Pooja takes a break

After a spate of flops, Pooja Gandhi has decided to take a break from acting and get into production
Pooja Gandhi hasn’t had the best track record at the box office, her last hit being the 2008 film Taj Mahal. And even though the actress has been quite prolific, she hasn’t been able to replicate the success of her debut film Kannada film, Mungaru Male. Which is why she’s decided to take it easy for a while.“When a film flops, people first point fingers at me. They forget that every person involved in the film is responsible. They make me a scapegoat, which I don’t want to be. A well-wisher suggested that I take a long break from films. I’m in search of a new script, which I hope will help me reinvent myself,” Pooja tells TOI.
However, the actress maintains that she’s not saying goodbye to Sandalwood. “I’m not going away from the industry. I just need to take a break from acting. During this period, I’m planning to analyse where I’m going wrong,” she explains. And how does she plan to spend her time during this break? “I’ll learn swimming, skating and will spend lot of time reading. And I have my AIDS-related social activities that I need to participate in,” says Pooja.
The hiatus will also give Pooja the chance to pursue other aspects of filmmaking, such as production. “I’m planning to go on the floors with a film by end of this year,” she says. And the Punjabi kudi wants to do films in Kannada in the vein of Dilwale Dulaniya Le Jayenge, Dil Chahta Hai and family-oriented films. “People don’t get tired of watching these films even today. Some directors have come to me with their stories, but I’m taking time to zero in on some as I have to be careful in choosing scripts for my home banner,” she adds.
Till then, Pooja has three films that are yet to release — Hare Rama Hare Krishna that will release this month; Kalayanamastu, for which she is still shooting; and PN Sathya’s Paagal. “Paagal marks the first time I’ve done a glam and deglam role. The film is coming out very well. I wasn’t sure whether directors could be good actors, but Sathya has proved to be excellent both behind and in front of the camera,” says Pooja.
The actress has also had to face her share of controversy when she filed a complaint at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce against the producer of her last film, the Raghu Mukherjee-starrer Neenalade, as she has not yet received her dues for the film. A certain person in the industry, who the actress has declined to name, has since stated that she has no right to approach the chamber as she is not a Kannadiga, which Pooja has taken to heart. “I had tears in my eyes when I heard about it. I learnt to speak Kannada. I left everything and came to settle here. My transactions were done here. I’m doing what any other Kannada actress would do. What more I can do? These are the same Kannadiga people who supported me and helped me grow in this industry,” says Pooja. But she says that she does not bear this person any ill will. “I don’t have any sort of anger against the person. But very soon he’ll realise I’m doing enough to be a Kannadiga. I will not blame anybody now,” she signs off.
(Contributed by Mahesh H)