ARJUN RAMPAL | MODEL | BOLLYWOOD ACTOR |

Arjun Rampal seems caught inbetween ZEE Network and Sunrise Radio, where both channels are planning to stage the star in their own programs.

ZEE Network’s ZEE Carnival exhibition, which is slated for next month in UK, is advertising big way. The participants alongside Arjun Rampal are big Bollywood name like Rani Mukarjee.

Sunrise Radio, which signed Arjun Rampal along with Sony Entertainment Television Asia’s Asian Lifestyle Show in July is not happy with his participation in ZEE Carnival. According to Sunrise Radio, the contract signed between Arjun Rampal and Sunrise Radio does not allow the star to attend any Asian exhibition six months prior or after the Asian Lifestyle Show has taken place.

Intrestingly, London’s Olympia is the venue for both the ZEE Carnival and Asian Lifestyle Show.

ZEE confirmed the participation of Arjun Rampal as it has spoken to him in this regard and made it clear to Sunrise Radio that it has no intentions to pull out Arjun Rampal.

It seems producer Sheel Kumar who produced the recent Arjun Rampal-Priyanka Chopra starer ‘Yakeen’ did not have a happy time working with Arjun Rampal during the film production.

When asked, Sheel said, “Arjun Rampal is a confused man. He’s in his own world! I don’t know which world he lives in! He has an inner complex.”

Further Sheel adviced Arjun Rampal, “He needs to sort out his life!”.

Everyone has been focusing on how and why Arjun Rampal was asked to leave Rang De Basanti just days before shooting. But apparently Aamir Khan had nothing to do with the eleventh hour replacement.

It was just felt that Arjun Rampal - who incidentally has been added to Karan Johar’s bulging cast in Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna now - was not suitable.

Arjun Rampal’s role has now gone to the Tamil-Telugu star Sidhartha who recently played Vivek Oberoi’s role in the Tamil version of Mani Rathnam’s Yuva.

‘YAKEEN’ released on July 1 all over India and in selected forign contries. which casts model turned actor Arjun Rampal and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra.

The script of YAKEEN is exploring a relationship between a husband and wife, Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Rampal play a married couple in “Yakeen” who undergo a strained relationship, but get close to each other after a fatal accident.

Twisted routes and unexpected turns form the rest of the film, which is being touted as an edge-of-the-seat thriller.

“Everybody is too good and it is I think this years best film, I think the movie is very good,” said Ramesh Shah, a moviegoer in New Delhi.

“I think it will be hit, it is a really good movie,” Vikram, another moviegoer, added.

Industry insiders say the film, directed by script writer Girish Dhamija, has a totally unexpected and shattering climax which reveals the extent of avarice and greed, human passions and deadly actions, which change people’s loves altogether forever.

Priyanka, who won accolades for her role as a greedy heiress in last year’s superhit “Aitraaz”, says that she has an interesting character in the film.

“It’s a psychological thriller, it’s a love story but has a base to it. It’s a very interesting story; it’s an edge-of-the-seat thriller. The character that I play is a very complex character. It has a lot of ups and downs to it. It’s a very interesting film,” she said at a recent promotional conference of the film in Mumbai.

Arjun, who has teamed with Priyanka in another thriller “Asambhav”, hoped the film would click with the audience.

“I am sure that this will film will work and people will like it,” he said.

The film, which also stars Kim Sharma, has been shot in exotic locales of Switzerland and the scenic mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh.

He was the best there could be on the ramp - touted as ‘god of the ramp’, Arjun Rampal is one of the best faces to ever hit the Indian 70mm. However, lady luck has not been too kind on this Greek god as far as the films are concerned. He is yet to attain Moksha from his gloomy filmi career. Maybe his upcoming Yakeen is his ticket to that. Speaking exclusively to IndiaFM, Arjun gives an insight into the film.

Q: Give us an insight into your character in the movie?
Arjun Rampal: The character is very story oriented. The story starts with an accident where I hurt my brain and suffer from psychogenic amnesia. Priyanka, who plays my wife, nurses me back to health and we fall in love again. Along the way my character starts finding a few things and starts getting suspicious about his wife thinking that she is having an affair with somebody else. That’s what the film is based upon about relationships and about trusting one another.

Q: What did you like about the character in this movie?
Arjun Rampal: It is a complex character and I enjoy playing complex characters if they are written well, if you know the story is going to be correct and every scene is flowing into each other. This film is very well written and very well executed, the story telling is very clear and when the story is clear everything starts becoming correct.

Q: You played a lot of intense and sad characters in your career, any specific reason?
Arjun Rampal: I don’t think the characters are sad they are more based on intensity; people like to cast me in intense roles. I can make choices from the roles that come to me and I think most of the people who come to me with roles, perceive me as an intense person and I enjoy that because I am quite a bit intense person. I can understand those kind of emotions that a person goes through, so its fun for me to play such characters but there are other films that I am doing and have done in the past which are not that serious, I am doing different roles as well I don’t want to get typecast.

Q: What are your criteria for selecting a film?
Arjun Rampal: Firstly the team and how they are going to make the film, of course the story and the script. I try to do films that work in two schedules or start to finish schedule because I don’t like it other way, I don’t like to be broken away from the film in the middle of it so that I can work on my look and character. A very few films are made like that, so I do very few films.

Q: On one hand you are working with all seasoned filmmakers and on one hand you have Girish Dhamija, a debut director? How different is the experience?
Arjun Rampal: There is a difference, experience goes a long way but I don’t think that Girish lacks experience. He has been in the industry for 15 years. He has worked with people like Mahesh Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt and with a lot of directors, he has written a lot of stories for all big stars. It was about time that he was going to make this film when he approached me I was pleasantly surprised since I knew him and I never thought that he would approach me and when I heard the story I was even more surprised. He has done it very nicely and its doesn’t feel that its his first film. He has never got flustered on the sets and he has never got hassled about anything, he has a good temperament and he is very hardworking. Every director is different Satish Kaushik has his own style so does Vikram and so will Girish.

Q: What is about the movie that kicks you totally?
Arjun Rampal: I think it was the story, but when I started working with Girish I realized that he is very simple in his working style, but very severe when it comes to performance. He makes the character believable, realistic; there are a lot of elements of reality in this movie. Infact Mahesh Bhatt saw the film recently and he really liked the film, they have taken it for distribution, so that’s encouraging, if people like him enjoy this film then I think this is a great sign.

Q: This is the second film with Priyanka how was the equation?
Arjun Rampal: She has matured a lot more, she has grown. She understands the characters much more and she has got a lot of success recently so her confidence has definitely grown a lot and it’s been great. I think this one role in Yakeen will show a very different side to her, it’s a very performance oriented role. The equation is great; I’ve spent so much time with her for Asambhav, then the world tour and now for Yakeen. You get to know each other very well and respect each other, give each other the space and a friendship develops which is good for the movie.

Arjun Rampal hasn’t seen a runaway hit ever since he made his debut, but that’s not exactly bothering the hunky star. He talks to Gautam Buragohain about his slump in his career and his new exciting projects…

Arjun Rampal is still waiting patiently and knows his day will come, sooner or later. “I’m glad that producers haven’t lost their faith on me, in spite of my track record. They keep coming to me. I must have something to deserve that trust,” laughs Arjun Rampal, sitting in his posh flat overlooking the Arabian Sea. And there is no career stress either. “Just watching the sea from here gives me so much peace.”

When other model-turned-actors like John Abraham are going great guns professionally, how does Arjun Rampal explain the slump in his own career? “I alone can’t be blamed for that. Remember, it’s a team effort; an individual can’t be held responsible for the failure of a film,” Arjun Rampal explains and says, “I, too, have made few mistakes and have flaws, but now I’m more careful in choosing my projects. I read my script carefully before signing any film. I’m just couple of films old and I have still time to make it. My advantage is that I don’t have a particular image, and I don’t want to slot into any image. I’m an actor who can be easily moulded in any role and character.” Arjun Rampal said.

But of late Arjun Rampal hasn’t had too many offers. Rumour has it that this is because of the high price that he quotes. “Oh, that’s news to me!” Arjun Rampal says, surprised. “I will never make an issue over money, if the role is really that worth it. But I have purposely cut down on my projects to concentrate on quality work. My next release is ‘Yakeen’, with Priyanka Chopra. Without boasting, it’s the role of a lifetime. I have never played a character so complex in my career. It’s a psychological love story, with an unpredictable twist towards the end. And whoever has seen the movie can’t stop praising my performance. That’s the problem with me - though I have good critical appreciation for my work, my movies haven’t been greatly successful. I hope to break that jinx this time with ‘Yakeen’,” he informs us.

What else is happening in his career? “Besides ‘Yakeen’, I have signed a movie with Amitabh Bachchan called ‘Ek Ajnabee’. The only reason for signing the movie is that it has Amitji. When the producers told me that, I didn’t ask them about anything else,” he states.

Arjun Rampal is still waiting for his dream role. “It has to be a completely original role, not based on any character which has s already been done,” he says. Does he have anything in mind? “Yeah, I have one such - it’s a role from a period drama. I won’t reveal it now. But the character is very low key; not much research material is available on it.”

Loyalties change overnight in Bollywood. But Arjun Rampal keeps the faith. Arjun Rampal says he will always be thankful to buddy Rajiv Rai for having faith in him and giving him his first break. “I still remember - I showed Rajiv bits of my movie, ‘Moksha’. He had a glance at it and told me, ‘I will be stupid if I don’t sign you’. And I will always remain grateful to him for giving me ‘Pyaar Ishq Mohabbat’. Tomorrow, even if he wants me to do a five-minute role for him, I will be more than pleased to oblige,” promises Arjun Rampal.

He hasn’t had many hits so far. But model-turned-actor Arjun Rampal says the industry has faith in his abilities and he won’t go begging for work.

“Everyone in bollywood industry knows me and my abilities. I can’t bring myself to go and beg for work. If they feel a role is meant for me they’d come to me. Otherwise it’s their perogative to go to someone else,” Arjun Rampal told IANS in an interview.

Right now. Arjun Rampal is caught between releases. Arjun Rampal had Satish Kaushik’s “Vaada” in the theatres last week. Now Vikram Bhatt’s “Elaan” opens next week.

Ask him if he cares.

“I’m quite comfortable with the two releases in two weeks. Of course, I hadn’t planned it. ‘Vaada’ was supposed to come earlier. But they’re totally different from each other. Besides, they’re both good films, right?”

Right! Arjun Rampal sighs: “‘Vaada’ took a decent opening. ‘Elaan’ should get an even better release. It was shot on a much larger scale and budget. Our producer Venus had the courage to take up a complete action film and, that too, with a group of not very successful stars.”

Arjun Rampal agrees the film market is in a state of abysmal slump.

“Everyone is a bit confused about what to make. It’s best to make something a little different. ‘Elaan’ does just that. And before you ask, how and why ‘Elaan’ is different, let me tell you it’s the editing patterns that make it different from the run-of-the-mill ones.

“You’ve to see how the director Vikram Bhatt has cut the scenes. I’m very happy with the movie.”

Arjun Rampal says he has become very selective about his roles.

“I never want to be typecast in either action or comedy. I’m more than willing to walk that extra mile to get a role that would challenge me as an actor. I do see a growth in myself as an actor. When other people notice it, it feels good. If I can get my hand on scripts with more than a surface value to it, I’m thrilled.”

Arjun Rampal agrees that the one big project that would catapult him to fame is missing from his career. “But I don’t think I’m making any wrong career moves.”

Arjun Rampal vehemently opposes the view that filmmakers sign on any star they get for any role. “Not true! Everyone has a place… And if I get a certain price it’s because I know I deserve it.”

Arjun Rampal pooh-poohs the rumour that he’s asking for too much money.

“Not at all. That’s a rumour being spread by some people. I do charge my price. A director asked me to do his film for a lower fee. When I asked him why, he said the money saved on my fee could go into making a better product. I just asked him one question. ‘Will this character immortalize me?’ He had no answer.”

Could this director be Ram Gopal Varma or Suneel Darshan?

“Now you’re putting words in my mouth. Suneel Darshan did have a price problem with me. Didn’t he make it vocally apparent?

“Varma had no such problem. He had even got my dates in place. Unfortunately, his location got cancelled. And I couldn’t give him replacement bulk dates in the immediate future. As you know, I did quite a few films last year. That’s why I couldn’t do Varma’s ‘Vastu Shastra’.”

Does that mean less work for Arjun Rampal in 2005?

“I’m just going to relax and read a lot more scripts. My new release ‘Elaan’ is a multi-starrer. So was ‘Aankhen’. I think it’s great to work with other actors. You get to see your colleagues at work and you learn. My interaction with my co-stars in both my new films was fantastic.

“In ‘Vaada’, Zayed Khan and I went to the same school, so we know each other. In ‘Elaan’ I got to work with the wonderful Mithun Chakraborty. All of us had seen his films. Mithun was so chilled out.”

Did Rampal extend a helping hand to Rahul? “Rahul was so apprehensive, this being his first mainstream Bollywood film and all. I think he’s done really well in the film. So has John.”

As for his own performance, Arjun Rampal says: “I’m really happy with myself in ‘Elaan’. Vikram Bhatt has etched out my character really well. The role gives me a chance to do something I’ve never done before.

“But my next two releases ‘Yakeen’ with Priyanka Chopra and ‘Dil Sachcha Aur Chehra Jhootha’ with Diya Mirza are solo-hero films. In the latter, I get to do comedy for the first time. So there are no hard and fast rules about multi-starrers or solo-hero projects.” Arjun Rampal said.

“I’m happy with my growth as an actor. It has taken me time to learn about scripts. This is an exciting phase for me. 2005 will hopefully be better for the film industry and me. I know people like me. Hope they like my films too.” Arjun Rampal said.

Ace bollywood director Rohit Bal found Arjun Rampal in Discotheque.

Malini Ramani, daughter of the cleberated socialite Bina Ramani, was Arjun Rampals ex-girl friend.

Lately Arjun Rampal fell in love with Super Model Mehr Jessia.

Mehr Jessia and Arjun Rampal were married and have two daughters.

In 1994, Arjun Rampal was Society’s Face of the year.

* Ek Ajnabee (2006) (announced)
* Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai (2005) … Rohit
* Yakeen (2005) … Nikhil Oberoi
* Elaan (2005) … Arjun
* Vaada (2005) … Rahul
* Asambhav (2004) … Captain Aadit Arya
* Tehzeeb (2003) … Salim Mirza
* Dil Ka Rishta (2003) … Jai Mehra
* Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002) … Dev Khanna
* Aankhen (2002) … Arjun Verma
* Deewaanapan (2001) … Suraj Saxena
* Moksha (2001) … Vikram Sehgal
* Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001) … Gaurav Saxena

Arjun Rampal (born 26 November 1972) is an Indian actor and a supermodel. He was discovered in a disco by designer Rohit Bal and worked as a model for several years, until he played in his very first movie Moksha which was not released until Arjun had already made two other movies, among them Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat alongside Sunil Shetty. His movie Jadh directed by Shantanu Sheorey opposite Smriti Mishra is yet to be released. In 2002 he won the Award of the International Indian Film Academy for Face of the Year. He is married to fellow model Mehr Jessia and has a little daughter, Mahikaa. His second daughter Myra was born on 23 June 2005.