue and cry is made about a glamorous photoshoot. In the West, even top celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Alicia Silverstone, Marisa Miller and Victoria Beckham, have gone naked to show their support for various causes.
How have your friends and family reacted to the nude photoshoot?
They have all been very supportive, very understanding. My family knows how passionate I am about animals and once I explained to them my reasons for doing the photoshoot, there were no problems whatsoever. They trust me to always do what is right.
In Bollywood it's easy for an actress to get typecast. What would you rather do - serious, author-backed roles or films that demand bold scenes and bindaas attitude?
In both my films 'Paanch Ghante Mein Paanch Crore' and 'Om Allah', I have strong performance-led roles. I am a professional who believes in doing my job well and will not hesitate to do whatever the role demands, be it acting or stripping in front of the camera!
Tell us more about your role in 'Paanch Ghante Mein Paanch Crore' and 'Om Allah'.
'Paanch Ghante...' is a murder mystery and I play a bar girl whose boyfriend gets murdered. My role in 'Om Allah' has shades of Sharon Stone in 'Basic Instinct'. Pakistani actress Meera plays the lead in the film and she told me it was a relief that she had not been asked to do the kind of bold scenes that I did.
What are your plans for the future? If required, how far are you willing to go to support a cause?
At the moment I am looking forward to the release of my debut film 'Paanch Ghante Mein Paanch Crore' sometime in July this year. There are a few other good offers that I am exploring. Besides my Bollywood career, I also intend to champion the cause of animal rights in my capacity as OIPA's brand ambassador. We have already sent a polite letter to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi to release the lab animals that they use for testing. While I am willing to give them reasonable time to respond, they better watch out if they don't! I will find another shocking way to make my voice heard.
What are your plans for the future? If required, how far are you willing to go to support a cause?
At the moment I am looking forward to the release of my debut film 'Paanch Ghante Mein Paanch Crore' sometime in July this year. There are a few other good offers that I am exploring. Besides my Bollywood career, I also intend to champion the cause of animal rights in my capacity as OIPA's brand ambassador. We have already sent a polite letter to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi to release the lab animals that they use for testing. While I am willing to give them reasonable time to respond, they better watch out if they don't! I will find another shocking way to make my voice heard.
Name one Bollywood actor that you find the sexiest
Salman Khan...he's one man I wouldn't mind kissing on screen!
Which is one Bollywood film you wish you had done and the one director you would love to work with?
Certainly Rani Mukherjee's role in 'Saathiya'. And if you ask me to choose one director that I would love to work with someday, well, it has to be Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I think he makes amazing cinema.
We have all seen how bold and daring you can be. But is there something that you are shy about?
Actually yes. I am very shy about eating in front of people!
Source: India Syndicate
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