Rakhi Sawant went overboard when she announced that she would find her life partner through a reality show 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar'. But now the outspoken actor, renowned more for her voluptuous looks than acting skills, says she is not doing it to hog the limelight.

'This (show) is not a publicity stunt or an entertainment show. All I can say is I am honestly looking for a partner with whom I can spend my life and who will love me for what I am,' Rakhi told IANS in an e-mail interview.

'Like most other celebrities, I have often been misinterpreted. The 'Swayamvar' will show the world the real me. Like any other girl even I have dreamt of a family, a loving husband and a caring mother-in-law. I have all the qualities of an ideal wife,' she added.

'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar', which premiered on NDTV Imagine Monday, has 16 men wooing Rakhi at Udaipur's Fateh Garh Palace. They will be put through a series of challenges to test their personality, character, physical fitness, talent and also their compatibility with Rakhi.

All through the series, viewers can help Rakhi decide, by voting for or against the prospective grooms and the final week will present the wedding celebrations.

Rakhi, who has played bit roles in films like 'Main Hoon Na' and done item numbers in films like 'Krazzy 4' and '1920', says her mother was one among the thousands of people who were shocked with her decision about marrying this way.

'Initially my mother was also in a shock just like everyone else. But now, when I have explained it to her, she understands my side of the story better. This 'swayamvar' is not just about me getting married, it's about a girl's right to have an equal say in this big decision,' she said.

In the first episode, all contestants tried to show their better side to the bride-to-be, but Rakhi, who was earlier dating small time actor Abhishek Awasthi, has her own set of parameters for her Mr. Right.

'Like any other girl I am expecting a suitable match for myself - I want my prince charming. Someone who would love me and take care of me and be with me in good and bad times. He should be someone who respects women, appreciates my talent and allows me to work even after marriage. I'm looking forward to be a part of a family that loves and cares for me,' she said.

As of now, Rakhi is busy analysing the traits of each of the contestants while also trying hard to be at her demure best.

According to sources in the channel, the show will not run for over a month.

When asked about her prospective guest list for the D-day, Rakhi said: 'We shall end up spending the whole evening if we start putting the guest list together. All I would say is that all my friends will be a part of the wedding.'

To further promote 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar', the channel has introduced a special online game, in which a man (the player) is supposed to either catch Rakhi's kisses or be a victim of shoes.

It is available on the NDTV Imagine website.

 * Bollywood borrows southern spice for 'Kambakkht Ishq', 'Short Kut'

The Hindi film industry is infamous for lifting Hollywood movies, but it has often been inspired by cinema content from southern India as well. With forthcoming movies like 'Kambakkht Ishq', 'Short Kut - The Con Is On' and 'Wanted', Bollywood seems to be on a spree of remaking films made down south.

Releasing Friday, Akshay Kumar- Kareena Kapoor's romantic comedy 'Kambakkht Ishq' is the remake of Kamal Haassan's 2002 Tamil hit 'Pammal K. Sambandam'.

The film was earlier to be remade in Hindi by writer-turned-director Anees Bazmee for south-based production house G.V. Films, which had acquired the remaking rights for Rs.500,000.

But it was producer Sajid Nadiadwala who finally made it after buying remaking rights of the same film by reportedly shelling out Rs.7.5 million.

'Short Kut', another forthcoming comedy, is a remake of Roshan Andrews' Malayalam movie 'Udayananu Tharam'. Similarly, southern dancing star Prabhu Deva's directorial venture 'Wanted', which has Salman Khan in the lead, is a remake of Tamil film 'Pokhiri'.

'Bollywood has always survived on the pillars of inspiration and remakes... whether it is the west or the south, it has always copied content. While half of it has been successful, others have been blunders,' said a trade analyst from Mumbai on condition of anonymity.

But Anil Kapoor, who is producing 'Short Kut', described the trend as a consumer-driven call.

'Actually it was not my idea to adapt a south Indian film... as a consumer I had seen this film in Malayalam and loved it. I thought it will be great to make the film in Hindi. I spoke to Anees Bazmee (who has written the script) about it and he too liked the idea of adapting it for a Hindi film,' the actor-turned-producer said.

While 'Udayananu Tharam' starred Mohanlal, Sreenivasan and Meena, its Hindi version, directed by Neeraj Vora, features Arshad Warsi, Akshaye Khanna and Amrita Rao.

'We made some changes in the script to suit Bollywood sensibilities and made it more appealing for north Indians or say core Bollywood audiences. After the script was ready, we thought Neeraj Vora would be the best person to direct the film. I called him up and he was on board,' Anil added.

A recent example of a successful Bollywood remake of a south Indian film becoming a huge hit is A.R. Murugadoss' 'Ghajini' (2008) that was a remake of the 2005 Tamil film of the same name.

Starring Aamir Khan in the lead, the film went on to rake in more than Rs.290 crore (Rs.2.9 billion) worldwide, making it one of the biggest grossers in Bollywood.

Remaking southern hits is not a new trend in Hindi cinema. There have been hit films earlier like 'Nayak', 'Saathiya', 'Viraasat' and 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' that were remakes respectively of Tamil films 'Mudhalvan', 'Alaipayuthey', 'Thevar Magan' and 'Minnale'.

Multilingual filmmaker Priyadarshan, known for remaking his own films in Hindi, had said: 'My Hindi films are mostly inspired from Malayalam comedies.'

His popular films like 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa', 'Kyon Ki...' and 'Garam Masala' are remakes respectively of Malayalam films 'Manichitrathazhu', 'Thalavattom' and 'Boeing Boeing'. His other Hindi remakes include 'Virasaat', 'Billu' and 'Ye Teraa Ghar Ye Meraa Ghar'.

Tamil and Telugu filmmaker L.V. Prasad's Hindi films 'Sharada', 'Miss Mary', 'Chhoti Bahen' and 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye' were also adaptations of Tamil films. A. Bhimsingh's 'Bhai Bahen' was a remake of Tamil hit 'Pasamalar'.

Bollywood saw a series of remakes in the late 1970s and 80s with Jeetendra in the lead in movies like T. Rama Rao's 'Lok Parlok', 'Judaai', 'Maang Bharo Sajana', 'Himmatvala', 'Swarg Narak', 'Jyoti Bane Jwala' and 'Pyaasa Sawan'.

Films like 'Solva Sawan', 'Sargam', 'Sadma', 'Wo Saat Din', 'Aakhri Raasta', 'Andha Kanoon' and 'Eeshwar' were also inspired by southern hits.

Bollywood saw its first anti-woman slant in the 1980s Rajesh Khanna-starrer 'Red Rose' adapted from Tamil film 'Sigappu Rojakal'. And in 1992, Indra Kumar remade 'Enga Chinna Rasa' as 'Beta' as part of the continuing 'south inspires north' trend.

* Learn acting in Lee Strasberg Institute, in India

Ranbir Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh went all the way to New York to get trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Now, wannabe actors in India will also be able to get the same training here itself. Last week, the acting institute announced that it is going to open branches in Mumbai and Hyderabad. The institute, which has trained Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, Al Pacino, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie and many others, plans to open its branches in India by early 2010.

The CEO of Optimus Management Group, Ahmed A Ahsan, and Bollywood director Rahuul Rawail approached the institute with the idea of expanding its network to India and have spent the past six months in finalising the details.

The Strasberg Institute is known for the method of acting developed by Lee Strasberg. This method is highly inspired by the Russian director Constantin Stanislavski. His book, An Actor Prepares, deals with the psychology of acting.

Rawail will set up the institute in India and is currently going all out to offer the same quality of education at Indian branches.

"A few students of the National School of Drama have been already been selected to take classes at the institute. They will be sent for an intensive workshop in New York for three months. They will get an insight into the intricacies of the method. There will be a constant exchange of ideas between the teachers at American and Indian branches throughout the year," says Rawail.

Rawail and Ahsan started this initiative so that Indian actors, who cannot afford to go abroad, learn from the world class faculty at an affordable cost. The cost of the courses is yet to be finalised. "Initially, we want to make sure that deserving actors are able to do the course. Later, we will fix the course fee accordingly," reveals Rawail. The institute will provide an 18-month course and a few short term intensive courses throughout the year, including a course specifically for teenagers.

The institute presently has training centres only in New York and Los Angeles. This will be their first venture abroad. Founded in 1969 by Lee Strasberg and his wife, the institute is now managed by his son David Lee Strasberg, who in one of his blogs wrote, "This is an exciting step for us at Strasberg, where we have a chance to share my father's work with the vibrant and active creative community that calls Bollywood home."

 
** The views expressed in the article are the author's and not of andhratech.com.

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