Celina Jaitley

Ask
Celina Jaitley may wear some great outfits when she is out, but at home comfort
matters the most to the lady. “People seem to think I’m sexy. Wait till they see
me in pyjamas and t-shirts which have been mostly stolen from my brother,” she
laughs. But Celina is only happy with the compliment. “I’m very happy about the
tag. I hope to keep it for a long time to come.”

Celina beyond sex appeal

Five
years ago when she walked the streets of Kolkata in her sneakers, Celina
Jaitley would never have imagined that someday she would walk the streets of
London with its Mayor in tow, cheered on by millions of people. But that’s
what happened when she was invited to be the chief guest at the India Now
Festival over there. Which speaks a lot about the journey of a girl who
studied in a Hindi medium school, mastered the art of fluently conversing in
English, and slowly secured her position in the film industry. “Today I can
do a book on Hindi writer and poetess Mahadevi Varma and recite the dohas of
Kabir, all in Hindi. I say, delve beyond the look to find the real person.
Don’t go by looks,” said Celina.

However, there’s no denying that she has the look. And it is that look
that has got Celina her first Hollywood film, Quest of Seherzade, to be
produced by the same people who made Crash and One Night With The King.
Bound by a Hollywood contract, Celina could only reveal, “It’s a great
opportunity for anybody. There are two A list Hollywood stars, one senior
and one junior, opposite me. Who wouldn’t be excited? But it’s just another
film that I am doing, only the ethics are different. I would like to do
films in every language, in India as well as abroad. I am very fluent in
German and would love to do a German film as well.”

Celina’s recent Bollywood film Red didn’t do well but that isn’t a
deterrent for the actress. “Bollywood will always remain my first priority.
I will do a couple of good Bollywood films, and one Hollywood film, every
year. That’s my strategy. I shall be extremely selective about the kind of
films I do here. I can sign 20 and make a lot of money, but I am not
interested. I want to do work where I will be accepted and respected. It’s
every actress’ dream to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, people here don’t
look beyond your sex appeal,” she said.

Talking about the West, Celina said, “Everything out there is taken care
of by my managers who have also handled the careers of Brad Pitt and
Jennifer Aniston. So, I don’t have to slog and make a base.” Of Aishwarya,
Bipasha and Shilpa who are also trying to make a mark in the West, Celina
said, “I am a great fan of Aishwarya’s, I am motivated by her. Shilpa has
made a name for herself and Bipasha is also known there. I am very proud to
be one of these women who have made India shine. It’s a very empowering
thought that Indian women are leaving a mark For me, I think it’s all a
matter of time. If it’s meant to happen, it will happen.”

Celina
Jaitley is literally going places these days. From a rocking career in
Bollywood to presiding over as a chief guest at London’s India Now Festival
to bagging her first mega Hollywood project, Quest of Seherzade, it’s
raining mega projects for her.

And now the latest in her kitty is another important assignment - she has
just been appointed as brand ambassador of Egypt.

She will help promote this ancient exotic country throughout the world by
using her name, beauty and charm. “It’s a great honour and I am looking
forward to take up this new challenge and assignment. I will be leaving for
Egypt in the middle of this month,” she says. Another feather in her cap, is
what we’ll say.

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Celina’s ticket to Hollywood

Celina
Jaitley has finished the shooting of her first international project ‘Love
Has No Language’. Post the shoot of the film, which took place in New
Zealand, she has been stationed in the US where she is currently working on
shaping her Hollywood crossover.

The actor has signed up with the noted
management firm in Hollywood Brillstein-Grey Entertainment. With a talent
division of around 200 clients including stars Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman,
Nicolas Cage, Gwyneth Paltrow and others, the firm is helping Celina
crossover to Hollywood.

Celina reveals, “I am going to take my career seriously. I will be
accommodating with my new representatives. If I fail, it would only leave a
negative impression. After all they are the ones representing the best in
Hollywood. I’m happy to be one of them.”

Celina continues, “I was shocked to hear that some of my colleagues, who
had already approached Brillstein-Grey in the past, left such a
disappointing impression of Bollywood. I am excited that I was able to
change their minds.”

It’s been only a few days since the news broke out about Celina being
offered the role of Sophie in the film ‘Pink Panther’. Why did she opt out
of it? Her agent says, “Things are heating up just fine for Celina at the
moment. She is currently in the middle of a crossover campaign and after
looking at the pros and cons, we advised her to pass on the project.”

Meanwhile Celina continues to select her Bollywood projects carefully
after films ‘Red’, ‘Shakalaka Boom Boom’, and ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’,
which have made her a popular face on the glam circuit.

Celina rejects a role and Aishwarya accepts it!

 

Is
it the war of the beauty queens now? Just a few days ago came the news that
Celina Jaitley had rejected a role in the Hollywood film Pink Panther 2, and now
comes the news that none other than Aishwarya Bachchan has signed the film.
While Celina herself is tight-lipped about the issue, a source close to the
actress says, “Celina didn’t want to sign the film because she hardly had any
role in it. After doing Love Has No Language Celina is only interested in films
which will showcase her talent. Celina has even signed up with an agency and
contrary to rumours this is not the agency which handles Ash’s work. In fact,
Celina’s already got about four offers which she is considering.” We don’t know
whether the length of role has been increased now. But this round of musical
chairs is interesting!

Celina to be Grand Marshal

Amitabh
Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra have done it before, and now Celina
Jaitley will be following in their footsteps. It’s quite an honour for an
Indian celebrity when the NRI community invites them to be the Grand Marshal
at the Independence Day Parade in Los Angeles, especially since it shows how
much the NRI community appreciates your work. This time Celina Jaitley is
all set to do the honours. “The head of the Indian Community in LA invited
me to be the Grand Marshal this year, and I am looking forward to being
there. It is a huge honour for me and it feels nice to be appreciated. It’s
the biggest event for Indians in the States, and I’m excited about being a
part of it,” says Celina who is just back to Mumbai after shooting for her
Hollywood project Love Has No Language in New Zealand. She will now be off
to the US to promote the film.

Celina Jaitley is the sexiest!

She’s
shooting in New Zealand for her international film, and Celina Jaitley
is all smiles. After all, she’s been recently voted the most ’sexiest
woman’ in India by a foreign publication. From what we gather, Celina is
followed by Mallika Sherawat, Bipasha Basu, Koena Mitra and newcomer
Sherlyn Chopra in the list. “I was very flattered when I heard this and
I take it as a compliment. My fans have been very good to me,” says an
elated Celina. In fact, like few other actors, Celina doesn’t take the
’sexy’ badly. “It’s cool that I can wear anything and carry it off
because of my face. My sex appeal lies in my face. I don’t think you
need to flaunt your body, when your face says it all,” she says. Trust
Celina to come up with a quotable quote.

Foreigner goes ga ga over Celina’s beauty

Yes,
folks. Even the much-complimented Celina Jaitley can blush beetroot red
at a fresh compliment. As the rest of her cast and crew discovered when
she was shooting in New Zealand recently. “A foreigner saw her at a
night club where the entire crew was present, and he was so besotted
with her that he took up a guitar and began singing a song for her in
front of everybody. Celina was blushing beetroot red, especially since
her mom was also present. When the actress didn’t respond, the man
actually penned an impromptu poem and sent it to her. When a little
later one of the unit people went up to him and told him she was an
actress from India, and that she didn’t want to be disturbed, he
apologized saying, “With such beauty, you couldn’t be anybody else.” As
for Celina, she’s spending one more month in New Zealand for the shoot -
and, of course, enjoying all the attention from her admirers.

Celina wants to ape Monica Bellucci

Not
just content with working in an international film ‘Love Has No
Language’, Celina Jaitley now wishes to work in the desi version of the
notable Italian film ‘Malena’ (2000), which had actor Monica Bellucci as
protagonist.

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, the film was nominated for the
Oscars. Here, Celina discloses the impact that the film has made on her.

You seem to be very impressed with the film ‘Malena’

Ever since I saw it, I can’t get over it. I was lucky to lay my hands on
the film’s DVD. The script’s beauty lies in the fact that it makes you
think about your very existence. I must have seen it multiple times.
Yet, I don’t mind viewing it again.

What’s so special about the film?

The film is about Malena-a young woman (played by Monica Bellucci), who
is trapped in a Sicilian town while her husband is away serving in the
World War. She is so lonely, that she becomes an easy target of lust for
most men in the town. She is raped, brutalised and used! In this
situation comes a young boy, who watches her go through all the
humiliation. The relationship, which the two share, is heart-warming.
The boy observes her from a distance and even tries to gain courage from
the way she faces adversities.

What do you think of actor Monica Bellucci?

Monica has brought out the pathos very well. I couldn’t stop crying
watching her. Her innocence and vulnerability make her stand out as an
actor.

You seem to be very inspired by her

I feel challenged. I wish I could be part of such a film. I wish some
filmmaker makes this film in Bollywood. I would be more than happy to
play this role. It would be the right opportunity to relive a great
role. Such stories deserve to be told in all parts of the world,
especially in Bollywood, which has a huge market.