Where is Chitrangda??? According to her mentor Sudhir Mishra, "What's happening with her is very very unfortunate. She got it all..and now she's hellbent on throwing it away. She has made herself inaccessible to everyone, and not just the press. I've lost track of the number of efforts I've made to contact her. She's just not taking my calls!"
Apparently it's in-law-pressure that has persuaded Chutrangda to go underground. After a flying start in Hazaaron Khawishein Aisi ... the married Meerut –born was given an ultimatum. Choose between a movie career and marriage. Chirangda had little choice. She had to sever links with showbiz or face the consequences in her domestic life.
When I finally track her down Chitrangda reluctantly says, "I'm not saying anything. All kinds of rumours are being spread about me. All I can say is, the truth is known only to me. I'll speak out at the right time. But not now. I've nothing to say right now. Director Ruchi Narain has done a terrific job. I hope Kal does well.I'm afraid to say more because I don't know hwo's on my side and who's not."
They compared her with Smita Patil, and she didn't mind. Ultra-ambitious and raring to go after the unexpectedly large critical success of Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi, Chitrangda seemed to be on a roll.
"What I did in Hazaar Khawishein wasn't easy. If I can carry off that I'm confident I can carry off any role. It's fascinating how much variety Bollywood has to offer an actor. It's like an ongoing party. Everyone is making a film. Some are crossing over ,others are going parallel. It's the best time for an actress to be in Indian movies. I'd love to work with Ashutosh Gowariker, Fahan Akhtar, Mira Nair..I just need to hold on," she told me after her first film's release.
Now when her second release Kal: Yesterday & Tomorrow is around the corner, Chitrangda has disappeared from the face of Hollywood—with apparently no forwarding address!
A pity since she seemed pretty excited about her second film just a while ago. "I guess because I've done the offbeat role well they presume I can't do anything else. Fortunately I've another film coming up. Kal is directed by Sudhir Mishra's former assistant Ruchi Narain. I play a regular 26-year old Mumbai girl. It's a female-centic plot. And it's completely in Hindi. It isn't an out-and-out commercial film. But it's a thriller, a murder mystery..Then I'm talking to other people about other roles...."
This was Chitrangda two months ago. Today she's in a different space in her life altogether where movies and movie folks have no room.
Will she remain a 2-film wonder?
A look at the overnight successes who disappeared by choice or otherwise.
Kalpana in Professor
Kajal Kiran in Hum Kissise Kam Nahin
Bhagyashree in Maine Pyar Kiya
Rameshwari in Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye
Vimmi in Humraaz and Aabroo
Vijayta Pundit in Love Story
Naseem in Kabhi Kabhie
By: Subhash K Jha
