Saturday, May 29, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Julia loves Goa & Ash!: Rushita

Posted: 28 May 2010 10:10 AM PDT

Meet Rushita Singh, 20, of Mumbai, co-star of Hollywood beauty Julia Roberts in the film Eat Love Pray that was shot in Pataudi last year. She's been in hiding because she didn't know what hit her after being selected to play Tulsi, the young girl Julia befriends in an Indian ashram, though the two bonded beautifully on the sets.

"How much do you know about me," asks Rushita breathlessly. Apart from the fact that she did small roles in Samir Karnik's Nanhe Jaisalmer and Raj Kumar Santoshi's Halla Bol, she lives in Cuffe Parade with her mother and brother, came from Bhopal, has always wanted to be an actress though her family was strictly against this — nothing actually.

Taking a deep breath, Rushita says, "Last year I auditioned for an ad film by Saher Latif. The ad didn't happen. But Saher invited me to audition for an international project. She said it was an important role in a big film set in India. I gave it a try although I was quite sceptical. My idea of an Indian girl in an international project is someone tall, skinny and with flawless skin. Which I am not and don't have. I'm pretty short and I don't have the perfect body. Yet I got the role!"

But Rushita had no idea she had to co-star with the Julia Roberts. "I was asked to read the Indian portion of the novel Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. But I didn't. Then I was told whom I was working with… and I was zapped!" Shooting took place in September. "I just kept rehearsing my lines and got familiar with my character. Once we started shooting, it was a life-changing experience. Julia Roberts? What can I say?

Hollywood director Ryan Murphy helped Rushita get over her awe of Julia. "I was bound to make mistakes. Half the time I just kept admiring her beauty. The other half I kept admiring how effectively she did her scenes," reveals Rushita. She swamped the Hollywood diva with questions on her personal life. "She knew so much about India and Indian cinema. She's very fond of Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and finds her beautiful. She also spoke to me about her visit to Goa with her cinematographer-husband. She liked the Goan beaches and so did her kids who were very excited about her shooting in India."

Regarding the characteristic desi suspicion of Hollywood films on Indian spirituality, Rushita is confident this time there would be no hullabaloo. "Religion and spirituality are sensitive issues but our film doesn't trivialize these issues. A lot of research has gone into the theme. After watching the film I think westerners will understand Indian spirituality better." She hasn't seen the film herself, but is hopeful her role will be long. "I shot for an entire month. The fact that they thought I fitted into the role is a great feeling." Now Rushita is looking forward to attending the premiere with Julia Roberts in the LA. "Not many people in India know I've done this film… but I'm sure they will now," she says wistfully.
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