Friendly, forthright and fun, Aindrita Ray says script and director are more important than hunky co-stars when it comes to choosing films Aindrita Ray, the new kid on the block, is an interviewer's delight. Her lack of affectation is striking. The pretty smile and the poise are in place too. Sandalwood's new flavour of the season has been showered with enough offers to keep her constantly before the camera. In a freewheeling chat, Aindrita bares her soul... <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2009/feb/ht.jpg" align="right" border="1" />Did you always wantu00a0 to be a star? Oh yes, that was my childhood fantasy. Before bagging the role opposite Prajwal Devaraj in Meravanige, I'd done a few ad campaigns. Mahesh Babu, the director of Meravanige, liked me in the TVS Scooty ad and approached me to play the lead role. I am enjoying every minute of my time here. People in the industry treat me like a kid. Every single day is like going on a picnic with my family.u00a0 u00a0 Your debut film Meravanige tanked at the box office. Your second film Junglee too failed to meet expectations.... I agree that Meravanige did not fare well. But my second release Junglee has been declared a hit. The film is still running to packed houses. In fact, I watched the movie in a couple of theatres in Gandhinagar to gauge audience reaction. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Suri sir made the film keeping a target group in mind. And his target audience has accepted the film. Just two releases to your credit yet you're flooded with offers. Usually newcomers just grab all the offers that come their way without paying much heed to the script or the banners. On what basis do you choose your films? The script matters a lot to me. And so does the director because he/she's the one who handles the script. The banner is secondary. And I just don't give a damn about the hero. I'm ready to act with anybody provided the script is good and my character in the movie is defined well. My role should give me a chance to perform.u00a0u00a0 What are the films in your kitty? There are about five movies in the pipeline including Janma Janmadalu with 'Nenapirali' Prem, Vayuputhra with Chiranjeevi (Arjun Sarja's nephew) and Nannavanu. The production of another movie with ace director Yograj Bhat, produced by Rockline Venkatesh, has begun.u00a0u00a0 You alleged that the producer of Nannavanu did not pay you the promised remuneration. And you didn't take part in any of the promotional activities of the film.u00a0 This is the only terrible experience I've had so far. The producer refused to pay me in full after the project got completed. It really hurts you know, especially when you work so hard for a project and you're denied the remuneration. So I've decided not to have any sort of association with the makers of Nannavanu. Anyway, this has served as a good lesson for me. I will be extremely careful in handling such people hereafter. I have placed the issue before the KFCC and the Artistes Association. I hope that justice will be done to me.u00a0 Any unpleasant experiences with regard to the casting couch? I don't know whether the casting couch exists in Sandalwood. I've never experienced the casting couch here! But, yes, the casting couch does exist in Bollywood. I was once approached by a person for a Hindi movie, who hinted at 'favours' I would have to do him for a role.u00a0 I turned him down. If you've got your head on your shoulders and know what you are doing, nobody will take advantage of you.u00a0u00a0 There were a couple of steamy scenes in your debut film including a lip-lock with Prajwal. Does that mean you are not averse to kissing scenes? It was not actually a kissing scene. Prajwal performs mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on me and that's it. I'm ready to do a kissing scene only if it's required for the film. I will not accept such scenes just for the sake of publicity. I don't mind glamour. But I don't plump for roles that leave me with no scope to perform.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 How do you react to the rumours of your link up with Prajwal? I usually hang out with all my co-stars. Since Prajwal and I are of the same age group, things were blown out of proportion. We are just good friends. To be frank I'm not seeing anybody.u00a0u00a0 You were pursuing a degree in dentistry. Now you hardly find time for academics. Will you discontinue your education? Right now, I've too many film projects, so I am not able to focus on my studies. But I will complete my course in dentistry.

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Friendly, forthright and fun, Aindrita Ray says script and director are more important than hunky co-stars when it comes to choosing films

'I don't give a damn about the hero'

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'I don't give a damn about the hero'

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