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Rinku Gupta

She has so many actors in her family to draw inspiration from... but Tanishaa wants to be herself and make a mark of her own.

I have no expectations from a film after I finish shooting for it. It's more important to enjoy the process of being an actress," says Tanishaa. She is excited about her latest film, Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao!, with newcomer Akshay Kapoor, which is releasing today. Did she have a makeover for this film? "The producer had already researched and decided what the characters would be like and even what they would wear. I don't think I have had a makeover. It's just like being dressed according to the character and setting in a period film. I've been given the look typical to the character I play," she says.

About her role and the "peppy" title, she says, "It's a totally crazy name. And I play Tanya, who is a fun-loving girl in the first-half of the film... very much like what I was in college. But later she becomes a more mature and controlled person. Actually, Tanya has taught me a lot. Playing her, somewhere down the line, I rediscovered myself as a woman."

How would the film perform at the box-office? "I always hope that my films will do well. But growing up in this industry, I know that we don't have a control on the outcome and sometimes the best films flop. We are dealing with emotions and people and they are both unpredictable," she says somewhat philosophically.

She should know, hailing from a family of film personalities spanning generations. Granddaughter of Shobhana Samarth, daughter of Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee, niece of Nutan and also Joy Mukherjee, sister to Kajol and cousin of well-known artistes, Mohnish Behl and Rani Mukherjee... there is no dearth of celebrity connections.

"As a kid I used to wake up in the morning and watch my Mom put on her make-up in front of a big mirror with lights. I used to hold her long wigs against my hair. I didn't know what it was all about, but I wanted to wear the make-up and wigs like her. I have always wanted to become an actor and I think I am very lucky to have got the opportunity," she says.

A filmi lineage, she admits is an advantage, but it also means that "it takes a long time to prove yourself".

And Tanishaa has had a long wait. Shekhar Kapur's Tara Rum Pum Pum, supposed to be her debut film, which she signed when she was 16, was shelved. Sssshhh... , which was released in September 2003, became her launch vehicle. But Tanishaa is not affected by the time lost. "I stayed away from films for a long time because I didn't want people to think I was just emulating my sister."

While Kajol was busy with her films, Tanishaa was sharpening her skills in Australia, in a course on media and communication at the University of New South Wales. "My uncle worked for Ogilvy & Mather and I was intrigued by the ad world. My course also dealt with new media technology, but I majored in films," she adds.

With such an enviable list of actors in her family, Tanishaa denies that she is influenced by anybody in particular. "Everyone in my family, from my grandmom to Kajol, was an individual in his/her own right, with a distinct style of acting. They have left their own mark. I also want to be my own person, have my own style and make my own mark. I will not copy anybody... I will be me," she says.

But surely she must have inherited some characteristics that make comparisons within the family inevitable? "Definitely. You might see traces of my mother Tanuja or sister Kajol in me or see Nutan mausi's in Kajol in certain frames. However, at the end of the day, Kajol made her own mark. And I will too," she says.

But as individuals, the sisters are very different. "Though both of us are equally temperamental, we would react differently to any given situation." The reason for this, she says, is her upbringing. "My Mom has always treated us as individuals who have a mind of their own. Even as children, we were never underestimated," she adds.

Family support matters a lot for anybody to become successful in his/her chosen field. And Tanishaa's no different. "My family members don't interfere in my choice of films or work, unless I reach out to them. And one of the reasons for my entering the film industry was my grandmother Shobhana Samarth with whom I shared a very open relationship."

As a new face, out to prove herself, what kind of films would she like to do? "I want to do films that are interesting, thought-provoking, enjoyable and basically fun to watch," she says.

Picture by S. Subramanium

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