Dancing Koppikar waits for big things !

Bollywood is a strange land. Till the time an artist does not make a mark, he or she continues to grope in dark but, as soon as a little success starts coming one's way, the spotlights get focused on that very person. Thereon begins the journey of fame and notoriety with music and moolah all around. Isha Koppikar is one such actress who is searching for the spotlight to fall on her. Excerpts from an interview:

Q. You are at that juncture of your career where one can neither call you a failed actress nor a successful artist. Where do you go from here?
Ans. I have been asked such questions a number of times. But, after the release of ‘Khallas,' such was the impact that one of my old forgotten ‘Onida' advertisement was put on afresh for telecast by the company. I believe talent is something, which cannot be suppressed for too long. I agree that I have yet to establish myself as a heroine, but that day is not far. Let me assure you.

Q. Producer-Director Mr Ram Gopal Verma had signed you for a big budget movie. What happened to that project?
Ans. Ramu ji got busy with ‘Bhoot' and he did not want to divide his attention between two projects. He did not want to give any ‘chhotta-motta' role, so he asked me to wait for sometime. This was the reason that though he had almost finalised me for a song in ‘Road' but thought that it would be too small of an offer for me. He wants to exploit my full talent in a big project.

Q. Urmila, Antara and you are considered creations of Mr. Ram Gopal Verma. If he becomes generous to one, the others would automatically feel hurt?
Ans. Why should I feel bad? That one song in ‘Khallas' brought so many movies at my doorstep. In fact, I am grateful to Mr Ram Gopal Verma. I have always been considered as part and parcel of Verma Corporation. I have no connection with Antara but, with Urmila I have very good relations. We are friends. And there is no scope of jealousy between us.

Q. When people call you an item girl, don't you feel bad about it?
Ans. Not at all. The day when I make my mark as a heroine then only people would know me as such. I am known for my dances. The movies in which I am doing lead roles have specially been sprinkled with dance sequences to put me to best use. Actually, people start expecting too much out of an artist whom they love.

Q. Your ‘Itefaaq' seems to be similar to Hollywood's ‘Basic Instinct.' In ‘Basic Instinct' there are too many hot scenes, so you too...?
Ans. The two movies have only one similarity and that is about the series of murders in the movie. ‘Itefaaq' has no sex scenes whereas ‘Basic Instinct' has many. Manoj Bajpai, as a police officer, pursues the killers in ‘Itefaaq.'

Q. Going by your public image, do you think some day directors like Karan Johar, Yash Chopra and Mani Ratnam will sign you?
Ans. I can enact a character of a teenager as well as a woman in mid-30. Sex bomb image is not everything for me. It depends on movie makers how they want to see me, project me... May be the directors mentioned by you would sign me one day.

Q. Rumours have it that during shooting of ‘Pinjar' you got cosy with Priyanshu Chatterjee?
Ans. It is painful to hear such rumours. Priyanshu was acting as my brother in the movie. And he used to tell the director Mr Chander Parkash that why he has given him such a good sister...does he (Chander Parkash) want to change his tendencies. Let me make it clear that I did not and I do not have any affair with Priyanshu Chatterjee.