Leading from the front

Mona

Advertisement

Riding high on the success of his debut direction Ardaas, as Pollywood superstar Gippy Grewal takes time to come out of his Mercedes SUV, accusations begin to fly—too hot for Gippy to step out! Soon, another car stops right behind his and our hero comes out and walks hand-in-hand with two of his leading ladies from the film Kaptaan. Monica Gill, dressed in Punjabi attire, replete with a bindi and juttis and Karishma Kotak in a short black dress, take much pride walking along the lean hero whom they label as a star ‘without any airs’.

Loud and clear

In Kaptaan, Gippy plays a loud character. Advocate Kaptaan Singh Grewal represents a generation of educated youth who wouldn’t work in India but are ready to do any job in America or Australia. “I have been through all that. Have cleaned toilets, worked in security abroad,” admits the guy, a youth icon today using his status to send home the message that no work is below one’s dignity and though finding jobs in India isn’t an easy option, whiling away time waiting for visa is no good either. The film also touches on the theme of how non-resident Indians’ properties cause rift in the families.

Kaptaan is a love triangle with Monica Gill (former Miss India USA) and Karishma Kotak (born and raised in the UK) that Gippy calls his two videshi takatan. This is the first Punjabi film for both actresses (Ambarsaria was shot after Kaptaan but released earlier).

Shades of bubbly

Monica Gill was aiming to be a doctor when she won Miss India USA and moved to India to try her luck in the glamour industry. Happy to be backed by Tips, her years in India have been a roller-coaster ride.

“Having already worked in the US in pharmaceutical industry, I am bothered why I still have to put my father’s name on every document be it buying a sim card or getting my i-phone insured.”

If the patriarchal stand of society troubles Monica, she isn’t the one to challenge the norms of the country. “I might not like it but yes, I follow the conventions as not to draw any unwanted attention,” says Monica who is happy to have chosen to live in the country where people love you unconditionally.

Three films down in Pollywood (she will be seen next in Sardaarji 2) as much as she would like to have women-centric films, almost every character that she gets to play is on same line – that of a feisty bubbly Punjabi girl. “Now it’s upon me how to take this two word description ahead,” says Monica, who likes to work on a different look for each character she gets to play. As Preeti in Kaptaan she is an NGO worker who loves to dress up.

“I try to make each of my outings a little different from the previous one. Even if there isn’t much for me in a film, what I can do is to stand out in the little space I get,” shares the woman interested in mythology. While she fell in love with Draupadi reading The Palace of Illusions, her current favourite is Menaka (she is carrying Menaka's Choice by Kavita Kane in her bag). If not Menaka or Draupadi, Monica dreams of playing Heer or Laila or Sohni some day soon.

Bigg changes

Interestingly, Karishma is also reading The Palace of Illusions and no, she isn’t aware that it’s her co-star Monica’s favourite book too. Karishma Kotak is proud of her Gujarati roots and British upbringing.

Bigg Boss happened to this model when she was in desperate want of work and she credits the reality show for getting to work 20 days a month now. “Lot has come my way via Bigg Boss, I would like to go through the rigour once again though.” Kaptaan posed a huge challenge for Punjabi is not her language. “But this hardworking girl would be on the sets having rehearsed her lines and expressions on time every single day,” interjects Gippy as visibly tense Karishma makes a small conversation. She gushes, “He is not arrogant, no airs and always there to support you.”

Her biggest challenge was hours of waiting in-between the shots. “Having worked as a presenter, I am so used to doing my job and going back home. Now films are a different ballgame and I bank on books to keep me company.

By the way, Gippy is sifting through Punjabi history too. You will see Ardaas with all new cast in Hindi and also Gippy in an out and out romantic flick next!

In the company of Sarbjit

Kaptaan releases the same day as much talked about Sarbjit today. The competition is not what intimidates Gippy Grewal. “By the end of the day, it’s content that makes or breaks a film. Looks like Sarbjit has an interesting story to tell, Kaptaan is also one story set in the milieu of current Punjab that the audience will connect with and enjoy.